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January 17, 2024 media@uhnj.org, (973) 634-8298 

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND RUTGERS NEW JERSEY MEDICAL SCHOOL LAUNCH COMPREHENSIVE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT CENTER 

Ribbon Cutting Unveils New Rutgers Weight Management Center at University Hospital   

Newark, NJ— Today, University Hospital proudly launched a new multidisciplinary Weight Management Center in partnership with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The center will bring medical and surgical services together with personalized care and support teams for a holistic approach to weight loss. Hospital leadership joined program directors and community stakeholders to introduce the Rutgers Weight Management Center at University Hospital to Essex County. 

“We are incredibly proud to announce the official opening of the Rutgers Weight Management Center at University Hospital,” said Ed Jimenez, President and CEO of University Hospital. “We are confident that this care approach will result in healthier patients and provide support for individuals suffering from obesity and health complications related to being overweight. We are hopeful to improve patient outcomes for years to come.” 

Obesity is a complex disease that requires a multi-pronged treatment approach. The new Weight Management Center combines a renowned team of multidisciplinary board-certified obesity medicine physician specialists, endocrinologists, bariatric surgeons, advanced bariatric endoscopists, behavioral health specialists, nutritionists, and patient navigators.  

“The goal behind a collaborative center is to help shift the paradigm in how we approach a condition as complicated as obesity,” expressed Dr. Dhvani Doshi, Medical Director of the Weight Management Center. “With combined expertise from multiple specialties and a broad spectrum of treatment options for obesity, the center will ensure all patient needs are met from the beginning to the end of their weight loss experience and ultimately enhance outcomes in the Essex County area.”  

For people who are obese, losing at least some of their excess weight always brings health benefits – often dramatic ones. University Hospital’s surgical program offers sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and lap gastric band for qualifying patients. The bariatric surgery program is one of many at University Hospital to utilize the state-of-the-art Davinci robot. For patients, the benefits of robotic surgery include smaller incisions and reduced risk of infection, shorter hospitalization, reduced pain and discomfort, faster recovery time and return to normal activities, minimal scarring and reduced blood loss.  

“The most popular bariatric procedure we see is the sleeve gastrectomy,” said Dr. Daniel B. Jones, Chair, Department of Surgery and Chief of Service at University Hospital. “It trims the stomach from the size of a cantaloupe to the size of a banana and patients are able to go home the next day. Most patients lose 65% or more of their excess weight.”  

The launch of the center also coincides with the introduction of “MyApp” a user-friendly mobile application designed to keep patients looped into all aspects of their healthcare. The app will consolidate essential post- and pre-operative information as well as a general portal with contact information, messaging capabilities, and important health resources. Reflecting University Hospital’s diverse community, the app will be fully functional in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and others. The hospital plans to expand “MyApp” to other clinical areas later in the year.  

The Rutgers Weight Management Center at University Hospital will be housed in a newly renovated space at DOC 90 Bergen Street, Suites 2100 and 2300. Thoughtfully designed to ensure comfort and accessibility for all patients, the center features appropriately sized furniture and a spacious interior.  

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About University Hospital 

University Hospital one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers and is the only New Jersey certified Level 1 Trauma Center for Northern New Jersey. University Hospital is the principal teaching affiliate of the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.  Together Rutgers and UH focus on taking exceptional care of patients, training the next generation, and advancing science to discovery. The hospital is located in University Heights along with the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Center which includes Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers New Jersey Dental School, and Rutgers School of Nursing. For more information about University Hospital, please visit www.uhnj.org.  

For more information on the Weight Management Center, please visit. https://www.uhnj.org/services/weight-management-center/bariatric-weight-loss-surgery/