Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery Institute

The goal of our program is to offer safe and effective surgical solutions for those suffering from morbid obesity. We are also dedicated to the exceptional care that every surgical patient needs and deserves both immediately after surgery and long into the future. This program is one that doesn’t last for a day or a month after surgery, but rather for the rest of your life. We are dedicated to being there every step of the way, helping ensure that your procedure is effective, and offering you a resource to call on in times of need.

Anil K. Pahuja MD FACS FASMBS

Dr. Pahuja received his undergraduate degree from University at Albany followed by a Master's degree from Boston University. He then received his Medical Degree from New York Medical College. Dr Pahuja began his surgical residency at St Vincent's Medical Center in New York City and completed his surgical residency at Morristown Medical Center after St Vincent's closed. He then went on to a Mininally Invasive and Bariatrics fellowship at the The Institute for Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. He is Board Certified in General Surgery and helped start the Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery Institute at Ocean Medical Center. Dr. Pahuja is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a fellow of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

James V. Pasquariello MD FACS FASMBS

Dr. Pasquariello received his undergraduate degree from New York University and went on to receive his medical degree at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico. From there, he completed the Fifth Pathway program at New York Medical College and went on to complete his general surgery residency at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, NJ. He is board certified in general surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a fellow of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Pasquariello has a special interest in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery and helped create the Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery Institute at Ocean Medical Center. He is also fluent in Spanish.

Melissa Kirchner MS RDN

Melissa received her undergraduate degree from East Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. She then went on to complete her Dietetic Internship from Sodexo (Philadelphia/New Jersey region), and her Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition from Rutgers University. Melissa has been providing Medical Nutrition Therapy for the past 14 years and has been part of the Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery Institute for the past 2 years. She specializes in nutrition therapy for surgical and non-surgical weight loss, chronic disease management, and general healthful eating. She is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and strives to teach all of her patients the tools for optimized nutrition and successfully achieving their goals.