New Faculty Profiles
Maria Benjamin, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Benjamin is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgeon, specializing in the treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the breast. She also treats high-risk patients and/or those with genetic susceptibility to breast cancer. Her care philosophy is rooted in patient advocacy and autonomy; she wants patients to feel educated about their comprehensive treatment plan so that they feel empowered to navigate their care decisions. Dr. Benjamin also has particular interest in medical genetics, and this extends from her initial training at Boston University School of Medicine. In medical school, she was selected for two consecutive years to be adjunct peer faculty for the medical genetics course. Dr. Benjamin is passionate about women’s health.
Alex Wong, MD, FACS is a Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Vice Chair of Research for the Department and Director of Microsurgery for the Division. Dr. Wong is an exemplary surgeon-scientist, earning his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and subsequently graduating from Harvard Medical School. He distinguished himself as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research fellow at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Driven by a commitment to advancing medical knowledge, he further honed his skills through plastic surgery training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, complemented by Microsurgery and translational research fellowships at New York University. Later, he assumed the role of Director of Research and Director of the Microsurgery Fellowship at the University of Southern California.
With a wealth of clinical experience spanning over 15 years, Dr. Wong specializes in complex breast, lymphatic, and sarcoma reconstruction. His clinical focus intricately aligns with the overarching theme of his NIH-funded research program, which centers on fundamental aspects of tissue regeneration. Dr. Wong's research endeavors aim to elucidate therapies for stimulating both lymphatic and blood vessel growth following surgical interventions and radiation damage. Additionally, his work delves into enhancing wound healing in compromised settings, such as those seen after radiation treatment or in patients with diabetes.
Through these appointments, Dr. Wong will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our Department's mission of advancing surgical knowledge, fostering innovation, and delivering exceptional patient care.
Melissa Grigsby, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Grigsby received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Minor in Psychology from Swarthmore College. She also studied abroad in Kolkata, India during her time as an undergraduate. After attending Swarthmore, she went on to complete her Master’s degree in Exercise Science at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. Dr. Grigsby completed her medical degree at Geisinger Commonwealth Medical College in 2016. She then went on to complete her General Surgery residency followed by a fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at the University of California-Davis. During her residency and fellowship, Dr. Grigsby served as Administrative Chief Resident and on the Surgical Education Committee, respectively.
Dr. Grigsby will provide trauma, critical care surgical services and emergency general surgery care to patients. She will also provide Attending coverage for the Emergency General Surgery service at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. Grigsby will mentor and educate fellows, residents, and medical students on all three services as well as develop an area of research scholarship.
Danbee Kim, MD joins us as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She received her medical degree at the Catholic University of Korea – Songeui in Seoul, South Korea. After her research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, where she focused on foregut cancers, Dr. Kim went on to complete her general surgery residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School and MedStar Georgetown-Washington Hospital Center/Georgetown School of Medicine. She returned to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School for her fellowship training in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. To further hone her skills in minimally invasive surgery, especially in upper gastroenterological pathologies, Dr. Kim completed another fellowship in South Korea, focusing on minimally invasive gastric cancer surgery.
Dr. Kim has a strong interest in bringing her diverse background to enrich the community she serves and promote health equity. She performs both elective and emergent surgeries by using minimally invasive and robotic techniques that lead to reduced pain and faster recovery for patients. As a fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon, Dr. Kim sees patients in need of weight-loss surgery. She is extremely interested in hands-on training of medical students and residents as well as exploring innovative educational tools by developing simulations or designing new training models.
Christopher Graham, MD joins us as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Graham received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience from Pomona College and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the State University of New York-Downstate. Following medical school, he completed his residency in General Surgery at Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Graham received his Fellowship training in Traumatology and Critical Care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Upon completing his fellowship, Dr. Graham joined Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Jacobi Medical Center in New York as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Graham will provide trauma, critical care surgical services and emergency general surgery care to patients. He will also provide Attending coverage for the Emergency General Surgery service at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. Dr. Graham will mentor and educate fellows, residents, and medical students on all three services as well as develop an area of research scholarship.
Steven Ovadia, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He graduated from New York University Magna Cum Laude. He then attended the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine graduating AOA. He was the first integrated plastic surgery resident at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital. After completing his residency, he then went on to receive additional training in gender affirmation surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He completed a complex gender surgery and microsurgery fellowship. He then went on to a second fellowship focusing on craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery at Dell medical Children's Hospital in Austin TX.
Dr Ovadia will reinvigorate the Rutgers Center for Transgender Health at New Jersey Medical School and University Hospital. His practice will focus on gender affirmation surgery Including top surgery, bottom surgery, and facial contouring for feminization and masculinization. In addition he will develop a robust complex craniofacial reconstruction program. His academic interests include surgical education, global surgery, and clinical outcomes.
Karim M. Salem, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He then completed his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. During his Vascular Surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center he completed a postdoctoral research fellowship studying diabetic wound healing and clinical outcomes in Vascular Surgery. Dr. Salem is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. After residency, he worked as an Assistant Professor of Surgery and vascular surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Salem's clinical practice is in Vascular Surgery, with an interest in complex aortic pathology and limb salvage. He will serve as the Associate Program Director of the Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency and Fellowship. His academic interests include clinical outcomes of acute aortic emergencies and surgical education.
Susan E. Pories, MD is a Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Section of Breast Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She attended medical school and completed her surgical residency at the University of Vermont. She also completed a surgical oncology research fellowship at the New England Deaconess Hospital and a Medical Education Fellowship at Mount Auburn Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Pories was the Director of the Hoffman Breast Center and Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA and a former Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. She is Past-President of the Medical Staff at Mount Auburn Hospital. She was recognized with two major awards from Harvard Medical School including the A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award and the Shirley Driscoll Dean’s Leadership Award for the Enhancement of Women’s Careers. She is currently a Governor on the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Board of Governors and previously served as the Chair of the ACS Women in Surgery Committee (WiSC). Dr. Pories is a Past-President of the Association of Women Surgeons and she was also recognized as an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Black Academic Surgeons.
Books edited by Dr. Pories include The Soul of a Doctor, The Soul of a Patient, Navigating Your Surgical Career: The AWS Guide to Success, Cancer: Biography of a Disease, and In the Kitchen with Your Favorite Chefs.
Elijah W. Riddle, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Spanish. He completed his Doctor of Medicine degree at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. During his residency training in General Surgery at UPenn, he spent two years as the Minimally Invasive Surgery Design Fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where his work focused on surgical education and surgical technology. Dr. Riddle is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery. After residency, he worked as an acute care surgeon and was the founding Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at VinUniversity in Hanoi, Vietnam. Dr. Riddle’s clinical practice is in general surgery, with a focus on emergency general surgery and complex abdominal conditions. He will serve as Surgery’s Director of Emergency General Surgery. His academic interests include surgical education, global surgery, and surgical technology. Dr. Riddle looks forward to working with the outstanding physicians and clinical teams at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School to provide patients with the best possible care.
Joanelle A. Bailey, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and an Attending at University Hospital. She obtained her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University and completed Residency in General Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. During residency, she completed a Master of Public Health at Rutgers University School of Public Health and worked as an NIH Research Fellow on a T32 Institutional Grant studying traumatic brain injury and chronic stress. She completed her Acute Care Surgery Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bailey earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University. Her research interests include urban gun violence prevention, disaster preparedness, and pre-hospital care of trauma patients. Dr. Bailey is certified by the American Board of Surgery in both Surgery and Surgical Critical Care.
Grace S. Lee-Riddle, MD, MSME is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School. She graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed her residency in general surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where she also completed a Fellowship in Advanced Biomedical Ethics and obtained a Master of Science in Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania. She subsequently completed her fellowship in Multi-Organ Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medical Centers. Dr. Lee-Riddle is certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Lee-Riddle’s clinical interests include liver transplantation, kidney transplantation, living donation for transplant, and hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Lee-Riddle’s academic interests include transplant ethics and policy, clinical outcomes, and surgical education. Dr. Lee-Riddle is known for her dedication to her patients and enjoys being a part of a multidisciplinary team of transplant specialists.
Nisha Narula, MD is an Assistant Professor in General Surgery at Rutgers NJMS Department of Surgery and Attending at University Hospital.
After attending Brown University for undergrad, Dr. Narula attended the University of Chicago for medical school. Subsequently, she completed her general surgery residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. During this time, she completed a research fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. After residency, she worked as an acute care and trauma surgeon before completing an Advanced GI MIS fellowship at Staten Island University Hospital in New York.
Her clinical interests include all aspects of general surgery with a focus on minimally invasive surgery, encompassing both laparoscopic and robotic techniques. Some specific areas of interest include foregut, hernia, and biliary disease, as well as emergency general surgery. Her research interests are in health services research and clinical outcomes, as well as education, including interests in process measures, patient reported outcomes, and enhanced recovery after surgery. She is involved in the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons and serves on committees within the organization.
Bao Nasri, MD is a board-certified General Surgeon with advanced training and expertise in minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic), foregut, bariatric surgery as well as hernia surgery. She is an Assistant Professor and Attending and joins a talented team of surgeons at NJMS where she uses her expertise and research to help advance the treatment of patients with obesity, hernia, and complex abdominal surgeries.
Dr. Bao Nasri was awarded her medical degree and completed a general surgery residency at Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan. She went on to pursue a PhD degree in gastrointestinal surgery at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. After coming to the U.S., she completed surgical residency at St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital followed by a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive surgery and bariatric surgery at Richmond University Medical Center, in New York.
Dr. Nasri currently serves as a committee member of Educational and Robotic committee of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. She is an active member of the American College of Surgeons, and the Association of Surgical Education.
Dr. Nasri is fluent in Japanese and Vietnamese. She aims to work with patients, their families, and primary care doctors to develop patient-centered treatment plans. She looks forward to collaborating with other specialists to give patients the most options and the best possible outcomes.
Values
Integrity: Reflected in Honesty, Trust, Ethics, and Accountability
Compassion: Reflected in Altruism, Ethical Treatment and Empathy
Innovation: Reflected in Discovery, Creativity, and Open-Mindedness
Excellence: Reflected in commitment to Quality, Diligence and Dedication
Service: Reflected in Community Involvement and Pledge to the Underserved
Leadership: Reflected in shared Purpose and Vision Expressed in Professionalism, Transparency, and Authenticity
Collaboration: Reflected in Teamwork, Collegiality, Respect for others and for Diversity
