NEWS
Dr. John Perrone Joins Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Expanding Capabilities in Bariatric Surgery
January 4, 2024
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New Brunswick, N.J. – January 4, 2023 – Saint Peter’s University Hospital is proud to welcome John Perrone, DO, bariatric surgeon, whose expertise in robotic surgery will expand the hospital’s bariatric surgical capabilities. Dr. Perrone comes to Saint Peter’s from St. Luke’s Hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he performed over 200 bariatric procedures within the last year. Dr. Perrone brings his experience in robotic gastric sleeve and robotic gastric bypass surgery to Saint Peter’s Weight Loss and Bariatric Center which has a strong reputation in New Brunswick and the greater Middlesex County region. He was born at Saint Peter’s and has a strong affinity for the hospital and the patients it serves.
Bariatric surgery is an option to treat obesity for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher, but it can also provide the benefit of mitigating related conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. One of the key differentiators of Saint Peter’s bariatric program is the holistic nature of care that is offered to patients. At Saint Peter’s, a team of experts supports the patient through their weight loss journey. These include psychologists, exercise physiologists, registered dietician-nutritionists and a nurse navigator who acts as the case manager coordinating the efforts of each of these specialists.
According to Dr. Perrone, “Weight loss surgery is a life-long commitment and for most patients that come to us, their battle with weight loss has been a life-long struggle. The multidisciplinary approach that we apply here at Saint Peter’s is the key to lasting success. Many people have the perspective that obesity is just about eating too much food, but there are a lot of other factors that go into the mix, including how much an individual eats, how much they exercise, the psychosocial influences they experience, and the support systems they have at home, to name a few.”
Dr. Perrone performs all bariatric surgeries robotically via the da Vinci® Surgical System, a sophisticated robotic platform. First, he creates small incisions in the patient’s abdomen to introduce miniaturized instruments. Seated at the da Vinci console, Dr. Perrone views a magnified, high-resolution 3D image of the surgical site. The console then translates his hand movements into precise micro-movements of the miniature instruments. The system cannot be programmed, nor can it make movements on its own. Using his training in robotic surgical techniques, Dr. Perrone can offer patients less invasive surgical options that result in shorter hospital stays and better postoperative outcomes.
“One of the factors that influenced my decision to specialize in bariatric medicine was the fact that it’s a field where you can make a lasting impact on a patient’s life by helping them achieve a healthier and more active lifestyle,” said Dr. Perrone. His sensitivity to the topic was also impacted by family members who have struggled with weight issues and as a result, his approach combines the best in medical expertise with compassion and empathy for the struggles patients face every day.
Dr. Perrone is a graduate of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and was recognized with the Saint Peter’s University Hospital Resident Award of Excellency. This annual award is given to one resident in each department who has performed his/her duties to the highest standards of care and excellence. Recipients are selected by a committee of Saint Peter’s physicians at the end of the academic year.
Dr. Perrone was a member of the inaugural class of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) START (Surgical Technique and Advanced Robotics Training) Program which requires applicants to be an ASMBS member enrolled in a Fellowship Council-approved fellowship program. The program entails virtual didactic sessions monthly and an in-person training lab with only 15 fellows selected out of all the applicants who apply from over 150 Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) fellowship programs in the U.S. Participants have received specialized one-on-one training in robotic surgery from some of the most prominent ASMBS surgeons in the country.
To make an appointment or to learn more about Saint Peter’s Weight Loss and Bariatric Center, visit saintpetershcs.com/bariatrics or call (732) 745-8555.
About Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, is a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter’s, which received its sixth consecutive designation as a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2020, is also state-designated children’s hospital and a regional perinatal center, and is a regional specialist in diabetes, gastroenterology, head and neck surgery, oncology, orthopedics, and women’s services. Saint Peter’s is the recipient of the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for the adult intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, cardiac progressive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit. The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including a nationally recognized Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery and orthopedic surgery featuring innovative anterior scoliosis correction. The hospital has the state’s only hospital-based, midwifery-led birth center – the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center, accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. Saint Peter’s is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732.745.8600.
Bariatric surgery is an option to treat obesity for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher, but it can also provide the benefit of mitigating related conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. One of the key differentiators of Saint Peter’s bariatric program is the holistic nature of care that is offered to patients. At Saint Peter’s, a team of experts supports the patient through their weight loss journey. These include psychologists, exercise physiologists, registered dietician-nutritionists and a nurse navigator who acts as the case manager coordinating the efforts of each of these specialists.
According to Dr. Perrone, “Weight loss surgery is a life-long commitment and for most patients that come to us, their battle with weight loss has been a life-long struggle. The multidisciplinary approach that we apply here at Saint Peter’s is the key to lasting success. Many people have the perspective that obesity is just about eating too much food, but there are a lot of other factors that go into the mix, including how much an individual eats, how much they exercise, the psychosocial influences they experience, and the support systems they have at home, to name a few.”
Dr. Perrone performs all bariatric surgeries robotically via the da Vinci® Surgical System, a sophisticated robotic platform. First, he creates small incisions in the patient’s abdomen to introduce miniaturized instruments. Seated at the da Vinci console, Dr. Perrone views a magnified, high-resolution 3D image of the surgical site. The console then translates his hand movements into precise micro-movements of the miniature instruments. The system cannot be programmed, nor can it make movements on its own. Using his training in robotic surgical techniques, Dr. Perrone can offer patients less invasive surgical options that result in shorter hospital stays and better postoperative outcomes.
“One of the factors that influenced my decision to specialize in bariatric medicine was the fact that it’s a field where you can make a lasting impact on a patient’s life by helping them achieve a healthier and more active lifestyle,” said Dr. Perrone. His sensitivity to the topic was also impacted by family members who have struggled with weight issues and as a result, his approach combines the best in medical expertise with compassion and empathy for the struggles patients face every day.
Dr. Perrone is a graduate of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and was recognized with the Saint Peter’s University Hospital Resident Award of Excellency. This annual award is given to one resident in each department who has performed his/her duties to the highest standards of care and excellence. Recipients are selected by a committee of Saint Peter’s physicians at the end of the academic year.
Dr. Perrone was a member of the inaugural class of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) START (Surgical Technique and Advanced Robotics Training) Program which requires applicants to be an ASMBS member enrolled in a Fellowship Council-approved fellowship program. The program entails virtual didactic sessions monthly and an in-person training lab with only 15 fellows selected out of all the applicants who apply from over 150 Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) fellowship programs in the U.S. Participants have received specialized one-on-one training in robotic surgery from some of the most prominent ASMBS surgeons in the country.
To make an appointment or to learn more about Saint Peter’s Weight Loss and Bariatric Center, visit saintpetershcs.com/bariatrics or call (732) 745-8555.
About Saint Peter’s University Hospital
Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, is a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter’s, which received its sixth consecutive designation as a Magnet® hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2020, is also state-designated children’s hospital and a regional perinatal center, and is a regional specialist in diabetes, gastroenterology, head and neck surgery, oncology, orthopedics, and women’s services. Saint Peter’s is the recipient of the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses for the adult intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, cardiac progressive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit. The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including a nationally recognized Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery and orthopedic surgery featuring innovative anterior scoliosis correction. The hospital has the state’s only hospital-based, midwifery-led birth center – the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center, accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. Saint Peter’s is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732.745.8600.