Meet The Doctors

James W. Dwyer, M.D., F.A.A.O.S.

• Fellow American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
• Spine Surgery
• Specializing in Trauma and Reconstruction Surgery of the Spine
• Member North American Spine Society
• Former President of Garden State Orthopedic Network

Background:
Dr. James W. Dwyer is a Board Certified orthopedic surgeon credentialed by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has completed his Bachelor of Science Degree at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ with honors and received his medical degree from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.

Education:
Training in general and orthopedic surgery was performed at UMDNJ. Dr. Dwyer completed four years of orthopedic residency at its various affiliated hospitals. Dr. Dwyer's spine surgery fellowship was completed at St. Mary's Spine Center and Seton Medical Center in San Francisco with the Spine Care Medical Group, San Francisco Spine Institute, Stanford University Hospital, and Kaiser Hospital Oakland. Dr. Dwyer trained in one of the most prestigious spine fellowship programs under the directorship of Dr. Arthur White.

Special Interests/Educator:
Dr. Dwyer's area of special interest is in degenerative and traumatic orthopedic spinal disorders. Dr. Dwyer is the former Director of Spine Surgery at Jersey City Medical Center, Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at New Jersey Medical School - UMDNJ, Newark, NJ, and Director of the New Jersey Spine Institute, P.A.. Dr. Dwyer has presented many formal lectures to orthopedic surgical residents and is presently involved in their training.

Accomplishments:
One of Dr. Dwyer's most notable accomplishments includes performing the first arthroscopic microdiscectomy in New Jersey as well as the first laparoscopically assisted lumbar interbody fusion. Dr. Dwyer has also been invited to become an FDA approved site for investigation of laparoscopic spinal fusion, which again, has a potential for significant reduction in postoperative pain and overall recovery. Dr. Dwyer has also been requested to participate in numerous FDA protocols.

In addition, Dr. Dwyer is a member of a select group of surgeons in the U.S. who were chosen to receive advanced training in artificial disc replacement. He performed the 1st artificial disc replacement at the L4-L5 level in New Jersey.

Expertise:
Dr. Dwyer's practice includes a full spectrum of conservative and surgical spine treatment modalities, including diagnostic and therapeutic spine injections, minimally invasive spine surgery including outpatient laminectomy/discectomies, as well as a full compliment of reconstructive and trauma surgeries for the cervical spine and lumbar spine.

Publications:
Dr. Dwyer has published articles in peer reviewed journals, including the International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine, Boston, MA, and the North American Spine Society, Monterey, CA. Dr. Dwyer has submitted several papers for publication in medical journals on the effects of bone grafting percutaneously injected allograft marrow cells and osteosynthesis and has authored chapters in textbooks of spinal surgery.

Memberships:
Dr. Dwyer is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He is a member of the American Medical Association, New Jersey Medical Society, Somerset County Medical Society, New Jersey Spine Society, New Jersey Orthopedic Society, North American Spine Society, International Spinal Injection Society, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Irish American Orthopedic Society, American College of Spine Surgeons, and is the former President of the Garden State Orthopedic Network. Dr. Dwyer is the Medical Director of the New Jersey Spine Institute, P.A. in Bedminster, NJ.

Affiliations:
Dr. Dwyer maintains full privileges at Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, NJ, Jersey City, NJ, University Hospital, Newark, NJ, and Somerset Surgical Center. He has consultant privileges at Hackettstown Community Hospital, Hackettstown, NJ and Newton Memorial Hospital, Newton, NJ. He is on the Assistant Staff at Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ.

Philosophy:
Although proud of his accomplishments and credentials, Dr. Dwyer prides himself as being a caring and competent surgeon. He holds well-being of his patients in the highest regard. He strives to remain on the "cutting edge" of spine surgery.

"...Dr. Dwyer holds his patients in the highest regard."

View Dr. Dwyer's CV (PDF)

Paul P. Vessa, M.D., F.A.A.O.S.

• Fellow American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
• Spine Surgery
• Specializing in Trauma and Reconstruction Surgery of the Spine
• Member North American Spine Society
• Former President of Quality Assurance and Utilization, Garden State Orthopedic Network

Background:
Dr. Paul P. Vessa is a Board Certified orthopedic surgeon credentialed by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has completed his Bachelor of Science Degree at Lafayette College in Easton, PA and received his medical degree from Rutgers Medical School in Camden, NJ with honors in medicine, surgery, pediatrics, critical care, and orthopedics.

Education:
Training in general surgery was performed at New York University-Bellevue Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Vessa's orthopedic residency was completed at UMDNJ and its various affiliated hospitals. Dr. Vessa's spine surgery fellowship was completed at St. Mary's Spine Center and Seton Medical Center in San Francisco with the Spine Care Medical Group San Francisco Institute, Stanford University Hospital, and Kaiser Hospital Oakland. Dr. Vessa completed additional training at the Carolina Spine Institute in Charleston, SC in lumbar interbody fusion and cervical spine reconstructive surgery.

Special Interests/Educator:
Dr. Vessa's special area of interest is reconstructive surgery of the spine, and he treats all aspects of spine surgery in cervical thoracic and lumbar spine, including both conservative and surgical care. Dr. Vessa specializes in interbody reconstruction procedures of the lumbar and cervical spine. Dr. Vessa is the former Assistant Director of Spine Surgery at Jersey City Medical Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ. Dr. Vessa has presented many formal lectures to orthopedic surgical residents, and he is presently involved in their training.

Accomplishments:
One of Dr. Vessa's most notable accomplishments includes performing the first outpatient open laminotomy discectomy in the state of New Jersey in 1995. Dr. Vessa assisted Dr. Dwyer, as an orthopedic resident, in the first arthroscopic microdiscectomy in New Jersey, as well as the first laparoscopically assisted lumbar interbody fusion. Dr. Vessa was one of the first spine surgeons in New Jersey to utilize allograft threaded bone dowels for open lumbar interbody fusion. Dr. Vessa has recently been invited to become an FDA approved laparoscopic application of carbon fusion cages.

In addition, Dr. Vessa is a member of a select group of surgeons in the U.S. who were chosen to receive advanced training in artificial disc replacement. He assisted Dr. Dwyer in performing the 1st artificial disc replacement at the L4-L5 level in New Jersey.

Expertise:
Dr. Vessa's practice includes a full spectrum of conservative and surgical spine treatment modalities, including diagnostic and therapeutic spine injections, minimally invasive spine surgery including outpatient laminectomy/discectomies, as well as a full compliment of reconstructive and trauma surgeries for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.

Publications:
Dr. Vessa published articles in peer reviewed journals, including a Poster Exhibit at the International Society of the Lumbar Spine in Chicago. Formal paper presentations at the Scientific Section of the North American Spine Society Boston, MA. Dr. Vessa has submitted papers for publications and has published a landmark paper on posterior lumbar interbody fusion for discogenic pain in the Spine Journal.

Memberships:
Dr. Vessa is a member of the American Medical Association, New Jersey Medical Society, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, New Jersey Spine Society, International Spine Injection Society, American College of Spine Surgeons, and former President of Quality Assurance and Utilization of the Garden State Orthopedic Network.

Affiliations:
Dr. Vessa maintains full privileges at Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, NJ, Jersey City, NJ, and Morristown Memorial Hospital. Dr. Vessa also has consultant privileges at Hackettstown Community Hospital, Hackettstown, NJ. Dr. Vessa has full privileges at UMDNJ, Newark, NJ.

Philosophy:
Although proud of his accomplishments and credentials, Dr. Vessa takes personal responsibility for the well-being of his patients. He strives to return patients back to their pre-injury level of activity as soon as possible, with the utmost respect for the patients' previous life style. Dr. Vessa continuously strives to improve upon the type and complexity of his spine surgery procedures he utilizes. Dr. Vessa works closely with his staff to provide only the finest medical care.

"...Dr. Vessa takes personal responsibility for the well-being of his patients."

View Dr. Vessa's CV (PDF)