Meet Our Team
Dr. James Buwen
Dr. James Buwen is a board certified general surgeon with specialty training in bariatric surgery and advanced minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Buwen graduated with honors from Nova Southeastern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He completed his residency training at Rowan University-SOM, Stratford, NJ, Kennedy University Hospital/Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital, serving as Chief Surgical Resident from 2013 to 2014.
Dr. Buwen is a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (FACOS), American College of Surgeons (FACS), and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (FASMBS).
Dr. Buwen was born in bucolic Warren County, NJ and enjoys outdoor activities, with his wife, daughter and son. You can often find Dr. Buwen and family, watching sporting events, hiking, biking, camping, or skiing.
Samah Morsy, PA-C
Physician Assistant Samah Morsy provides clinical counseling for our bariatric surgery and medical weight loss patients in our Springfield location. She has experience in primary care medicine and weight management. She is well-trained in the associated co-morbidities of obesity including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiac disease.
Samah Morsy graduated magna cum laude from Temple University with a B.S. degree in kinesiology & minor in mathematics. She attended graduate school at Seton Hall University in New Jersey to complete her master’s degree in physician assistant studies. She identified her passion for medicine early on and enjoys her daily interaction with her patients.
Dr. Ajay Goyal
Dr. Ajay Goyal is the founder and clinical director at the New Jersey Bariatric Center® as well as the Director of Bariatric Surgery at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ. With thousands of successful gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric band, revision and general surgery procedures completed, Dr. Goyal is a leader in the field of bariatric and general surgery.
Dr. Goyal was among the first bariatric surgeons in the country to employ a multidisciplinary team approach to weight loss surgery, including nutrition, psychological counseling and exercise options. His dedication to preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up helps his patients reach and sustain long-term weight loss.
Dr. Goyal enjoys grilling, traveling and cheering on his kids at their robotics, soccer and hockey matches.
Dr. Tina Thomas
Dr. Thomas is board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care, with specialty training in advanced minimally invasive general and bariatric surgery. Dr. Thomas elected to attend medical school in India and graduated with distinction. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of Connecticut, where she received awards for resident excellence and leadership by example. Dr. Thomas has completed two fellowships, in surgical critical care and advanced minimally invasive and bariatric surgery, from the University of Michigan and Hackensack University Medical Center respectively.
Dr. Thomas is a member of the Society of the American Gastrointestinal & Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).
Dr. Thomas was born in Elizabeth and grew up in Union county. She enjoys spending her free time with her family doing outdoor activities such as biking, hiking and kayaking.
Alexis Begliomini, PA-C
Alexis Begliomini is a physician assistant who provides clinical counseling for our bariatric surgery and medical weight loss patients in our Springfield location. She graduated with honors from Arcadia University with a B.A. degree in biology & minor in music. She attended graduate school at Marywood University in Scranton, PA to complete her Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies, where she focused her training in surgery.
Alexis helped to create a street medicine program through Marywood that helped to provide healthcare to the unsheltered homeless population in the Scranton area. She is also a longtime volunteer to PA Vent Camp, a special camp for children who require any sort of mechanical ventilation. She enjoys spending her free time playing the violin, fishing, and practicing yoga.
Dr. Michael Fastiggi
Dr. Michael Fastiggi is board certified in general surgery, with advanced fellowship training in bariatric surgery, foregut surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. He attended medical school at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and was elected into both the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism honors societies. Dr. Fastiggi then completed his general surgery residency training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY. After graduating residency, he went on to do a fellowship at Cleveland University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Fastiggi was born in Livingston and grew up in Madison, where he helped give back to the community by volunteering on his town’s rescue squad, which sparked his interest in medicine. He continues to have a strong footprint in the local community. He likes to spend free time with his wife and sons, and enjoys outdoor family activities like soccer and running.
New Jersey Bariatric Center® understands this and provides a licensed professional counselor who is trained in the treatment of the bariatric patient. At any time in the pre- and post-surgery process, patients are encouraged to use this valuable resource to help them along their weight loss journey.
At New Jersey Bariatric Center we provide resources to engage patients while on their weight loss journey. From staff that ensure our patient needs are met to live webinars, private community groups, support groups, exercise, yoga classes and bariatric updates are some of the ways our engagement team supports patients.
Weight Loss Treatments
