Education

Dr. Naveen Ballem and his family are excited to be back and established in the town where he was raised. He attended the Montclair Kimberley Academy, where he was awarded a Garden State Scholarship. He then moved to Boston for further education at Boston College. Dr. Ballem completed his General Surgery residency in New York City, and then pursued specialty training at The Cleveland Clinic in both Endocrine & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery. He also served as a Clinical Instructor at the Cleveland Clinic’s Medical School (The Lerner School of Medicine).

Dr. Ballem continued to pursue his interests in advanced laparoscopy and academics as a fellow at The University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center. He has extensively researched, published, and presented at conferences both at a national and international level. Dr. Ballem is currently pursuing his Masters in Healthcare Management at Harvard University (The Chan School of Public Health). Dr. Ballem is dedicated to a lifetime of learning, to deliver his patients the highest quality of care, that is value based and patient centric.

Dr. Ballem is an active member of the ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery). He serves on the clinical consensus committee and has collaboratively published national guidelines for Bariatric Surgery. He has also built a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence for Clara Maass Medical Center (RWJ-Barnabas facility), which since inception has achieved ASMBS “Center of Excellence” status based on patient safety, staff education, and patient outcomes. Dr. Ballem also serves as Director of Bariatric Surgery for Hunterdon Medical Center and Jersey City Medical Center.

Dr. Ballem joins New York Bariatric Group in 2020.

Meet the Doctor Naveen Ballem MD, FACS, FASMBS

Hospital Affiliations:

Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville, NJ - Director of Bariatric Surgery
Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ - Director of Bariatric Surgery
Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City NJ - Director of Bariatric Surgery
Mountainside Hospital, Montclair, NJ

Memberships and Associations:

Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Fellow of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Past President of ASMBS NJ Chapter
Past President of the Essex County Medical Society

Surgical Training:

Columbia University at Harlem Hospital Center Surgical-Internship & Resident 2001-2005
Columbia University at Harlem Hospital Center Chief Resident 2005-2006
Cleveland Clinic, Clinical Scholar in Endocrine and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Fellow in Advanced Endoscopy and Laparoscopy

I went in for surgery. An hour later, I came out a new man.

Everybody treated me like a king. The day of surgery, I was excited. The hospital couldn’t be any nicer. I went in for surgery. An hour later, I came out a new man. My recovery was awesome. I was out of bed that day. My wife and kids were my motivation on getting this surgery. They are my whole life. I’m happy I’m going to be around for them.

I hit my goal weight ... and I feel fabulous

I had the gastric bypass. I am Type 2 Diabetic and I wanted to gain control of my sugar. I hit my goal weight in about 5 and half months and I feel fabulous. The procedure has completely changed my life for the better because it has empowered me as a middle aged woman that I can really do everything and anything that I want to do. I don't put an age on anything. I don't say I'm too old for something.

I was tired of the way I looked. I was tired of the way I felt.

I knew if I didn't change something soon, I was going to be in a lot of trouble. The consultation process was a lot easier than I expected. I was met with open arms. I was treated like I was the only patient here. Not only did they answer all of my questions, they had questions for me to make sure I was the right candidate for the surgery. After surgery and that weight started dropping off, my life started changing for the better.

I feel like a completely different person.

I had the gastric sleeve procedure. The driving factor behind me getting this procedure was my health. I didn't feel good physically or mentally. I had joint pains, even standing was difficult sometimes. Emotionally, this surgery completely turned my life around. I have so much more confidence. So much more happiness. I feel like a completely different person. I feel stronger. I feel able to accomplish more.

It saved my life.

The driving factor behind me getting my procedure was that I couldn't get up off the floor with my granddaughter. That was my why. That was my big reason for having this surgery done. After surgery, it was a little bit of a struggle with what to eat. What you put in your mouth that you don't even think about. You don't think about what you're eating or how you're eating and portion size. It's what I do now every single day. The procedure has changed my life in so many ways. It saved my life.

I am totally comfortable in my own skin.

I think I always grew up identifying myself as less than other people because I was fat. I decided to tackle that and just live my life. I had a sleeve gastrectomy. It changed how I view myself. How I communicate with people. I'm able to be much more of myself and live the life I always thought I should have been living. I am totally comfortable in my own skin. You have the tools you need to succeed here.

I have a brand new life. I can do things I couldn't do before.

I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy because I had just become diabetic, and I had hypertension for many years. I lost a total of 157 pounds in 11 months. I have a brand new life. I can do things I couldn't do before. Everyone at New York Bariatric Group has been wonderful. They are kind. They are understanding. They make you feel comfortable. They will guide you every step of the way on your journey so that you can be successful.

Naveen Ballem MD, FACS, FASMBS

Education

Meet the Doctor Naveen Ballem MD, FACS, FASMBS

Thomas

Lost 145lbs

I went in for surgery. An hour later, I came out a new man.

Nicole

Lost 76lbs

I hit my goal weight ... and I feel fabulous

Robert

Lost 76lbs

I was tired of the way I looked. I was tired of the way I felt.

Samantha

Lost 92lbs

I feel like a completely different person.

Eileen

Lost 99lbs

It saved my life.

Brittany

Lost 126lbs

I am totally comfortable in my own skin.

Desiree

Lost 157lbs

I have a brand new life. I can do things I couldn't do before.

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