The administrative leadership of the Barnabas Health Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division includes Shamkant Mulgaonkar, M.D., Chief; Debbie Morgan, M.S.W. L.C.S.W., Vice President; Charles Lascari, M.A., R.N., C.C.T.C., Director of Clinical Services; and Andrea Tietjen, M.B.A., C.P.A., Director of Data and Finance.
Dr. Mulgaonkar is one of the preeminent professionals in transplantation in New Jersey. He has been instrumental in the rapid growth of transplantation here and championed the development of the Living Donor Transplant Programs at both Saint Barnabas and Newark Beth Israel Medical Centers. He is a dynamic leader who has cared for more than 1,500 kidney transplant recipients since the 1970s. He is largely responsible for the success of Barnabas Health's Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division as one of the most highly regarded programs in the United States.
Dr. Mulgaonkar is past president of the Transplant Society of New Jersey and has twice been name "New Jersey Transplant Professional of the Year" He was also named "Transplant Physician of the Year" in 1996. His major research interests include transplant immunology, clinical trials of newer immunosuppressants, and allograft thrombosis. He has led clinical research trials in the use of many novel immunosuppressants and has published over 100 scientific papers in peer review journals. He is on the speaker bureau of numerous transplant pharmaceutical companies who are leaders in the field of transplant immunosuppression. Dr. Mulgaonkar is a member of a number of professional societies including the American Society of Nephrology, the American Medical Association, The Renal Physicians Association, The Transplant Society of New Jersey, and the United Network for Organ Sharing. He is also on the board of the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network. |
Dr. Geffner has been has been associated with the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division since 1995 -- most recently as part of the Department of Transplant Surgery. During this time he has helped to build the program into one of the 10 largest kidney and pancreas transplant centers in the United States. Dr. Geffner's expertise in transplant surgery has led him to achieve medical "firsts" in New Jersey regarding transplant surgery, including performing a transplant on the youngest pediatric patient in the state, performing New Jersey's first laparoscopic kidney donation surgery, and performing the state's first isolated pancreas transplant.
Dr. Geffner received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School and completed a fellowship in transplant surgery at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. A talented surgeon, he received the Herbert A Schulte Award for excellence in surgery in 1992 and serves as Medical Director of the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network. Dr. Geffner is a published author and has made several presentations at national surgical conferences.
He plays an active role in the community and is involved with "Live from Kidney Transplant," a series of live video telecasts of transplant surgery to high school students by Liberty Science Center. He was recently presented with the 2005 National Medical Award for Excellence in Transplantation by the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America, Inc.
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Debra L. Morgan, MSW, LCSW, has been the Director of the Transplant Division since 1997. She has worked diligently to expand renal and pancreas transplant services to increasing numbers of New Jersey residents by bringing new technologies, research and programs to the Transplant Division including N.J.’s only Living Donor Institute. She oversees all aspects of patient care as well as operations of the two renal and pancreas transplant programs, located at separate campuses in Livingston and Newark.
Ms. Morgan served as a Clinical Social Worker of the Transplant Program at Saint Barnabas Medical Center from 1994 to 1997, providing psychosocial services to transplant patients, living donors and families. She also developed and implemented a wide range of psychosocial programs and frequently speaks at national and local conferences on psychosocial and ethical issues in transplantation.
Ms. Morgan received a Bachelors of Science in Community Services from the University of Massachusetts and her Masters in Social Work from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. She is a licensed Clinical Social Worker in New Jersey. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Morgan’s awards and honors in her profession include: Excellence in Caring Award from Saint Barnabas Medical Center; TRIO, NJ, Triangle Award Nominee; Boston College Graduate School of Social Work Distinguished Alumni Award; and the Kountz Heritage Award for Excellence from the NJ Organ and Tissue Sharing Network. Ms. Morgan is a member of numerous professional organizations in her field and has served as a board member of the Sharing Network, NJ’s organ procurement organization, since 2000. She has published and presented numerous abstracts, articles and research projects at professional conferences across the United States.
Andrea L. Tietjen, M.B.A., C.P.A., joined the transplant team in 1999 and has served as Manager of Transplant Data and Finance of Barnabas Health since 2003. She is responsible for integration and oversight of all data, quality and financial operations for both sites and manages research funding including oversight of a nearly $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration, among many other activities.
Ms. Tietjen’s previous positions include Controller at Felician College, Lodi, NJ; at Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ; and at Upsala College. She is a member of various organizations in her field and serves on committees including the National Kidney Registry Board Finance and Administrative Sub-Committee; BMS IV Access Model Advisory Board; Olson Group Advisory Panel; UNOS Financial Committee and Kidney Paired Donation Financial Subcommittee, and HKS Advisory Panel. Among the many awards and honors received by Ms. Tietjen are Top Abstract at two separate UNOS Management Forums; two-time honor of “Best White Paper” at HKS, Omaha, NE; “Excellence in Caring” from Saint Barnabas Medical Center; and “Top Hospital Abstract” at NATCO, Washington, D.C.
Charles E. Lascari, M.A., R.N., C.C.T.C., has been the Transplant Clinical Manager at Saint Barnabas Medical Center since 1999. In his position he has been responsible for the clinical oversight of the Transplant Program throughout the continuum of care, including the delivery of quality patient care in the Pre-Transplant, Post-Transplant, Transplant Research Departments and Transplant Short Stay Unit. He also oversees outreach activities to maintain the highest level of patient satisfaction.
Prior to his position at Barnabas Health, Mr. Lascari was Assistant Vice President for Outpatient and Emergency Services at Hackensack University Medical Center. Mr. Lascari served for many years as Chair of the Northern NJ Mobile Intensive Care Consortium. In his nursing role, he held various positions including Director of Nursing. Mr. Lascari’s previous experience included thoracic and vascular surgical nursing at the Veterans Administration Hospital in East Orange. He also completed an active duty assignment within the U. S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps at the 500-bed Chippewa Indian Health Services Hospital on a reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota.
Mr. Lascari has received awards in Excellence in Caring from Saint Barnabas Medical Center; for Top Clinical Abstract and Top Overall Abstract selected for Plenary Session Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization; and Outstanding Citizen Award from the Hackensack Chamber of Commerce in recognition of dedication to the well-being of the people of the community.
He received a Bachelors of Science from The William Paterson University of New Jersey and Master’s Degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. Mr. Lascari holds advanced certification as a Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC) awarded by the American Board for Transplant Certification attesting to a higher level of competency for transplant professionals providing quality care to transplant donors and recipients) He is a member of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO) and author of numerous abstracts.
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Charles E. Lascari, M.A., R.N., C.C.T.C.
