MEET OUR DOCTORS
Combined, our physicians have over 50 years of experience in the fields of adult and pediatric pulmonary, sleep disorders, and allergy/immunology care. Our highly trained team is regarded as the premier specialists in Northern New Jersey. All of our 16 full-time, board certified physicians are trained in a sub-specialty medical field. Our physicians have been widely recognized by medical associations, received awards as top doctors in their field, and have been named outstanding doctors by regional magazines, such as New York and New Jersey Monthly.
JAIME CANCEL MD, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Asthma, COPD and Sepsis
Degree: Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR
Residency: Cabrini Medical Center,
Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
Fellowship: Mt. Sinai Medical Center,
New York, NY and Brooklyn Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
Board Certifications: Critical Care Medicine
and Pulmonary Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center,
Overlook Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Cancel joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates on 2006.
He is an active member of the American Thoracic Society and American College of Physicians. Dr. Cancel is fluent in Spanish,
and in his spare time he enjoys cycling and traveling.
ROBERT CAPONE, MD, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; Sleep Medicine
Interests: Sleep Medicine
Degree: Columbia University, New York, NY
Residency: Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
Fellowship: New York University, New York, NY
Board Certifications: Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Disorders
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center,
Overlook Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Capone joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 1983. He is an expert in Sleep Medicine and is Co-Director of Atlantic Health Sleep Centers.
FEDERICO CERRONE, MD, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; Sleep Medicine
Interests: Sleep Medicine and Pulmonary Disease
Degree: Georgetown University School of Medicine,
Washington, DC
Residency: Bronx Municipal Hospital of
Albert Einstein College, Bronx, NY
Fellowship: Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
Board Certifications: Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine
and Sleep Disorders
Hospital Affiliations: Overlook Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Cerrone began practicing at Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 1992. He is the Director of Atlantic Health Sleep Centers. In his spare time, he enjoys coaching soccer and traveling.
EDWARD A. DIMITRY, JR., MD, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Asthma, Sarcoidosis, COPD, Interstitial Lung Disease
Degree: Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship: Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA
Board Certifications: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center,
Overlook Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Dimitry has been with Pulmonary and Allergy Associates since 1996. His areas of expertise include asthma, COPD, sarcoidosis and other interstitial lung diseases. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Dimitry enjoys spending time with his family, water skiing, woodturning and gardening.
VINCENT DONNABELLA, MD
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Degree: University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Newark, NJ
Residency: Bellevue Hospital, NYU Medical Center, New York, NY
Fellowship: Bellevue Hospital, NYU Medical Center, New York, NY
Board Certifications: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center,
Overlook Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
After completing his residency and fellowship at NYU Medical Center, Dr. Donnabella remained on the faculty at NYU until he joined PAA in 2004. Dr. Donnabella’s professional interests include quality care initiatives in both pulmonary and critical care medicine. He enjoys teaching residents and fellows in various hospital settings including ICU and pulmonary consultation. He also enjoys lecturing on a variety of pulmonary critical care topics to various audiences. Dr. Donabella is an avid reader and videogame enthusiast.
MATTHEW EPSTEIN, MD, FCCP, FAASM
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine
Interests: Sleep Disordered Breathing, Pulmonary Disease
Medical Degree: McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Residency: The Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship: NYU University Medical Center, New York, NY
Board Certifications: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine,
Sleep Disorders
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, UMDNJ
Dr. Epstein is the Associate Director of the Atlantic Health Sleep Centers in Morristown, NJ, and is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He has published numerous articles on sleep-disordered breathing, serves as a reviewer for several medical journals, and frequently lectures on sleep and sleep disorders. Dr. Epstein has been listed on the Consumers’ Research Council of American Guide to America’s Top Physicians, Best Doctors in America, and New Jersey Monthly Top Doctors. Dr. Epstein enjoys cooking, hiking, kayaking and digital photography.
SUE FESSLER, M.D., Ph.D. FCCP
Specialty: Adult Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Asthma, COPD, Sarcoidosis, Lung Cancer
Degree: Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Fellowship: Harvard Combined Training Program
in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Boston, MA
Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, Imperial College, London, UK
Board Certifications: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Overlook Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Fessler provides both inpatient and outpatient care in Adult Pulmonary Medicine, as well as inpatient Critical Care Medicine. Her clinical experience encompasses a wide range of pulmonary disease including lung tumors, interstitial lung disease and neuromuscular respiratory disease in addition to asthma and COPD. She also serves as a mentor and educator in pulmonary and critical care medicine for medical residents training at both Overlook and Morristown Medical Centers. In her spare time, Dr. Fessler enjoys traveling with her family.
DONATELLA B. GRAFFINO, MD, FACAAI
Specialty: Allergy and Immunology and Pediatrics
Interests: Immunotherapy, Clinical Immunology,
Asthma and Food Allergies
Degree: Facolta di Medicina e Chirugia,
Universita'degli Studi Di Padova, Italy
Residency: Pediatrics, Overlook Hospital, Summit, NJ
Fellowship: Allergy and Immunology and Pediatric Infectious Disease, University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Newark, NJ
Board Certifications: Pediatrics and Allergy and Immunology
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
Prior to joining Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 2000, Dr. Graffino was Chief of Pediatric Allergy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ and was Associate Director of the Fellowship Program. Dr. Graffino provides care for children with allergic and immunologic disorders. Her professional affiliations and memberships include being Former President of NJ Allergy Society, and a member of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and Morris County Women’s MD’s Networking group. She has won a Travel Scholar Award, and an Allergy and Asthma Publications award, as well as being rated one of the top doctors in the US in 2007. Dr. Graffino speaks fluent Italian and enjoys traveling, sailing, cooking, reading, and fundraising.
MOIRA KENDRA, RN, MA, ANP-C
Specialty: Pulmonary Medicine
Interests: COPD, Asthma, Pulmonary Fibrosis
Degree: Master of Arts, New York University,
School of Nursing, New York, NY
Board Certifications: American Nurse's Credentialing Center
Hospital Affiliations: Overlook Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
Ms. Kendra was a Nurse Practitioner for Summit Pain Management prior to joining Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 2004. Ms. Kendra is a member of the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
GARY L. KOHN, MD, FAAP, FCCP
Specialty: Pediatric Pulmonology, Pediatric Critical Care
Interests: Asthma Management, Cough, Infants with Chronic Respiratory Symptoms and Children with Neuromuscular Weakness
Degree: The Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL
Residency: University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, IL
Fellowship: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH (pediatric pulmonology), Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY (pediatric critical care)
Board Certifications: General Pediatrics, Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital, St. Clare’s Hospital
Dr. Kohn joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 2006. In 2010, Dr. Kohn was named one of New Jersey’s Favorite Kids’ Doctors in New Jersey Family magazine and one of New Jersey’s Top Doctors in 2009 and 2011 by New Jersey Monthly magazine. Dr. Kohn enjoys woodworking and is an avid skier.
LOUIS JAY MESSANO III, PA-C
Specialty: Pulmonary
Degree: University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ, Newark, NJ
and Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Master’s Education: University of Medicine & Dentistry,
Newark, NJ
Board Certifications: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant and All American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
Mr. Messano joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in December of 2000. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the New Jersey State Society of Physician Assistants. Mr. Messano won the Overlook Hospital Professional Excellence in Clinician Practice Award in 2008 and the UMDNJ-SHRP Physicians Assistant Student Clinical Excellence Award in 1998.
JEFFREY S. NAHMIAS, MD
Specialty: Sleep Disorder Medicine
Interests: Adult and Pediatric Sleep Apnea, Insomnia,
Narcolepsy, Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
Degree: S.U.N.Y. Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Residency: Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Fellowship: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ
Board Certifications: Pulmonary Medicine, Sleep Disorders
Hospital Affiliations: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Nahmias joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in the Spring of 2010. He is the Medical Director of Beth Israel Hospital Sleep Fellowship Programs and is a leading authority on sleep disorders. He is also the Co-Director of the Sleep Disorder Center at Overlook Hospital. Dr. Nahmias served as the President of the New Jersey Sleep Society and has composed over sixty articles on sleep disorders. He is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and New Jersey Sleep Society and in his spare time, he enjoys softball and traveling.
ERWIN OEI, MD, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Pulmonary Hypertension, COPD,
Interstitial Lung Disease and Sarcoidosis
Degree: University of Medicine & Dentistry Robert Wood
Johnson Medical Center, Piscataway, NJ
Residency: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington
University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center,
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY
Board Certifications: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center,
Overlook Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Oei joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 2002. He was formerly part of the academic faculty at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine where he served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pulmonary Immunology and also was an active participant in Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship Program at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. He has continued to participate in clinical research investigations regarding various aspects of care in the Intensive Care Unit.
JOHN J. OPPENHEIMER, MD, FACAAI, FAAAAI
Specialty: Allergies and Asthma
Interests: Seasonal and Food Allergy Evaluation and Management
Degree: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Robert Wood Johnson University, New Brunswick, NJ
Fellowship: National Jewish Center for Immunology
and Medicine, Denver, CO
Board Certifications: Pediatrics; Allergy and Immunology
Hospital Affiliations: Overlook Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital and Morristown Medical Center
Dr. Oppenheimer joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 1994, after his position as a staff physician at both University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ and National Jewish Hospitals. He is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Dr. Oppenheimer has published over 90 articles regarding Asthma and Allergic Disease. He is the Associate Editor of the Annals of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, Co-section Editor of Current Reports of Allergy and Immunology, and is the Vice-Chairman of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
ROBERT A. RESTIFO, DO, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary Disease
Interests: Interventional Pulmonology,
Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Techniques
Degree: University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Newark, NJ
Residency: University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Newark, NJ
Fellowship: University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Newark, NJ
Board Certifications: Pulmonary Disease
Hospital Affiliations: Overlook Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center and St. Barnabas Medical Center
Dr. Restifo is the section chief of the Pulmonary Division at Overlook Medical Center and is an active member of the teaching staff for the residency programs at Overlook and Morristown Medical Centers. He sits on several hospital committees at Overlook Medical Center and is head of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. He is a member of the American Thoracic Society and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Restifo enjoys travel, photography, home theater and coaching baseball.
FREDERIC SCOOPO, MD, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Pulmonary Fibrosis, COPD, Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis
Degree: University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT
Residency: Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ
Fellowship: Hahneman University, Philadelphia, PA
Board Certifications: Pulmonary Medicine,
Critical Care Medicine, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Scoopo joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 1996. He completed his fellowship at Hahnemann University and is an avid lecturer on topics in Pulmonary Medicine. He is Co-Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Morristown Medical Center. He has been named over many years as one of New Jersey Monthly’s Top Docs. In his spare time, he enjoys boating and coaching sports. He currently serves on the Babe Ruth Baseball Board in his town.
CHIRAG V. SHAH, MD, MSc
Specialty: Adult Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: COPD, Sarcoidosis, Asthma, Pulmonary Hypertension
Degree: University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Residency: Washington University and
Barnes - Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
Fellowship: University of Pennsylvania School
of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Board Certifications: Pulmonary Diseases
and Critical Care Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center and St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Shah joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 2009. He
has a Masters Degree in Clinical Epidemiology and has had various research grants and completed extensive clinical research in ARDS and sepsis. He has presented his findings at national and international conferences and published numerous research articles and chapters in books. Dr. Shah is actively involved in residency and fellowship training. He enjoys soccer, traveling and photography.
ROBERT SUSSMAN, MD, FCCP
Specialty: Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Asthma, COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis,
Chronic Cough and Lung Nodules
Degree: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Residency: Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
Fellowship: New York University/Bellevue, New York, NY
Board Certifications: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Hospital Affiliations: Overlook Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Sussman joined Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 1986 and serves as President and Managing Partner. He is Co-Director of the Pulmonary and Allergy Associates Clinical Research Center and has been a principal investigator in over 100 clinical trials in the fields of COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and bronchiectasis. He is currently the President of Medical Staff at Overlook Medical Center and the former Chief of the Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Dr. Sussman has been an invited speaker at national and international meetings. He has published papers in various medical journals and has been recognized as a Top Doctor by New Jersey Monthly,Best Doctor in New York magazine, and a Best Doctor in the New York Metropolitan Area by Castle Connolly.
MARK I. ZIMMERMAN, MD, FCCP, FACP
Specialty: Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine
Interests: Critical Care Medicine
Degree: NYU Medical Center, New York, NY
Residency: NYU Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY
Fellowship: Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
Board Certifications: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary,
and Critical Care
Hospital Affiliations: Overlook Medical Center, Morristown
Medical Center, St. Barnabas Hospital
Dr. Zimmerman became a member of Pulmonary and Allergy Associates in 2002. He has been awarded Top Doctor in New Jersey Monthly magazine in 2009, a Physician Excellence Award for Overlook Hospital in 2003 and numerous Overlook Medical Center House Staff Teaching Awards. He is currently the Director of the Intensive Care Unit at Overlook Medical Center and the Chairman of the Critical Care Committee. Dr. Zimmerman is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society along with the American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. In his spare time, he enjoys golf and stays active in his community as the Committee Chairman for Troop 63 of the Boy Scouts of America.
MARY HEWITT, MSN, CPNP
Specialty: Pediatric Pulmonary and allergy
Interests: Asthma, patient and family education
Degree: Bachelor's Science, Nursing: Kean University Master's Science, Nursing: Seton Hall University
Board Certifications: Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
Mary joined PAA in 2012. She has been providing care for pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses for 10 years. She has focused and aspired to family-centered education and management of acute and chronic respiratory conditions, primarily asthma. She has 18 years experience in pediatrics, including Pediatric intensive care.
JEANNE HORSEY, MSN, CPNP
Specialty: Pediatric Pulmonology
Interests: Asthma management, patient eudcation
Degree: Boston College School of Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Seton Hall University, Master of Science in Nursing
Board Certifications: Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
Jeanne joined PAA in 2012. She has been providing care for patients with respiratory illness for 12 years. Jeanne’s dedication to her patients is exemplified through work with the American Lung Association, holding the position of Vice President for the Northern Board. In addition, Jeanne has been involved with the Pediatric Asthma Coalition to streamline the care of patients with asthma across the state of New Jersey since it’s inception in 2000.
When Jeanne is not caring for children with asthma she enjoys spending time with her family, running and playing tennis.