Southern Ocean Medical Center
Located in the heart of southern Ocean County, Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center has been caring for the community for over 50 years. With more than 400 physicians and over 1,000 dedicated health care professionals, the medical center provides comprehensive, high-quality, advanced inpatient and outpatient services.
Numerous investments have been made to facilities and services to bring advanced treatments, breakthrough technologies and skilled expertise to patients, including: advanced imaging services for expert screening, diagnostics and treatment; laboratory services; pain management; telemedicine for stroke patients; maternity; bariatric surgery; cardiovascular services and rehabilitation; convenient outpatient locations as well as two urgent care centers. The medical center has also expanded its cardiac services, offering emergency and elective angioplasty procedures, transforming into a comprehensive cardiac care facility. This addition is part of a larger $31 million expansion project underway at SOMC. This project includes significant upgrades to the surgical suite that will add two state-of-the-art operating rooms and expand the existing space by 8,400 square feet.
The Emergency Department sees more than 37,500 patients of Southern Ocean County each year in a setting that reinforces comfort, privacy and compassion. The completion of the $20 million state-of-the-art Cancer Center provides a single destination for multidisciplinary cancer treatment and advanced radiation therapies.
Southern Ocean has earned a number of prestigious accolades, including the 2025 Heart Failure Reaccreditation by the American College of Cardiology, has been approved for elective PCI granted by the NJ Department of Health, is a Center of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), certified by the American College of Radiology as a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence, and more.
Dear Southern Ocean Medical Center Physician,
The well-being of our team members, patients, and visitors is our highest priority. As part of our ongoing commitment to safety and security throughout Hackensack Meridian Health, we are introducing weapon detection screenings beginning August 18, 2026. All patients and visitors will be screened upon entry through the following entrances:
- Main Entrance
- Medical Arts Pavilion
- Emergency Department
- Same Day Surgery Entrance
This new screening is the next step in making our hospital even safer for you, your patients and their loved ones. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we implement this important safety measure.
Need assistance or have questions or comments about your experience? Contact the Office of Patient Experience at 609-978-3833 or consumerservices@hmhn.org.
Helpful Links & Resources
Hospital Leadership
Administration
Brian Walch, MS, PT, MBA
President and Chief Hospital Executive
Jason Nehmad, M.D., MBA, FACP, CPE.
Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Dawn Heath, MBA, MHA, BSN, RN, CCR-N
Vice President of Nursing, Chief Nurse Executive
William Schreiber, MBA, MSN, RN-BC
Vice President, Operations
Carl Maslag, R.Ph., MBA
Director, Clinical Operations
Allison Clemente
Executive Director of Development
Medical Staff Leadership
Joseph Lattanzi, M.D.
President
Paul Chung, M.D.
Vice President
Jason Wong, D.O
Secretary
Arthur DeMarsico, M.D.
Treasurer
Paul Mastrokyriakos, D.O.
Member at Large