Courtesy photo
Medical Society of NJ announces New President
Florham Park resident Donald M. Chervenak, MD, FACOG, was recently installed as the 231st President of the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) during the House of Delegates session of the organization’s 2023 Annual Meeting held on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Dr. Chervenak has been a member of MSNJ since 1984 and member of MSNJ’s Board of Trustees since 2018, serving on various councils and committees – most notably a taskforce to ensure lifesaving yearly mammography for all women between the ages of 40-50. Dr. Chervenak will assume the presidency from Steven Orland, MD.
“Dr. Chervenak is a passionate advocate for patient health, supportive colleague and dedicated physician,” said Larry Downs, CEO of MSNJ. “With an eye on equity and focus on women’s health issues, he will bring new ideas and fresh perspective to our organization. I welcome Dr. Chervenak as our new President for the 2023-2024 term, and fully support his continued leadership and advocacy on behalf of our physician members throughout the state.”
In his inaugural speech as President, Dr. Chervenak shared the following thoughts:
“Harking back to the oaths we took when we received our medical licenses and degrees, the health and wellbeing of our patients is and will forever be our first priority as physicians. We are called to be protectors – even in the face of mental, physical and spiritual challenges. As physicians, we cannot be apathetic in our care and advocacy – we must listen, we must learn, we must protect and we must provide the highest quality of care to our patients, no matter the circumstance or situation. That is what it means to be a physician. I am proud to serve as the next President of MSNJ – not only to give a voice to our profession, but, more importantly, to those we care for each day.”
Dr. Chervenak is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and the founder of Florham Park OB/GYN where he currently practices. He also serves a Clinical Associate Professor, Department of OB/GYN of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and previously served as clinical chief of OB/GYN at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Dr. Chervenak is a member of the Morris County Medical Society, where he is currently serving in the role of president. He previously served as past president of the New Jersey Obstetrical & Gynecological Society, past New Jersey section chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and secretary of District III of ACOG (covering NJ, PA, DE and the Dominican Republic).
In addition to his professional associations, Dr. Chervenak served as chairman of the medical committee of Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey(now Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central and Southern New Jersey, Inc.) for more than 24 years. He has been cited by both Assembly and Senate of New Jersey for his work, and was named a recipient of numerous awards, including MSNJ’s DeGroote Award, recognizing a member whose selfless and idealistic work benefits broader humankind, and Edward J. III Excellence in Medicine Foundation’s prestigious Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Citizen’s Award, recognizing distinguished service in advancing and promoting the health and wellbeing of the people of New Jersey, to name a few.
Dr. Chervenak received a dual bachelor’s degree in medical science and psychology and medical degree from Boston University, through the university’s Accelerated Medical Program. He completed his internship and residency at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. He currently resides in Florham Park, New Jersey.
About the Medical Society of New Jersey:
Founded in 1766, the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) is the oldest professional society in the United States. MSNJ has a mission to promote the betterment of the public health and the science and the art of medicine, to enlighten public opinion in regard to the problems of medicine, and to safeguard the rights of the practitioners of medicine. MSNJ represents all medical disciplines and serves as an advocate for patient and physician rights. Its members are dedicated to ensuring delivery of the highest quality medical care throughout New Jersey. For more information, visit msnj.org.
