Megan McDermott MS, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant who works closely with the Orthocenter’s team of surgeon’s.
Megan received her Bachelor of Health Sciences at Stockton University and went on to obtain her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at Thomas Jefferson University.
Megan has always had a profound interest in Orthopedics, shadowing in an orthopedic surgical setting and working as a Physical Therapy Aide prior to PA school.
Megan joined the OrthoCenter team in October of 2023. Her primary responsibilities include first assisting our surgeons in the operating room as well as seeing patients at both Riverview and Bayshore Medical Centers. Megan also will occasionally see patients at our various office locations.
Benjamin J Scopellite MS, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant. He received his bachelor’s in Biology from Seton Hall University in 2019, and Subsequently his Masters’s as a Physician Assistant from Seton Hall University in 2021.
Benjamin has always had a great interest in orthopedic surgery and since graduating as a PA in 2021 he has worked in orthopedics.
During his practice he has seen patients in the emergency and inpatient hospital setting as well as the outpatient clinic; in addition to acting as a surgical first assist in a wide variety of orthopedic procedures.
Benjamin joined Orthocenter in 2022. His primary responsibilities include assisting the surgeons in the operating room and seeing patients at both Riverview Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center. Benjamin also sees patients in the outpatient office setting.
Alexander C. Scopellite MS, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant who has been employed with the OrthoCenter since 2019. Alex received his Masters as a Physician Assistant from Seton Hall University 2019. He has always had a passion for the orthopaedic medical field which he discovered working at Bayshore Medical Center in the OR during his undergraduate and graduate education.
Alex currently functions as the managing PA-C for the practice. His primary responsibilities include assisting all the surgeons in the practice in the operating room, as well as seeing patients admitted to the hospital and in the emergency room at Riverview Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center. Alex will perform bedside fracture and dislocation reductions, application of splints, application of wound vac systems, and intra-articular joint injections/aspirations.
Alex also occasionally sees patients in the outpatient office setting; evaluating new patients, managing patients in the post-operative period, and see patients for routine repeat injections.
Ashley Kearns, MS PA-C is a Board Certified Physician Assistant who has been with the Orthocenter since January 2022.
Ms. Kearns received her Bachelor of Health Sciences at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University in Boston, MA in 2016. After her Undergraduate Degree, she continued her education and received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at MCPHS University in 2018.
After attaining her PA degree, Ms. Kearns started her career as an Orthopaedic Surgery Physician Assistant with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Hospital system in Boston MA. While in Boston, Ms. Kearns precepted PA students, sharing her passion for Orthopaedics with her future colleagues.
After 3 years, Ms. Kearns moved to New Jersey and joined the Orthocenter team in January 2022. Ms. Kearns assists the Orthocenter surgeons in the operating room at area hospitals and surgery centers. Ms. Kearns also sees patients in the Orthocenter’s Red Bank offices.
Dr. Margaret Donlon is Board Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She earned her B.S. degree from Middlebury College and a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) from Yale University.
Dr. Donlon completed her medical school training at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed an internship in Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Dr. Donlon subsequently pursued her Residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark NJ at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. She received additional training in the practice of Medical Acupuncture at the Helms Medical Institute in Berkeley, CA.
Dr. Donlon sees patients in several area inpatient rehabilitation facilities. She also has a passion for caring for patients with the goal of reducing pain and improving function.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Donlon believes strongly in public service/public health and giving back to her local community. She currently serves as a Town Councilwoman for Ocean Township NJ and is a member of numerous local environmental committees.
Dr. Jeffrey Van Gelderen is a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon at Orthocenter, specializing in sports injuries and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, hip, and knee. His expertise is in joint preservation—helping patients stay active, preserve mobility, and postpone joint replacement through advanced, motion-preserving techniques.
A Monmouth County native and graduate of Holmdel High School, Dr. Van Gelderen earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University. He received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, completed his orthopaedic residency at NYU’s Hospital for Joint Diseases, and completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at UCLA, where he served as assistant team physician for NCAA Division I athletes.
For more than a decade, Dr. Van Gelderen has delivered expert orthopaedic care in the community he proudly calls home. He has consistently been named one of New Jersey’s Top Doctors, maintains a 4.9 star rating from over 400 Google reviews, and sponsors an annual health sciences scholarship to support the next generation of medical professionals.
Dr. Elad Tennen is a Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician who provides expert care to patients at Orthocenter. Dr. Tennen specializes in Non-Operative Sports Medicine with experience treating Musculoskeletal injuries and systemic athletic conditions from your weekend warrior to the professional athlete.
Dr. Tennen received his undergraduate degree in Biology with minors in Mathematics and Chemistry from Ramapo College of New Jersey, graduating with Honors. Following graduation, Dr. Tennen went on to Ross University School of Medicine for his Medical Degree. After receiving his Medical Degree Dr. Tennen completed an Internal Medicine Internship at Elmhurst Hospital in affiliation with Mount Sinai Hospital.
After his Internship, Dr. Tennen completed his Residency in Family Medicine from the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset NJ. After Residency, Dr. Tennen completed an ACGME Accredited Fellowship at Atlantic Sports Health in Morristown NJ. While in Fellowship, Dr. Tennen’s training involved providing sideline medical coverage for the New York Jets, Division I athletes from Seton Hall University and a private hockey league.
Dr. Tennen practices non-surgical techniques, using conservative measures to allow patients to rehabilitate from their injuries. His Primary Care background allows for treatment of Non-Orthopaedic / medical injuries in athletes ranging from concussion management/return to play, athletic fatigue, overtraining, exercised induced asthma, as well as management of athletes with other chronic medical conditions. Dr. Tennen believes in using the patient-centered approach in providing care and building a strong rapport with his patients.
Dr. Tennen is a New Jersey native who was raised nearby in Marlboro NJ. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching football and following the fitness industry. Dr. Tennen plays an active role in his community serving as the District Physician for several local school districts in Monmouth County NJ.
Peter Shupper, MD, is a Board-Certified specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), with an additional Board Certification in Interventional Pain Medicine.
Dr. Shupper received his B.S. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Rutgers University, where he received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Leadership. He then went on to New York Medical College for his medical education. After graduating, he completed an Internal Medicine internship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital. Subsequently, Dr. Shupper completed his Residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School/Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.
While at Rutgers, Dr. Shupper was nominated for resident teaching awards, published numerous scholarly journal articles, and presented his research at several national society meetings. After graduating from his residency, he completed an Interventional Pain Medicine Fellowship at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in the Anesthesiology Department. While in his Fellowship, Dr. Shupper developed his skillset in minimally invasive spinal procedures, including radiofrequency ablation and neuromodulation. He was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA). Dr. Shupper is currently an editorial board member for the Pain Physician Journal.
Dr. Shupper helps his patients return to and optimally perform their chosen activities while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. His goals for his patients are to maximize function while minimizing pain. Dr. Shupper treats patients with spine (neck, midback, low back, and buttock) pain as well as musculoskeletal issues (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle/foot). Dr. Shupper utilizes both conservative and minimally invasive interventions, including ultrasound, fluoroscopically guided procedures, and neuromodulation.
Joseph Simone, APN-C, RNFA, DC, is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Chiropractic and RN First Surgical Assistant, who provides compassionate care to our patients. Dr. Simone is dedicated to improving patients’ lives at Orthocenter and sees patients in all four locations: Red Bank, Morganville, Holmdel, and Eatontown, NJ.
Dr. Simone received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Harden-Simmons University (HSU) in Abilene, TX. He then achieved his Master of Science in Nursing from Samford University in Homewood, AL. Dr. Simone completed his Doctorate from New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls NY.
Dr. Simone’s broad clinical experience and training range from primary care to geriatrics, orthopaedics, pediatrics, OB/GYN as well as Chiropractic care. He attained surgical experience and has been a part of many different OR procedures. He has retired from practicing Chiropractic medicine and decided to continue his career path in the direction of Orthopaedic and Interventional Pain Management Care at OrthoCenter.
Dr. Simone is a NIFA certified RN First Surgical Assist (RNFA). He is Board-Certified in Interventional Pain Management Procedures by the American Academy of Procedural Medicine (AAOPM). Dr. Simone continues to further his education in order to provide his patients with the latest state-of-the-art treatments that are available today.
Dr. Simone has numerous AAOPM board certifications, including spinal injections, inter-articular joint injections, arthrocentesis, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, and bursa injections.
Dr. Simone’s professional affiliations include the American Nurses Association (ANA), New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA), Forum of Nurses in Advanced Practice (FNAP), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Academy of Procedural Medicine (AAOPM), Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC) and the New Jersey State PBA Physicians Association.
Offering expert care to New Jersey residents, Michael A. Romello, MD, is committed to putting his patients first. Board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Romello brings his expertise in non-operative musculoskeletal care and interventional pain management to the team at Orthocenter.
Dr. Romello received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. While there, he was a 4-year starter and 2-year captain of the Ursinus baseball team and graduated Magna Cum laude. After completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Romello went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ/Rutgers) in Newark. Dr. Romello did his internship in Internal Medicine at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, followed by his Residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UMDNJ/Kessler institute for Rehabilitation.
Dr. Romello then went on to complete Fellowship training in Interventional Pain Management from Lags Spine and Sports Care in Santa Maria, California. While there, he received additional training in non-operative care of spine, musculoskeletal conditions, and sports related injuries. In addition to spinal procedures, Dr. Romello also gained further experience in electrodiagnostic testing (EMG) as well as musculoskeletal ultrasound guided procedures.
As a part of the Orthocenter team, Dr. Romello focuses on neck and back pain management. He provides comprehensive non operative care for his patients including spinal procedures under fluoroscopic guidance such as epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and joint injections. He performs dorsal column spinal cord stimulator trials and works closely with the orthopedic spine team for permanent placement of spinal cord stimulators.
Dr. Romello is an active member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, (AAPM&R), the North American Spine Society (NASS), Spine Intervention Society (SIS) and the New Jersey Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He strives to provide quality care to maximize each person’s function and improve their quality of life.