Captain Joseph P. Costabile, MD of Marlton, New Jersey was recently installed as the 224th president of the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) at its annual meeting in May. He has served as a member of MSNJ’s Board of Trustees since 2009, and will assume the presidency from Steven Berkowitz, MD, PA, FACS, FAAOS, CIME.

“Dr. Costabile is a dedicated and passionate leader with a deep understanding of the issues and the vision needed to enact real change both in our organization and the greater medical community,” said Larry Downs, CEO of MSNJ. “We are thrilled to welcome him as our new president, and are confident that he will bring innovative ideas and expert guidance to our organization.”

A board-certified general and vascular surgeon, Dr. Costabile has extensive background in patient care, academic and professional leadership and health care advocacy. Since 1998, he has practiced with the Virtua Surgical Group, formerly the Surgical Group of South Jersey, Cherry Hill, with additional office locations in Marlton and Voorhees, New Jersey. Dr. Costabile has a long personal history with MSNJ. His father Douglas M. Costabile, MD served as the 198th president of the organization in 1990. In addition to his tenure on the Board of Trustees, Dr. Costabile has served as vice chairman of the MSNJ Council on Legislation since 2001.

A graduate of the Pingry Preparatory School and Ohio Wesleyan University, Dr. Costabile received his medical degree from UMDNJ Rutgers Medical School in Camden. After five years of surgical residency, a trauma fellowship and a year of cardiac surgical training, Dr. Costabile began his vascular surgical fellowship. At that time, he also enlisted as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

Dr. Costabile has dedicated many years of service to the U.S. Armed Forces. He is a captain in the U.S. Naval Reserves Medical Corps and was deployed twice to the Middle East in support of troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His first deployment was to an Expeditionary

Medical Facility in Kuwait for a year in 2005, where he treated the combat wounded primarily from Iraq. His second deployment in 2008 was to Iraq for eight months. He has served as Head of Department of Surgery, U.S. Military Hospital, Kuwait and Chief of Professional Services, 1st Medical Battalion Alpha Company, Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Today, Dr. Costabile continues to serve at the rank of captain in the 4th Medical Battalion under the 4th Marine Logistics Group, located at the Joint Base McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst.

As an advocate for protecting and advancing the profession of medicine, Dr. Costabile’s involvement in organized medicine has increased over the years. Since 2007, he has served as a delegate of the American Medical Association. Additionally, he served as president of the Camden County Medical Society (2003-2004) and president of the Vascular Society of New Jersey (2009-2010). He continues to serve as the Vascular Society’s treasurer, a position he has held since 2003.

In his inaugural speech as president, Dr. Costabile outlined three simple and straightforward goals for his one-year term:

- Focus on increasing membership and activism;

- The need for New Jersey physicians to “take back” their profession; and

- The need to do more to care for our military personnel.

“We are doctors, physicians – much more than just providers,” he stated. “We are leaders looking after our patients’ healthcare and guardians of their very well being. If we are not the stewards of our own profession, who will do it for us?”

His passion and dedication to our nation’s armed forces rang through in his inaugural speech:

“We need to do so more to take care of our military. These are people who have written a blank check to our great nation, with payment up to and including the sacrifice of their own lives. How many of us can say the same?” he continued. “We owe them a debt of gratitude – and from a professional standpoint, this can be accomplished by providing them with the quality, timely, compassionate medical care they have earned and deserve. We need make sure our veterans are aware of the programs and free care available to them, and all physicians should at a minimum accept Tricare, the military's health insurance. We must do all we can as physicians to make sure this population is not ignored.”

A gala has been scheduled in Dr. Costabile’s honor for Saturday, July 23 at The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The gala, sponsored by Capital Strategies Investment Group and Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A. among others, will not only recognize Dr. Costabile as he embarks on his new term as president, but will also celebrate 2016/2017 as MSNJ’s 250th Anniversary year. For more information, kindly visit www.msnj.org/250 or call (609) 896-1766.

About MSNJ

Founded in 1766, the Medical Society of New Jersey 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 www.msnj.org.