Breaking through to the future: Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center starts work on massive upgrade to surgical services
PR contact: Rob Seman
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SUMMIT, NJ – AUGUST 2026 – Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center recently celebrated the next phase of the hospital’s transformation project with a wall-breaking ceremony to begin construction of an expanded surgical department, the John E. Reeves Center for Advanced Surgery.
Joined by supporters Ed and Christy Reeves, leaders at Atlantic Health Overlook broke through a ceremonial wall to mark the start of the $70 million project that will greatly expand the hospital’s surgical capabilities.
“This is the time to expand our surgical environment and prepare Atlantic Health Overlook for the next era of exceptional care,” said Stephanie Schwartz, president of Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center and senior vice president of Atlantic Health.
Growing needs
The expansion is designed to meet current needs and future growth. Surgical volume increased 22% from 2021 to 2025. Robotic surgery cases grew 132% from 2022 to 2025. Surgical volumes are expected to continue increasing from more than 18,000 in 2025 to more than 24,000 in another 10 years.
While Atlantic Health Overlook has consistently remained on the forefront of surgical care developments and innovation, with the addition of robotic surgery platforms, innovations like neuromodulation and mixed reality technology, the physical space housing surgical services is in need of expansion and modernization. This marks the first major upgrade to this area in 45 years.
Last year, Atlantic Health Overlook opened two new operating rooms (ORs) in the John E. Reeves Center for Same Day Surgery, which is located separately from the main surgical area.
Team effort
The start of construction on the surgical department follows years of careful planning. In 2023, the surgical team met with engineers and architects to design and “build out” their optimal surgical space, creating entire walls, fixtures, desks and other objects from cardboard in the hospital’s spacious Bouras Auditorium.
Muhammad Feteiha, MD, chairman of the department of surgery at Atlantic Health Overlook, noted the numerous individuals involved in the planning of the new surgical area, planning and work already accomplished.
“This was truly a team effort, and at the heart of it we believe in Atlantic Health Overlook’s future,” Dr. Feteiha said.
“We listened to what the patients told us,” said Jillian Carratala, RN, director of nursing for surgical services at Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center. “That patient perspective became our foundation. It guided every conversation, every decision, and every revision along the way.”
The result of those plans, the expansion, will include the following:
- An increase in total ORs from 20 to 26; this includes an increase in the main OR suites from 12 to 18
- Renovation of 12 current ORs in the main OR
- A new 50-bay pre-operative and post-operative care unit, with 24 private bays
- Six integrated ORs equipped for robotics, intraoperative imaging and minimally invasive procedures
- Upgrades to infrastructure including HVAC, two elevators, electrical wiring, lighting and infection control systems
- Expansion and modernization of sterile processing and surgical support zones with connecting elevators
- Being cognizant of future needs, there will be space to expand further to enhance neurosurgical services
Construction is expected to take place in phases over the next 3 to 4 years, allowing the hospital to continue its busy surgical schedule uninterrupted.
The project will reflect a multi-phased approach to capital investment and is supported largely by donors through Overlook Foundation, most notably the Reeves Foundation, whose contribution highlighted the family’s commitment to supporting care at Atlantic Health Overlook.
“We are proud to support this plan which has kept patients at the center of every decision. The Overlook team has truly designed a surgical center for the future,” said Ed Reeves.
About Atlantic Health
Atlantic Health is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 25,000 team members and more than 5,667 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 14 counties and 7.5 million people.
The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its eight hospitals: Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Atlantic Health Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Atlantic Health Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and Atlantic Health CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, NJ.
The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with almost 2,000 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 4,000 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 26 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Health Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Founded by Atlantic Health, the Healthcare Transformation Consortium is a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability. Atlantic Health has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University, is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Atlantic Health Morristown and Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.