RWJBarnabas Health’s Monmouth Medical Center and Seaview Orthopaedics Partner with Operation Walk USA to Gift Life-Changing Surgeries This Holiday Season

Two Patients Regain Mobility and Restored Quality of Life at No Cost to Them or Their Families

Long Branch, NJ, December 22, 2025 - Monmouth Medical Center (MMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and Seaview Orthopaedics, a partner practice of RWJBarnabas Health, teamed up to give the gift of mobility to two Jersey Shore residents this holiday season through Operation Walk USA, a nationwide initiative that provides free joint replacement surgeries to uninsured patients in need.

This marks MMC and Seaview Orthopaedics' third consecutive year and fifth time overall working with Operation Walk USA; in 2025, MMC and Seaview Orthopaedics are the only participating health care providers in New Jersey.

Earlier this month, these patients underwent life-changing procedures at MMC. One recipient, Jerry D'Apolito of Ocean Grove, received a right knee replacement after years of debilitating pain, made worse by a devastating truck accident. For Jerry, a father of four, this surgery represents a chance to return to the active lifestyle he once enjoyed.

"I hate that I'm the one slowing my family down - all I want is to be active with my kids again," he said. "This surgery gives me real hope that I'll be back out there with them soon, enjoying walks by the beach with my wife, focusing on our family, and being fully present for the moments that matter."

Jacqueline Crines of Point Pleasant, who received a right hip replacement after years of intense physical exercise, said the pain she was experiencing took a toll on her both physically and mentally. She said, "I've never had depression in my life, but the pain wore me down. I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life like that." In her recovery, she looks forward to being active again, but also prioritizing more time with her kids, a more balanced lifestyle, and finding time to give back.

Both surgeries were performed by Dr. David Chalnick, an orthopedic surgeon with Seaview Orthopaedics and medical director of the Joint Replacement Surgery Program at MMC. The implants were donated by Smith + Nephew.

"Chronic knee and hip pain can profoundly limit a person's independence," said Dr. Chalnick. "A joint replacement can open the door to renewed mobility and dignity. Through Operation Walk USA, we're able to extend this life-changing care to patients who otherwise might never have access to it."

Both patients are undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation at Seaview Orthopaedics. While recovery timelines vary, most joint replacement patients see significant improvement in mobility and pain reduction over the first several weeks. Through coordinated follow-up care, physical therapy, and ongoing support from the orthopedic team, they are taking the first steps toward reclaiming their lives and health right now.

"Being able to help someone walk without pain again is truly meaningful," said Eric Carney, President and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center and its Southern Campus in Lakewood. "Operation Walk USA reflects the very best of what we do at MMC - provide compassionate, high-quality care to those who need it most. We are grateful to Seaview Orthopaedics for partnering with us to make this life-changing work possible."

MMC has been nationally recognized for its orthopedic care. U.S. News & World Report has rated the hospital "high performing" for hip replacement surgery and spinal fusion. The hospital is also rated 5 stars by Healthgrades for hip fracture treatment. In June, MMC celebrated the 80^th anniversary of its Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program - the oldest orthopaedic residency program in New Jersey. This month, MMC once again achieved Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification for Total Hip, Knee and Spine in recognition of the program's commitment to excellence in providing care for joint replacement and spine surgery patients. The hospital has now held this advanced certification for 15 consecutive years.

Operation Walk USA is a nationwide initiative that provides free joint replacements to uninsured patients in need. Over the past 15 years, the organization has provided free joint replacement surgeries for 945 patients, with the value of these procedures exceeding $26 million.

To learn more about orthopedic services at RWJBarnabas Health, visit https://www.rwjbh.org/ortho.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.

RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state's largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.

RWJBarnabas Health's commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey's largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit https://www.RWJBH.org

About Monmouth Medical Center

Monmouth Medical Center (MMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, along with The Unterberg Children's Hospital, is a regional teaching campus for Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. As the first hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties, MMC offers the most experienced surgeons in robotics and other minimally invasive procedures as well as bariatric and joint and spine surgery. MMC delivers more babies annually than all other hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined. The hospital offers access to the region's top cardiologists and the award-winning, nationally recognized RWJBarnabas Heart Centers. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has conferred Magnet® recognition for MMC, one of just 509 U.S. health care organizations out of more than 6,300 U.S. hospitals to achieve Magnet recognition. MMC has received more "A" Hospital Safety Scores from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization, than any other hospital in the region. The hospital has also been named a Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospital three times. MMC is one of just 414 of the more than 6,000 hospital hospitals in the U.S. named to Newsweek's Global Best Hospitals' list for two consecutive years, and one of 148 U.S. hospitals named to the digital platform Money's inaugural list of the Best Hospitals in America. Additionally, it is one of 34 U.S. hospitals honored by the Emergency Nurses Association with the 2022-2025 Lantern Award for excellence in emergency care, and for the eighth consecutive year, was honored by Healthgrades with the Obstetrics and Gynecology and Labor and Delivery Excellence Awards. U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has recognized MMC among the 2023-2024 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, which identifies hospitals that provide high-quality maternity care for uncomplicated pregnancies. RWJBarnabas Health and MMC, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside patients, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials.

About Seaview Orthopaedics

Seaview Orthopaedics is a multi-specialty orthopedic practice founded in Neptune, New Jersey, in 1982 with a mission to help patients overcome pain and return to a life of quality and activity. Over the past four decades, they have grown to serve communities across Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties, with seven convenient office locations in Brick, Barnegat, Freehold, Ocean, Monroe, Holmdel and East Brunswick. They are proud to be the team physicians for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.

Seaview provides a comprehensive range of orthopedic services delivered by 32 highly skilled doctors specializing in Sports Medicine, Hand & Upper Extremity, Neck & Back, Joint Replacement, Pediatric Orthopedics, Foot & Ankle, Pain Management, Concussion care, and Regenerative Medicine. To further support their patients' recovery journeys, they offer physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and hand therapy at all seven office locations. Their physical therapy program includes specialized Schroth physical therapy for scoliosis, ensuring personalized care for patients with unique needs. By working together, their team of physicians, therapists, and specialists creates a multifaceted approach to treatment, fostering optimal recovery and improved quality of life.

At Seaview Orthopaedics, they are dedicated to helping patients get back to quality living.

Media Contact:Carrie [email protected]