business briefs 

The Goddard School, 50 Route 520, Morganville, is participating in the 2011 School Hunger Challenge. The school will be collecting items to donate to the Food- Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, such as children’s boxed cereals, applesauce, oatmeal, cereal bars, cheese and cracker packages, dried fruit, spaghetti, macaroni or noodles. Monetary donations can be made by visiting www.foodbankmoc.org. Designate the donation as “Pound$ for Dollar$” and specify that the donation is made “on behalf of the Morganville Goddard School.” The food drive will end on Nov. 18. This activity teaches the children to think about those who are in need during the Thanksgiving holiday season.

Robert P. Braun has been named assistant vice president of Cancer Care Services at CentraState Healthcare System. Braun is responsible for creating a coordinated cancer care service line that will better meet the needs of its patients, their families and referring physicians. He serves as the point person for cancer services for staff, physicians and community members to direct questions and concerns. Braun was previously the administrative and operations director at Health Quest Healthcare System in New York. Prior to that he was the corporate director of Radiation Oncology and Diagnostic Imaging at Aptium Oncology, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca, in Los Angeles.

The Goddard School, 50 Route 520, Morganville, will once again be a collection site for Toys for Tots. All donations of new, unwrapped toys are welcome. Donations will delivered to the U.S. Marines at their Red Bank base. Details: 732-617-8181.

Dr. Alan Bass, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, has joined Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, 4645 Route 9 north, Howell. The practice also has offices in Monroe Township and Edison. Bass will specialize in surgical and nonsurgical treatments of conditions of the foot and ankle, including pediatric and diabetic patients. Bass is a fellow of theAmerican College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. For more information, call 732-905-1110.

Lisa A. Shultz, M.D., has joined CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, as a full-time neurohospitalist on staff. Board-certified in neurology, Shultz specializes in acute neuro care for patients suffering from neurologic disorders.

CentraState’s Neurohospitalist Program provides acute care to patients suffering from neurologic disorders, including stroke and seizures, head trauma, spinal cord injury, and neuromuscular disorders. The NeuroRehabilitation Program delivers enhanced stroke treatment services for inpatient and outpatient patients. It is designed to enable patients to regain function, independence and quality of life following stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, or any other neurological event.

Peter S. Staats, M.D., M.B.A., of Premier Pain Centers, with offices in Shrewsbury, Manalapan, Brick Township and East Brunswick, has been named one of 55 of America’s Top Doctors in the field of pain management by U.S. News & World Report, the only specialist in New Jersey to earn this distinction. Staats was also named a U.S. News & World Report Top Doctor, and is one of 189 pain management specialists that have been elected to the database of U.S. physicians.

In addition to his clinical practice, Staats is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and the Department of Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md. He was the founder of the Division of Pain Medicine at Johns Hopkins.

The Monmouth-Ocean Chapter of New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners will host its 13th annual HolidayAuction from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 17 at Knob Hill Country Club, Manalapan. A portion of the auction proceeds will help fund the chapter’s Donna Myers Entrepreneurial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to an active college student with a focus on becoming a business owner.

The holiday auction will include a silent auction, door prizes, grab bags, a live auction and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $45 each and include a buffet dinner and dessert display. Walk-ins will not be permitted for the event. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Table sponsorships are $500 and include a page ad and eight tickets to the event. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Linda Coppolino at 732-938-2095.

Amboy Bank will be collecting food and household items in its 23 area branches during November. Every Amboy Bank office manager has selected a food bank to collect for in their community. Key partners include Elijah’s Promise, the Old Bridge Food Bank and the Samaritan Center. Gregory Scharpf, SVP Chief Retail Banking Officer, said items collected will be distributed in time for Thanksgiving. Everyone is invited to drop off items at an Amboy Bank branch in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

The Howell Chamber of Commerce will host a Breakfast Bonanza networking event at Big City Bagels, 4007 Route 9 north, Aldrich Plaza, Howell, from 8-9:30 a.m. Nov. 11. “Affordable Advertising and Advertising Tips” will be presented by David Dailey of “Coffee News.” The event is free to chamber members and $5 for prospective members. Details and updates: 732-363-4114.

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