Our Doctors

Stephen R. Shapiro

Stephen R. Shapiro received his BA from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA. and his M.D. at the Chicago University School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. Dr. Shapiro completed his Internship in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, IL and a Residency in Internal Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ. A Fellowship in Gastroenterology followed at the Orange County Medical Center in Orange, CA. He served as a Physician in the United States Army specializing in Internal Medicine at Fort Monmouth, Monmouth, NJ. Dr. Shapiro then completed another Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA. From 1976, Dr. Shapiro has served as an Attending Physician in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology at the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, NJ. He has served in many Medical Staff capacities at SMC, including Secretary, Vice President and President. In addition, he served as SMC's Chairman of the Department of Medicine. Active in numerous community projects and causes, Dr. Shapiro served as the President of the American Cancer Society of Somerset County. Dr. Shapiro is board certified in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.

Jeffrey S. Unger

Jeffrey S. Unger attended medical school at Boston University School of Medicine in Boston, MA. He completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. Dr. Unger then completed his Fellowship in Gastroenterology at New York University Medical Center in New York. Dr. Unger has written many abstracts and publications in the field of Gastroenterology. From 2000 to the present, he has been an Attending Physician in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology at the Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, NJ. He has served on many committees at Somerset Medical Center including the Pharamacy and Therapeutics Committee and the Quality control Committee. He was appointed Chief of Gastroenterology at Somerset Medical Center and served for two terms. Dr. Unger is board certified in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Unger has a special interest in liver disease and reflux disease. He also performs endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy, polypectomy, variceal banding, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, biliary stenting, gallstone extraction, infrared photocoagulation of hemorrhoids, argon plasma coagulation, capsule enteroscopy and various other procedures.

Surya P. Irakam

Surya P. Irakam attended medical school at Sir Venkateswara Medical College in India. He completed his residency in internal medicine in New York at Interfaith Medical Center, and his Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York. Dr. Irakam also received specialized gastrointestinal training in advanced, state-of-the-art biliary and pancreatic endoscopy at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. Dr. Irakam has expertise in Endoscopic Ultrasound with fine needle aspiration, Colonic stenting, Esophageal stenting, Drainage of Pancreatic pseudocysts, Transesophageal biopsies of lung lesions, argon plasma coagulation, infrared photocoagulation and various other procedures. Dr.Irakam has written many abstracts and publications during his residency and fellowship. He has received awards for excellence in academics both during residency and fellowship training. Dr. Irakam is board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He serves on cancer committee at Somerset Medical Center. He has served two terms as Chief of Gastroenterology at Somerset Medical Center. Dr. Irakam has the honor of recently being appointed Chief of Medicine at Somerset Medical Center. He also serves as President of Gastromed Healthcare, PA.

Robert S. Wiesen

Robert S. Wiesen completed his medical residency at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. He then went on to complete his fellowship in gastroenterology at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, where he was elected chief fellow, in recognition of his diagnostic and endoscopic skills. Dr. Wiesen has presented research abstracts regarding hepatitis, and pruritus, at international meetings and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Wiesen has a special interest in therapeutic endoscopy, including endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration, ERCP with gallstone removal, colonic and esophageal stent placement, as well as endoscopic mucosal resection. He also performs upper endoscopy and screening colonoscopy with biopsy and polyp removal, and has expertise in diagnosing and managing gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dr. Wiesen is board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.