MAX Surgical Lures Elite Surgeons, Deepens New Jersey Dominance

HACKENSACK, N.J. – February 18, 2026 – MAX Surgical Specialty Management (MAX), a rapidly growing platform for oral and maxillofacial surgery, has significantly fortified its New Jersey presence by bringing three of the specialty's most respected figures into its fold. The move includes a strategic partnership with veteran surgeon Dr. William G. Ranucci and the addition of esteemed academic leader Dr. Vincent Carrao and long-time community pillar Dr. Kenneth Press to its flagship practice group.

The expansion transforms Dr. Ranucci’s highly regarded solo practice in Montclair into the 10th location for Riverside Oral Surgery, the clinical network founded by MAX Co-CEO Dr. Jason M. Auerbach. This concurrent acquisition and high-level recruitment underscore a deliberate strategy to consolidate top-tier talent under a model that promises both corporate support and clinical independence, a combination shaking up the traditional structure of private medical practice.

A Confluence of Distinguished Careers

The caliber of the surgeons joining MAX speaks volumes about the appeal of its platform. Each brings decades of experience, a history of leadership, and a reputation that extends far beyond their local communities.

Dr. William G. Ranucci, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with over 32 years of experience, has built his Montclair practice into a bastion of clinical excellence. His recognition as a New Jersey Top Doctor for nine consecutive years is a testament to his patient-centric approach. Dr. Ranucci is renowned as an early adopter of advanced surgical technologies and minimally invasive techniques, including the use of biologic enhancements to optimize healing—a forward-thinking mindset that aligns with a larger, resource-rich organization.

Joining the Riverside Oral Surgery team directly are two surgeons with formidable careers. Dr. Vincent Carrao is a nationally recognized, dual-degree surgeon whose career has been defined by leadership in one of the country's most demanding medical environments. As the former Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Program Director at The Mount Sinai Hospital, he was responsible for training the next generation of surgeons in a Level 1 trauma center. His influence extends nationally, serving as a Board Examiner for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and as a past president of the New York State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Furthermore, his commitment to humanitarian work includes over 25 years of international surgical missions performing cleft lip and palate repairs.

Dr. Kenneth Press brings a different but equally impressive legacy of trust and expertise. Having served as Chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Morristown Medical Center, his leadership has been a cornerstone of the North Jersey medical community for decades. His role as the oral surgeon for the New York Jets underscores the high level of confidence placed in his skills. A Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Fellow of both the AAOMS and the American College of Dentists, Dr. Press has been a consistent presence on New Jersey Monthly's list of Top Dentists since 2005.

Redefining the MSO Blueprint

The consolidation of medical and dental practices under Management Services Organizations (MSOs), often backed by private equity, is a prevailing trend in healthcare. However, these arrangements are sometimes met with skepticism from practitioners who fear a loss of clinical autonomy. MAX Surgical Specialty Management aims to subvert that narrative by positioning itself as a "surgeon-led" organization.

Founded in 2022, MAX’s stated mission is to handle the burdens of practice management—such as technology investment, marketing, and administrative overhead—while leaving clinical decisions firmly in the hands of the surgeons. This model is designed to attract established, high-performing surgeons who wish to focus on patient care without the distractions of running a small business, especially in an increasingly complex regulatory and economic environment.

"MAX is a movement of surgeons who are breaking new ground in oral and maxillofacial surgery while protecting what matters most: clinical autonomy," said Jason M. Auerbach, DDS, Founder and Co-CEO of MAX. "Dr. Ranucci embodies what MAX is about. He has built an exceptional practice, and by partnering with MAX, gains the infrastructure to keep raising the bar while staying focused on delivering outstanding patient outcomes."

This surgeon-centric philosophy appears to be a key differentiator, enabling MAX to attract practitioners who might otherwise have been hesitant to cede their independence.

Reshaping the Regional Market

This expansion is more than an acquisition; it's a strategic repositioning that solidifies MAX's status as a dominant force in the Northeast's competitive oral surgery market. By integrating Dr. Ranucci's practice and adding the expertise of Drs. Carrao and Press to the Riverside Oral Surgery brand, MAX is creating a network with unparalleled depth of talent and a significant geographic footprint across New Jersey.

For patients, this could mean increased access to a wider range of sub-specialized services and advanced technologies under a single, trusted brand. For competing independent practices, it signals intensifying pressure to either join a larger network or find new ways to compete with the scale and resources of a well-funded MSO.

The financial backing from private equity firms MedEquity Capital, RF Investment Partners, and Kian Capital provides the fuel for this aggressive growth. These investors are betting on MAX's ability to create a sustainable and scalable model that can be replicated across the region.

"Drs. Carrao and Press are highly respected leaders in oral and maxillofacial surgery," noted Mark Censoprano, Co-CEO of MAX. "Surgeons of this caliber continuing to join MAX is a testament to how we've built a surgeon-led organization that offers unwavering partnership without compromising clinical integrity." The ability to continue attracting such top-tier talent will likely determine the long-term success of MAX's ambitious vision for the future of oral and maxillofacial surgery.