Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center Appoints Renowned Physician Leader Dr. Alfin Vicencio as New Chair of Pediatrics

Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center today announced the appointment of Alfin G. Vicencio, M.D., a distinguished pediatric leader and clinical innovator from Mount Sinai Health System, as the new chair of the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Vicencio joins the hospital after more than a decade of transformative leadership at the Icahn School of Medicine and Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai in New York City, where he served as Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Strategy and System Chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology.

In his new role, Dr. Vicencio will oversee all clinical, academic, and operational functions of the Department of Pediatrics at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, one of the two Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health nationally ranked institutions dedicated to providing exceptional, family-centered care. Dr. Vicencio will be responsible for advancing the hospital’s mission of clinical excellence, fostering innovative research, and expanding its comprehensive pediatric programs. Sanzari and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center have consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the country in pediatric care in U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Children’s Hospitals Rankings. 

“Dr. Vicencio is a visionary leader with an extraordinary track record of building world-class clinical programs and pioneering new standards of care for children,” said Lisa K. Tank, M.D. MBA,FACP, president and chief hospital executive, Hackensack University Medical Center. “His expertise in developing subspecialty services and his commitment to academic medicine will be invaluable as we continue to elevate the care we provide to children and families across New Jersey and beyond. We are thrilled to welcome him to our team.”

At Mount Sinai, Dr. Vicencio was credited with rebuilding the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, establishing it as a premier academic and clinical entity. He is an internationally recognized expert in pediatric interventional bronchoscopy, having developed one of the nation’s few programs dedicated to using advanced, minimally invasive techniques like cryotherapy and navigational bronchoscopy to treat complex airway diseases in children. He also established a leading program for treating severe asthma with monoclonal antibodies, turning it into a regional referral center. 

“I am deeply honored to join the exceptional team at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center,” said Dr. Vicencio. “This institution has a powerful commitment to patient-centered care and a strong foundation of excellence. I look forward to working collaboratively with the outstanding faculty and staff to build upon that legacy, enhance our subspecialty services, and continue to make this a destination where every child receives the most advanced and compassionate care possible.”

Dr. Vicencio is a global leader in his field. In 2024, he co-founded the Pediatric Chapter of the American Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (AABIP) and co-chairs national and international courses to train physicians in advanced bronchoscopic techniques. He has been consistently named a “Top Doctor” by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, and U.S. News and World Report.

After earning his M.D. from the Medical College of Ohio, Dr. Vicencio completed his pediatric residency at Columbia University’s Babies and Children’s Hospital and a fellowship in pediatric pulmonology at Yale University School of Medicine. He is board-certified in Pediatric Pulmonology.

A leading researcher, Dr. Vicencio is a published expert and has been recognized regionally and nationally on asthma, flexible bronchoscopy, wheezing, tracheobronchomalacia, bronchiolitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.