Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert C. Garrett Shares Top Spot on 2019 ROI Influencers: Health Care List

CEO recognized for merger with Carrier Clinic to transform health care, opening of Center for Discovery and Innovation and NCI-designation for its research consortium

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health care network, is pleased to announce that CEO Robert C. Garrett shares the No. 1 ranking on the 2019 ROI Influencers: Health Care List, an elite roster of New Jersey executives, lawmakers and other leaders in health care.

Mr. Garrett was selected for Hackensack Meridian’s investment in behavioral health, advances in research and innovation and medical education. Mr. Garrett shares the No. 1 spot with Barry Ostrowsky, CEO of RWJ Barnabas Health.

“Bob is truly a visionary and an exceptional ambassador for our network,’’ said Gordon Litwin, chair of the Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees. “We are privileged to have him leading our organization as we continue to grow, excel and provide high quality, convenient and affordable care and an outstanding patient experience.’’

As ROI-NJ editors explain in including Mr. Garrett in the No. 1 ranking: “The annual list of accomplishments continues to impress. The merger with Carrier Clinic is leading to new ways to treat behavioral health. The opening of the Center for Discovery and Innovation, which was developed as an applied research enterprise, could rapidly translate into ground breaking innovations and treatment.’’

Board Chair Gordon N. Litwin, Esq. and David Perlin, Ph.D., chief scientific officer for the network’s Center for Discover and Innovation, were included among the top 10 health care leaders in the state by ROI

The editors also highlighted the progress of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the John Theurer Cancer Center receiving approval from the National Cancer Institute as a research consortium member of the NCI-designated Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium, and the support of innovation through the Bear’s Den, which supports breakthroughs in care delivery through a $25 million fund.

Other network leaders included on this elite roster include:

Cathy Ainora, executive vice president, chief integration officer

Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., medical director, vice president, Johnson Rehabilitation Institute

Uli Diaz, member of the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees

Robert Glenning, president, financial services division, chief financial officer

Don Parker, president of Behavioral Health Services

Andrew Pecora, M.D., CEO of Outcomes Matter Innovations, and a strategic partner of Hackensack Meridian

Bonita Stanton, M.D., president, Academic Enterprise, founding dean of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University

In addition, ROI-NJ also selected three leaders from St. Joseph’s Health to this prestigious group, including Kevin Slavin, president and CEO, and Mark Rosenberg, M.D. and Alexis LaPietra, M.D. of St. Joseph’s Emergency Department.  Just last month, Hackensack Meridian and St. Joseph’s Health announced a clinical and strategic partnership.

Hackensack Meridian continues to grow strategically to provide high-quality, affordable and convenient care. Last month, the network announced a clinical and strategic partnership with St. Joseph’s Health System in Paterson. The network also opened New Jersey’s first urgent care behavioral health center in Neptune in September, part of a comprehensive strategy to expand access, better coordinate care and innovate treatment.

Mr. Garrett has led influential panels at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland focusing on innovative breakthroughs in health care delivery and was a featured panelist at Harvard Business School’s annual summit on health care.