HEALTHCARE
Top Healthcare Leaders in New Jersey
Here is our tribute to hospital , health insurance , dental insurance and advocates making a difference .
By Diane C . Walsh Contributing Editor
Few businesses are as complicated to run — and important — as hospitals and medical centers ; and COVID-19 added so many more challenges for these vital institutions . Here are some of the top healthcare leaders in the Garden State who are forging ahead with caring , innovation and community service . Quality healthcare is one of the most important contributions to a healthy and successful community .
HOSPITALS
AtlantiCare Lori Herndon Lori Herndon , CEO of Atlanti- Care in South Jersey , began her career as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center . Over the past three decades , she served in various executive roles at AtlantiCare , including chief operating officer . The health system employs more than 5,500 people and works with 900 physicians and providers serving five New Jersey counties .
Herndon earned a master ’ s degree in business administration at St . Joseph ’ s University in Philadelphia . She did her undergraduate studies at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and she received her registered nurse degree from Geisinger Medical Center School of Nursing in Danville , PA .
In July , 2016 Herndon was named CEO of AtlantiCare . Herndon is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives . She and her husband , Dorie , reside in Brigantine . She was named to the Atlantic County Women ’ s Hall of Fame in 2013 .
Atlantic Health System Brian Gragnolati Brian Gragnolati , a former chairman of the board of trustees of the American Hospital Association , is the president and CEO of the Atlantic Health System . Atlantic Health employs 17,000 workers and provides care to 4.9 million New
Jersey residents in 11 counties .
Gragnolati is recognized as a leading voice in healthcare and he is frequently asked to appear on CNBC , MSNBC and Bloomberg Radio , sharing his experience and insights on the nation ’ s more pressing health issues .
He holds a bachelor ’ s degree in health system analysis from the University of Connecticut . The executive earned an MBA from Western New England College and an executive leadership certificate from the JFK School at Harvard University .
Before joining Atlantic Health , Gragnolati was senior vice president , community division of Johns Hopkins Medicine and president and CEO of Suburban Hospital . He and his wife , Donna , live in Mendham .
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Deborah Visconi Deborah Visconi was named CEO and president of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in 2017 . With more than 1,000 beds , New Bridge , located in
Paramus , is the largest New Jersey hospital .
Visconi , who holds a master of science in healthcare administration from the New School for Social Research in New York , was selected to lead New Bridge by Care Plus Bergen – the not-forprofit operator of the facility which was created by an alliance among Rutgers NJ Medical School , Integrity House and Care Plus NJ Inc . New Bridge provides acute care , behavioral health services , addiction treatment and long-term care .
In February , Visconi was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of 2021 ’ s Top 25 Women Leaders . Before joining New Bridge , Visconi served seven years as director of operations for Morristown Medical Center . She also previously worked for Mount Sinai Beth Israel in various roles for more than 19 years .
CentraState Healthcare System John T . Gribbin John T . Gribbin , a past chairman of the board of trustees of the New Jersey Hospital Association , is president and CEO of Centra- State Healthcare System – a private non-for-profit health organization based in Monmouth County .
Prior to assuming the leadership role at CentraState , Gribbin was a founding member and served as executive vice president of Meridian Health System . Gribbin ’ s career in healthcare spans more than 40 years and includes a stint as president of The Medical Center of Ocean County . In 1974 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor ’ s degree . He later earned his master ’ s degree in business administration at Rider University .
A resident of Clarksburg , Gribbin is chairman of the board of trustees of the Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corp . and a member and past chairman of the board of trustees of the Central Jersey Blood Center . He is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives .
Cooper University Health Care Anthony J . Mazzarelli Anthony J . Mazzarelli , the former medical director of the emergency department at Cooper University Hospital , racked up many years of experience with the institution before he was named co-president and CEO .
Over a 22-year span , he served Cooper University in various executive roles before he was tapped to be co-president . Dr . Mazzarelli was chief physician executive and senior executive vice president . In that position , he had oversight of the quality and patient safety for the health system as well as oversight of Cooper ’ s practice plan of more than 630 employed physicians , who also serve as the faculty for Cooper Medical School of Rowan University .
Dr . Mazzarelli received his medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School . He also has a law degree from University of Penn-
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