HEALTHCARE
Murphy Set as New CIANJ Chair ; Diversity Tops Her List of Goals
Business Group Makes History
By Diane C . Walsh Editor
When Audrey Murphy became the second woman to chair the 95-year-old Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey ( CIANJ ) last month , she shared her vision for the business group and promised to make diversity the hallmark of her tenure .
Murphy is an executive vice president and cochief legal officer as well as chief officer , team member health and safety for Hackensack Meridian Health and she plans to tap the giant health system ’ s experience and know-how with diversity , inclusion and equity to enhance the business advocacy organization .
She has already discussed her goals with CIANJ President Anthony Russo , who welcomed her at the organization ’ s annual meeting and luncheon . The new chair has been a CIANJ board member for more than 20 years and served on the executive committee before succeeding Bill Hanson , president of NAI James E Hanson , a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Bergen County .
“ She ’ s a dynamic individual and she ’ ll do a fabulous job ,” Hanson said as he endorsed Murphy ’ s agenda . It ’ s smart to set practical goals because the two-year term is “ going to go quickly ,” he added .
Murphy has always been impressed by CIANJ ’ s support and advocacy for every business sector . She wants to take advantage of digital technology to raise CIANJ ’ s profile . “ It ’ s a great organization and I think we have to get the word out better about how important it is for the business community in New Jersey ,” she said .
CIANJ represents more than 900 businesses across the state . One of its largest and most active membership groups is the Environmental Business Council . It ’ s comprised of engineers , scientists , consultants , contractors , site remediation professionals and others often working to resolve contamination issues left by New Jersey ’ s industrial past . Murphy applauded their efforts and hopes to see the EBC take the lead on sustainability questions and efforts to expand renewable energy .
“ We need to be pushing that narrative ,” the new chair said .
Robert Garrett , CEO of Hackensack Meridian , is confident Murphy will excel in her new role . “ Audrey Murphy is an invaluable leader and trusted advisor who has contributed so much to healthcare in New Jersey and beyond .
Audrey Murphy plans to prioritize diversity , inclusion and equity as new chair of CIANJ .
Starting as a nurse and then becoming a lawyer , her experience and wisdom continue to shape the network ’ s strategies and support our mission to transform healthcare and to be the leader of positive change . I value her counsel and friendship ,” Garrett said .
Garrett has been Murphy ’ s boss during most of her legal career . Back in 1992 she was hired by then-Hackensack University Medical Center as an associate counsel and director of risk management . She was fresh out of Pace University Law School but her resume showed she had the kind of experience a hospital prized .
Healthcare was her first love . An undeniable overachiever , Murphy earned her registered nursing degree , also from Pace , by age 20 . Nursing was a natural career choice given her background . She was raised in a large family with six siblings .
“ My mother would take me to see the various relatives and if they were sick , I would help her change dressings . … I was always sort of a caregiver ,” Murphy recalled .
Throughout her career she specialized in critical care . Working in the surgical and cardiac intensive care units gave her great satisfaction . Quickly she was promoted to charge nurse responsible for her unit on the night shift . Then she became assistant manager and completed a master ’ s degree . Murphy believed she would ultimately pursue a PhD and strive to become a professor or dean of a nursing school . Then fate intervened .
In the late 80s she was assigned to an AIDS unit while working as a clinical specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan . “ They were such poor souls . Not only were they sick , they were getting evicted , losing their jobs , so many terrible things were happening to them . They were being discriminated against ,” Murphy said . While the hospital was trying to provide social services , Murphy said : “ I thought I needed to do more for them .”
At the same time , two of Murphy ’ s sisters , who were CPAs , decided to go to law school . Murphy became convinced that a law degree would make her a better advocate for AIDS patients and others .
She worked as a nursing supervisor at two different hospitals to pay for her studies . Often , her duties involved risk management work and reviewing incident reports . Murphy ’ s responsibilities included meeting with officials from the state Department of Health and overseeing quality improvement actions .
The experience made her an excellent candidate for the risk management position at
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Photo : Anthony Ruggiero
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