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Continued From Page 10 Hackensack University Medical Center when she graduated law school . Initially , Murphy and her husband , William Johnson , who she met in law school , commuted from White Plains . But they soon rented an apartment in Hackensack , so close to the hospital Murphy could walk there , and affording Johnson an easier drive to the law firm where he worked in Roseland .
They later moved to Washington Township in Bergen County , where they raised their children . They had twins , Marilyn and Harrison , and then 15 months later , another daughter , Kelly . The demands of a young family and a high-profile job were tough , Murphy concedes . But with her fierce work ethic and determination she succeeded . ( Incidentally , both daughters followed their parents into the law and nursing and their son is in finance .)
Several years after joining Hackensack , Murphy was named acting general counsel after her boss retired . She eventually got the job and directed the law department as the medical center expanded . The growth culminated with a merger in 2016 which created the Hackensack Meridian Health system , comprised of 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties .
When Murphy thinks back over her 30-year career at Hackensack she takes pride in the role she had in establishing the Don Imus-WFAN Pediatrics Center for Tomorrows Children , which the radio personality wanted to build to treat young cancer patients . Murphy also worked with Imus ’ wife to create the Deidre Imus Environmental Health Center , which offers education on the potential health threats of carcinogens and other environmental factors that can impact health .
Audrey Murphy was deeply involved in creating the John Theurer Cancer Center .
Murphy was also deeply involved in creating John Theurer Cancer Center which established Hackensack as a major research center . The center is now ranked as the best cancer center in New Jersey by U . S . News & World Report . Additionally , the network created the Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation on the Nutley campus , where the new medical school was constructed . The center developed major breakthroughs during the COVID pandemic including creating the first commercial test and test to detect variants , information that was shared with state health officials and provided more personalized patient treatment . It
The pandemic ' s impact on the business community -- labor shortages , supply chain issues , or hybrid work arrangements – will be a focus of Audrey Murphy ' s tenure .
Photo : Anthony Ruggiero recently secured a $ 108 million NIH grant , the largest in the network ’ s history .
The role Murphy had in the medical school is very special to her .
“ We talked about a medical school for the longest time . It was huge when we were finally able to do it ,” she said . It opened in 2018 as the first private medical school in New Jersey in decades . It could be boon for the state by providing a pipeline of physicians .
Murphy explained that studies show if students have a positive clinical experience , they are likely to stay with the network . More than half of the students who graduated in June are serving residencies in Hackensack Meridian hospitals . She believes the new school and its affiliation with the Hackensack Meridian network will offer that excellent experience and New Jersey will feel the benefits of more primary care physicians .
She sees the “ medical home ” as the future of healthcare and believes primary care physicians will be integral as patients have their needs met in their homes . She is enthusiastic for the challenges ahead , especially as the Covid-19 pandemic subsides and the newly developed vaccines and therapeutics eliminate the virus ’ immediate threat .
Murphy also realizes the pandemic ’ s impact on the business community -- whether it ’ s labor shortages , supply chain issues or hybrid work environments – will be a priority during her term as CIANJ chair . She participated in a series of “ reimagining ” committee meetings at Hackensack Meridian that explores the same subjects and will bring what she learned to CIANJ .
That experience will be invaluable for CIANJ , said Tracy Straka , the first female CIANJ chair , who is an executive vice president at Creamer Environmental Inc . “ I ’ m very excited to have her on board ,” Straka said .
Photo : Anthony Ruggiero
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