Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett Recognized for Leadership on Top NJBIZ and ROI-NJ Lists

Listed #3 on NJBIZ Power 100 List and #13 on ROI-NJ Influencers: Power List 2021

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive health care network, is pleased to announce that CEO Robert C. Garrett has been recognized by two leading New Jersey business publications for his leadership during COVID-19; investment in behavioral health; and spearheading advancements in research and innovation, cancer care and medical education.

Garrett – listed #3 on the NJBIZ Power 100 List and #13 on ROI-NJ Influencers: Power List 100 – is joined by 11 distinguished Hackensack Meridian Health leaders, board members and strategic partners who were also named to the top lists. "The strength of our network is evident and under Bob's visionary leadership, Hackensack Meridian Health will keep getting better for the patients we serve throughout New Jersey," said Frank L. Fekete, CPA, Chairman, Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees. "I congratulate our honorees and extend my heartfelt gratitude for their monumental contributions during COVID-19."

David Perlin, chief scientific officer, Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), was named to ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Health Care

Kenneth M. Esser, senior vice president, chief of staff, Corporate Services and Governance, Government Relations, was named to the ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Government Affairs list

Nadine Leslie, board member of Hackensack Meridian Health and CEO of Suez North America, was named to ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Executives

Peter Cancro, board member of the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation and Founder and CEO of Jersey Mike's Subs, was named to ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Executives

Kevin Slavin, CEO of St. Joseph's Health, a clinical and strategic partner of Hackensack Meridian Health, was named to ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Health Care

Joseph Nyre, President of Seton Hall University and board member of Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, was named to ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Higher Education

Uli Diaz, board member of the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and Vice President, Government Affairs, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, was named to the ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Government Affairs list

Linda Bowden, outgoing regional president of PNC Bank, board chair of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and board member of Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, was named to the ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Banking & Finance

John Harmon, member of the Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees and Founder & CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, was listed #23 on ROI-NJ Influencers: Power List 100, and ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Associations

Jim Kirkos, member of Hackensack Meridian Health Marketing Subcommittee and Chief Executive Officer, Meadowlands Regional Chamber, was named to the NJBIZ Power 100 list and ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Associations

Jonathan Schultz, board member of The Riverview Medical Center Foundation and co-founder/co-managing principal of Onyx Equities, was listed #21 on ROI Influencers: Power List 2021 – Real Estate and the ROI Influencers: Power List 2021

NJBIZ editors ranked Garrett in the top three, just behind Governor Murphy and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, because Hackensack Meridian Health "[…] has played a major role in the COVID-19 pandemic, including treating more patients than any network in New Jersey and developing major breakthroughs – the state's first rapid COVID-19 test, reducing wait time from days to a just a few hours and developing nearly a dozen clinical trials for COVID therapies, including convalescent plasma therapy. The network continues to participate in clinical trials to deliver safe and effective vaccines. Under Garrett's leadership, HMH has made strides in medical education, behavioral health care, cancer care and innovation and research. It opened the first private medical school in New Jersey in decades. The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine offers a curriculum that includes a three-year path to residency, a community immersion program and inter-disciplinary learning."

In addition, ROI-NJ explained why they listed Garrett #13 on the list, along with Brian Gragnolati and Barry Ostrowsky, the CEOs of Atlantic Health and RWJBarnabas Health, respectively: "Two things are clear: The fact that so many hospitals are a part of these three systems helped streamline the response; the fact all three are led by uber-talented executives made that response as smooth as possible."