To read this year’s Top 30, click the links below:
To read the rest of the ROI Influencers: Power List 2021, click here.
Kevin Conlin
Executive chairman
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Led Horizon on two major initiatives: 1) Adjusting coverage and workflow because of the needs of the pandemic; and 2) Working with the Legislature to change the corporate structure.
Shereef Elnahal (T-#14)
CEO
University Hospital
Former state commissioner of health helped steer University’s care during the unique challenges the pandemic presented to underserved communities.
Jon Fanburg
Partner
Brach Eichler
Many see him as the go-to attorney on health care issues in the state.
Dan Feehan
New Jersey leader
Vault Health
To ensure that Vault has built the strongest system for states to vaccinate their population, they brought in Dan Feehan — an Iraqi war veteran and former White House fellow, to lead Vault’s national COVID Vaccination Program.
Bob Garrett (T-#13)
CEO
Hackensack Meridian Health
Hackensack Meridian Health has treated more COVID-19 patients than any other system in the state.
Brian Gragnolati (T-#13)
CEO
Atlantic Health
Recognized as a top thought leader, Gragnolati directed coverage of his system’s response to COVID-19.
Gary Horan
CEO
Trinitas
The well-respected leader of Trinitas Regional Medical Center ensured the facility’s long-term future success by making a deal with RWJBarnabas Health.
Lori Herndon
CEO
AtlantiCare
Has ensured that AtlantiCare is actively involved in all pandemic planning in the South Jersey community.
Allen Karp
Executive vice president
Horizon BCBSNJ
Health care systems and insurers have been hit hard by all things COVID — operationally and financially. Karp has been the point person throughout.
Scott Kobler
Partner
McCarter & English
Longtime health care lawyer has long been recognized as one of the state’s best.
Jeff LeBenger
CEO
Summit Medical Group
LeBenger’s addition of CityMD is just the latest reason why Summit Medical Group is a step ahead of the game.
Amy Mansue (T-#14)
CEO
Inspira Health Network
She helped manage the state’s response to the crisis — as Central Jersey coordinator — and took the top job at one of the most important health systems in South Jersey.
Paul Marden
CEO
UnitedHealthcare
The state’s second-largest insurer has adjusted its efforts on the fly during the pandemic — making all the moves necessary to make testing and telehealth affordable and accessible.
Mike Maron (#24)
CEO
Holy Name Medical Center
His hospital was the poster child — and the warning signal — for the state on COVID-19, as it got its first rush of patients before anyone else.
Mike Munoz
Market president
AmeriHealth
Under his leadership, AmeriHealth New Jersey quickly adjusted and adapted its coverage during the pandemic.
Kevin O’Dowd (T-#14)
Co-CEO
Cooper University Health Care
He did double duty through much of the pandemic’s toughest days, organizing coverage at Cooper while overseeing South Jersey for the Governor’s Office.
Trish O’Keefe
President, vice president
Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Health System
She is the leader of the state’s top-ranked hospital for three years running.
In memoriam: Andrew Brooks
CEO
Infinity BiologiX
Brooks, a molecular neuroscientist who served as a research professor at Rutgers, designed the saliva-based COVID-19 test while serving as head of the Rutgers-affiliated biorepository RUCDR Infinite Biologics — which spun off to become Infinity BiologiX.
The test, which received emergency use authorization by the FDA last April, was a huge help in the treatment of COVID-19, as it protected essential workers from exposure to the virus — as they no longer needed to be present to collect test samples.
Brooks, who died Jan. 23 of a heart attack, was remembered fondly on the company’s website:
“The impact of Andy’s life and career, his service to the field of biomedicine and his sincere drive to improve human health, were felt by so many.”
Barry Ostrowsky (T-#13)
CEO
RWJBarnabas Health
Well-respected leader of one of the state’s two largest systems continues to be a thought leader on a national level.
David Perlin
Chief scientific officer
Center for Discovery and Innovation
Perlin led the team that created the first privately developed COVID-19 test early on in the pandemic. At the time, it doubled the state’s total testing capacity.
Judith Persichilli (#2)
Commissioner of health
State of New Jersey
Leaders of health systems speak with reverence about how she has helped organize the state’s response to the pandemic.
Dennis Pullin
CEO
Virtua
Heads one of the key health systems in South Jersey.
Steve Rusckowski (#25)
CEO
Quest
The Secaucus-based company stepped up in the early days of the pandemic, enabling the country to dramatically increase the number of tests.
Kevin Slavin
CEO
St. Joseph’s Health
Leader of one of the top Catholic hospitals in the state is well-regarded across the state.
Gary St. Hilaire (#15)
CEO
Horizon BCBSNJ
St. Hilaire, who started as CEO at the start of the pandemic, is now firmly in charge of the day-to-day operations of state’s largest insurer.
Brian Sweeney
CEO
Jefferson Health
A veteran of more than two decades at Jefferson Health, he assumed the top job last summer.
Deborah Visconi
CEO
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
The state’s largest hospital continues to increase its profile and reputation under her leadership.
Sen. Joe Vitale
D-Woodbridge
State Senate
Has long been one of the top go-to leaders in the Legislature on health care issues.
