A new hospital. And new additions to the leadership team.
Just a few months before the April 14 opening of the new Valley Hospital — a state-of-the-art acute-care hospital featuring 370 private patient rooms on a 40-acre health care campus — the Valley Health System announced the elevation of Dr. Robert Brenner to president and Karteek Bhavsar to chief operating officer.
Both will report to longtime CEO Audrey Meyers.
In his new role, Brenner will oversee the operations of the system’s three entities — the Valley Hospital, Valley Medical Group and Valley Home Care — and begin serving on the Valley Health System board of trustees. He will oversee all operational areas of the system, including its new hospital, home care and hospice agency, medical group and more than 100 outpatient medical practice and treatment locations.
Meyers said Brenner is a perfect fit for the moment.
“As we look forward to the milestone of opening our new campus in Paramus — which will be the health care destination for generations of northern New Jersey residents for years to come — it is the right time to appoint Rob as our system president,” she said. “He has the vision, the experience, the talent and the skills to ensure Valley’s continued success.”
Brenner rise to the role has been steady. He joined Valley in 2015, as the system’s first senior vice president and chief physician Executive. Since 2019, he has held the position of president of clinical integration and the physician enterprise.
During his tenure at Valley, Brenner has led the development and growth of Valley’s population health program, which oversees the coordination of care for more than 90,000 individuals; the launch of ColigoCare, Valley’s nationally acclaimed accountable care organization and clinically integrated network, which was recently recognized as the No. 1 ACO in New Jersey for quality outcomes; and in affiliation with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the initiation of Valley’s first two Graduate Medical Education programs in internal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology.
Brenner has also played a significant role in the growth of Valley’s award-winning Valley Medical Group, Valley Home Care and the planning of Valley’s new hospital in Paramus, which is set to open in April.
Kevin Lobo, chair of Valley Health System’s board of trustees applauded the announcement.
“Valley is about to embark on a new and exciting chapter, one that will enhance the care it will provide its patients and the community in ways previously unseen,” he said. “Against that backdrop, we are pleased to appoint Rob as system president.
“His passion for employing innovative ways to manage care, his dedication to educating the next generation of doctors, and his ability to prepare for the future of health care will serve Valley and the community very well.”
Bhavsar journey at Valley began in 1998, in the planning department. Since then, he has progressed through many areas of the organization. In 2015, Bhavsar was appointed vice president of administration and a member of Valley’s executive staff. In 2022, he was promoted to senior vice president of operations and business development.
Brenner said he’s eager to take on more duties.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Valley Health System’s president,” he said. “I want to thank Audrey and Kevin, as well as all members of the Valley family, for their past and ongoing support.
“I look forward to working side by side with Karteek, who has vast operations experience, as well as with the rest of our very talented executive leadership team. Valley is an incredibly special place, and I am privileged to continue to uphold its values of serving and caring.”
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Reach Valley Health System at: valleyhealth.com or call 800-825-5391.
