Dr. Robert Brenner, a key player in the growth of Valley Health System in the past decade, was elevated to the role of CEO on Monday, succeeding the retiring Audrey Meyers.
In partnership with the Valley Health System board of trustees, Brenner will serve as a member of the system board and lead the system’s overall vision, strategy development, future program and service expansion, and the operations of the system’s three entities — the Valley Hospital, Valley Home Care and Valley Medical Group.
Valley Health System includes its new 385-bed hospital in Paramus, a home care and hospice agency, a medical group and more than 100 outpatient medical practice and treatment locations.
Brenner, who recently was elevated to the role of president, said he appreciates the opportunity.
“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve our patients, our staff, our volunteers and the community,” he said. “I am unbelievably fortunate to be working with such a talented and dedicated board of trustees and a skilled, high-performing leadership team. I thank the board and Valley’s leadership and staff — especially Audrey Meyers — for their confidence and support.”
Meyers has assumed the role of system CEO emeritus and an honorary trustee of the Valley Health System board.
Brenner, who joined Valley in 2015 as the system’s first chief physician executive, has served in a number of roles — and helped the system to a number of notable achievements — since coming on board.
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;
- Keyed the launch of ColigoCare, Valley’s nationally acclaimed Clinically Integrated Network encompassing a Medicare Accountability Organization that was recently recognized as the No. 1 Accountable Care Organization in New Jersey for quality outcomes;
- Led, 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;
- 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 opened in April.
Brenner’s titles have changed along the way, too. In 2019, he was appointed president of clinical integration and physician enterprise. In January of this year, he was appointed president.
Kevin Lobo, chair of the Valley Health System board, welcomed Brenner to his new role.
“Valley has embarked 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 and CEO.
“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.”
Brenner said the goal moving forward is to maintain the excellence associated with the system and the Valley Hospital, annually rated as among the very best in the state.
“My priority is to maintain Valley’s extraordinary culture,” he said. “Valley is an incredibly special place, and I am privileged to continue to uphold its values of serving and caring. Secondly, Valley’s hallmark of success has been continued growth. With our new acute care facility, the expansion of our network and the start of graduate medical education, Valley is at a new beginning with a very bright future.
“I am honored to lead Valley at this momentous time in its history.”
Brenner received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons/Overlook Hospital Family Medicine Internship and Residency Program. He holds a master’s degree in medical management from the Carnegie Mellon University-Heinz School of Public Policy and Management and completed the New York University Stern Strategic Leadership Program. He also served as a physician in the Air Force and earned a U.S. Air Force Commendation and Meritorious Service Medal.
Brenner has served on the board of the New Jersey Hospital Association since 2020 and was recently appointed board secretary and chair of the association’s Audit and Compliance Committee. He also serves on the CEO Board of Managers and the Strategy Committee of New Jersey’s Healthcare Transformation Consortium, which seeks opportunities to enhance quality and efficiency of care throughout the state. He was a member of the American Medical Group Association Foundation board and served as chair from 2019-20.
Brenner is a national speaker and is known for his presentations on producing value in health care, managing effective health care systems and multispecialty group practices and the meaningful use of health information technologies.
Prior to joining Valley, Brenner served as the chief medical officer of Summit Medical Group and as a senior executive at Mountainside Hospital/Atlantic Health System.
