After a national search, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, have appointed H. John Pounardjian, MBA, as chief financial and administrative officer and deputy director for administration and planning. Pounardjian will take over for Linda Tanzer, who will be retiring after 30 years in the position.
In this position, Pounardjian will serve as a member of Rutgers Cancer Institute’s executive leadership team and the senior leader for administration, planning and finance. He will provide strategic guidance and direction regarding the optimization and development of entrepreneurial opportunities as well as administrative and operational efficiencies across all mission elements including the clinical, research, education and outreach enterprises.
“John’s exceptional expertise in administration and finance within an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center will enhance our leadership team as we prepare to open New Jersey’s only freestanding cancer hospital, the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center,” said Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS, William N. Hait Director of Rutgers Cancer Institute and senior vice president, Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health. “We are extremely grateful to Linda Tanzer for her many years of service to Rutgers Cancer Institute and her leadership in building the foundation of one of the country’s leading NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.”
Pounardjian joins Rutgers Cancer Institute from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio where he most recently served as the associate vice president and associate director for administration of the Case NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is a nationally recognized expert on cancer center administration, sitting on multiple External Advisory Boards at prominent NCI-designated Cancer Centers throughout the country and serving as an ad hoc administrative reviewer for NIH/NCI Cancer Center Support Grant site visit review panels.
“I am thrilled to come to the East Coast to join Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health during a transformative time in its history,” stated H. John Pounardjian. “From my first visit, I was impressed with the team Dr. Libutti has built and look forward to working together to change the face of cancer care and research in New Jersey and beyond.”
H. John Pounardjian, MBA will begin his tenure as chief financial and administrative officer and deputy director for administration and planning at Rutgers Cancer Institute on June 1.
