Numerous health care superstars will be honored at the New Jersey Hospital Association’s (NJHA) 2025 Best at the Beach, a seaside celebration of the state’s health-care community to be held June 26 at Ocean Place Resort and Spa in Long Branch.
Honorees include a health-care executive with a storied 45-year career supporting patients and caregivers; a physician/researcher bringing hope to those with rare genetic illnesses; a nurse executive innovating to advance nursing excellence and elevate patient care; and an emerging leader on a mission to expand mental health care for children and teens.
“NJHA’s Best at the Beach celebrates the incredible leaders, clinicians and team members who put New Jersey on the map for nationally ranked health care,” said NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett. “Our honorees are driven to chase excellence and push boundaries. Their efforts touch the lives of countless patients and build healthier communities across New Jersey.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Brian Gragnolati of Atlantic Health System, who announced his retirement after 10 years as the system’s president and CEO, capping off a 45-year career in health care. Gragnolati has led Atlantic Health to national recognition in quality and patient safety and a growth in patient services across the region.
Gragnolati has also served in several high-profile posts, including chair of the American Hospital Association Board; Gov. Murphy’s COVID-19 Restart & Recovery Advisory Council and Professional Advisory Committee; and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee.
The Distinguished Service Award will be presented to two health-care leaders for their transformative work. Deborah Visconi, president and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, is recognized for leading a tremendous turnaround in the safety net hospital. Moving the hospital out of the red, she has expanded services for mental health, teen substance use disorders, eating disorders and opioid-free pain management, while modernizing the hospital’s physical infrastructure. Her service is driven by her own lived experience, being part of an underserved community in New York City that encountered numerous barriers to care. Since her earliest days as a phlebotomist to her leadership role today, her driving force remains, ensuring access to high-quality care for all.
The Distinguished Service Award will also be presented to Regina Foley, Ph.D., MBA, RN, executive vice president, chief nursing officer and chief transformation officer at Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH). Foley combines vision, business acumen and the insights and firsthand experience of an RN to advance clinical transformation and workforce development at the system’s 18 hospitals. Under her leadership, HMH hospitals have repeatedly earned the Magnet award for nursing excellence. She also has piloted an innovative virtual nursing initiative and has led the integration of three HMH schools of nursing to provide knowledge — and opportunity — for future nurses.
The Emeritus Prize, recognizing a retiring leader for service to health care in New Jersey, will be presented to Douglas A. Struyk, CEO emeritus of Christian Health. As a servant leader at Christian Health for 34 years, Struyk has guided the organization in expanding its commitment to compassionate, accessible care — forever changing the landscape of health care and senior living in New Jersey.
Other individuals and programs to be honored at NJHA’s Best at the Beach are:
- Lifetime of Philanthropy Award – Marvin Samson, trustee, Virtua Health
- Clinical Excellence Award – Debra-Lynn Day-Salvatore, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine Department at Saint Peter’s University Hospital
- Excellence in Patient Experience – RWJBarnabas Health Maternal Health Peer Recovery Program
- Emerging Leader – Acute Care – Drew D’Ercole, MSN, APN-BC, RN, director of care coordination, Valley Health System
- Emerging Leader – Behavioral Health – Darian Eletto, chief clinical officer, Behavioral Health, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
- Healthy New Jersey Award – Substance Use Screening in the Emergency Department (ED) and Connections to Care initiative, Englewood Health
- Inspired Aging Award – Affordable Housing Wellness Initiative, Parker Health Group and Springpoint Senior Living
- Connect Award for Outstanding Communications – Hackensack Meridian Health
- Social Impact Award – Thomas Dooley, program manager, Humanistic Medicine, Overlook Medical Center, Atlantic Health System
NJHA’s Best at the Beach celebration is open to all stakeholders and businesses who share NJHA’s commitment to improving the health of New Jersey. Event details and registration can be found at www.njha.com/best-at-the-beach.
