University Hospital announced that Carole Johnson has been named its new president and chief executive officer. The appointment, which takes effect later this year, follows an extensive nationwide search.
“Carole is an agile, renowned health care leader who has devoted decades of her career to improving health outcomes for underserved populations,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This is a critical time in history for health care, and as we tackle complex challenges like ongoing federal Medicaid reductions, University Hospital needs a leader with a proven track record of success.
“I am confident she will bring her wealth of experience in state and federal settings to University Hospital. I thank Dr. Kaitlan Baston for stepping in to serve as interim president and CEO and for her work and commitment to patient care and institutional excellence.”
Johnson has dedicated her life to expanding access to health care services in the communities that need it most. As commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, she directed the state’s largest cabinet-level agency — serving one in every five New Jersey residents.
Most recently, she served as the federal administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with a clear mission to improve health care access in historically underserved communities.
She led federal efforts to address the maternal mortality crisis, advance health equity and access to care, and recruit and train the next generation of the health care workforce. Her work also led to the first major restructuring of the national organ transplant network in 40 years — an important and significant process for hundreds of hospitals, including University Hospital, which is a national leader in long-term liver transplant survival.
“I am honored to join the incredible team at University Hospital that works tirelessly every day to serve the people of Newark,” said Johnson. “I thank the board for their strong support and look forward to working together with them and state, local and community leaders as we continue to expand access to high-quality health care services at New Jersey’s only public academic medical center.
“Having spent my career focused on strengthening and supporting the health care safety net, I understand and value University Hospital’s critical role in delivering care to the diverse communities of our state’s most populous city. The work of University Hospital is a historic commitment and a sacred trust, and I hope to bring my experience to continue to advance UH’s community-driven approach to health care and to work with the community to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of the people of Newark.”
