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John Agos
Bennabis Health

A 35-year veteran executive in the health care, nonprofit associations and pharmaceuticals spaces, Agos is CEO and board member of Bennabis Health, a Cranford-based startup focused on making medical cannabis more affordable and accessible for patients. He has been instrumental in leading the company. Using science-based education and expertise, Agos and his team have worked to build benefit programs for effective medicinal cannabis use, providing support for employer groups and individual patients who join Bennabis Health’s program.

Agos has been driving innovation in health care by normalizing medical cannabis, and under his leadership, Bennabis Health has achieved multiple milestones, including implementing the nation’s first employer benefit for medical cannabis at such New Jersey organizations as the City of Trenton, and the Orange and Teaneck boards of education.

Agos also steered Bennabis Health’s innovative partnership with Broadreach Medical Resources, a pharmacy benefit manager located in New York City. Under the first-ever arrangement with BMR and Bennabis Health, medical cannabis is seamlessly integrated into traditional employee health coverage, helping covered employees to manage medical conditions while reducing health plan costs.

Kevin Ali
Organon

Ali leads Organon, a global company focused on investing in treatments for conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately or differently. Ali brings to Organon – formed from a spinoff from Merck in 2021 – more than 30 years of health care and commercial experience.

Organon’s diverse portfolio offers solutions across a range of areas including reproductive health, cardiovascular disease, neurology, autoimmune and respiratory conditions. At Organon, Ali works to build an ecosystem of like-minded partners and innovators to advance women’s health care through innovation, access and choice. Notable achievements in 2024 include the expansion of Organon’s commercialization agreement with Eli Lilly for Emgality, which enhances the company’s global product portfolio for conditions that disproportionately impact women, such as migraines. With the acquisition of Dermavant – Organon’s largest deal since spin – the company added to its portfolio VTAMA, the only non-steroidal topical approved for mild, moderate and severe atopic dermatitis. The acquisition provides access to all segments of the market in patients as young as 2 years of age.

Additionally, the company’s flagship contraception product, Nexplanon, is well positioned to deliver $1 billion in revenue in 2025; while Jada, the company’s device for post-partum hemorrhage, celebrated 100,000 units shipped since launch.

Jim Andrews
Deborah Heart and Lung Center

An established health care leader, Andrews was appointed as president and CEO of Deborah Heart and Lung Center in September 2024, with the goal of creating the first people-centered care model for heart and lung patients in the country. He is already leading new organizational advancements, which include strategic investments in capital projects, launching new clinical programs, adding pivotal team members and finalizing the opening a new $108 million patient tower.

He is also heading the hospital’s response to increased competition by using Deborah’s unique mission and ability to outperform the market in quality, patient satisfaction and price transparency as the cornerstones for future success.

As New Jersey continues to see the advancement of larger and larger health systems, Andrews is working to fortify the institution’s ability to remain independent, with a focus on concierge-level care for patients and their families. He is positioning the hospital for growth in 2025 and beyond with a three-part strategic reinvestment initiative aimed at increasing awareness about Deborah’s expertise, introducing tailored training to enhance employees’ skills and improving processes, and expanding capabilities to meet evolving needs of patients.

Cathleen Bennett
New Jersey Hospital Association

A former state health commissioner, Bennett has served as president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association since 2017. With a mission to improve the health of the people of New Jersey, NJHA fulfills a vital role, with functions that include quality improvement and patient safety, data modeling and analysis, policy and advocacy, education, emergency preparedness and more.

As part of a drive to expand NJHA’s capabilities, Bennett has elevated the organization’s technology, bringing its already-impressive data analysis capabilities to an even higher level, which was evident during the pandemic and through its research from the Center for Health Analytics, Research and Transformation. Under Bennett, NJHA also established a workforce data center that enables deeper connections with core providers, government and other partners as they craft solutions for common issues like the health care workforce shortage, recruitment, development and retention.

During her tenure, NJHA has led initiatives on mental health, maternal health, veterans’ health and others. In 2025 and beyond, Bennett will continue to advocate for health care enhancements at local, state, federal and other levels.

Dr. Robert Brenner
Valley Health System

In July 2024, Brenner was promoted to president and CEO of Valley Health System. In this role, he has overseen the operations of the system’s three entities: The Valley Hospital, Valley Home Care and Valley Medical Group. The Valley Hospital has been recognized with the Healthgrades America’s 100 Best Hospital Award for three years in a row (2023-2025) and is one of only four hospitals in New Jersey — and the only one in Bergen County — to receive the award.

During his tenure at Valley, Brenner has played a significant role in the growth of Valley’s award-winning medical group, home care and the planning of The Valley Hospital’s move to Paramus in April 2024. He also 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 in July 2024.

Looking ahead, Brenner plans to continue to expand Valley’s footprint through the introduction of even more medical programs and services; transform the Valley Health System – Ridgewood Campus through the addition of new ambulatory care services; and expanding graduate medical education with the introduction of a surgical residency program, which will matriculate the first class of residents in the summer of 2025.

Chrissy Buteas
HealthCare Institute of New Jersey

As president and CEO at the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, Buteas leads a dynamic organization that represents New Jersey’s biopharmaceutical and medical technology community. Her vision for the organization and the industry is to maintain New Jersey’s historic reputation as “the Medicine Chest of the World,” by promoting sound public policies at both the federal and state levels to enhance patient access to the life-saving treatments and cures that the state’s life sciences professionals work diligently to discover and deliver to patients globally.

At the same time, she strives to ensure that New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem — including academic, workforce, policymaking, manufacturing, business, labor community leaders and other key stakeholders — are strategically partnering to position New Jersey as the preferred choice for companies looking to relocate or expand their operations.

Serving on the Middlesex College board and the Governor’s Economic Council, Buteas’ efforts during her first year have raised awareness among thought leaders regarding the contributions of New Jersey’s life sciences to patients worldwide and to the state’s innovation economy, and the industry’s ongoing commitment to what it has done so effectively for over a century: saving lives globally by discovering new treatments and cures right here in New Jersey.

Diane Calello
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Calello is the executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Each year, the poison control center assists approximately 50,000 residents, first responders, and health care providers with medical treatment advice and guidance on best practices for unintentional and intentional poison exposures.

Beyond its core mission and under Calello’s leadership, the poison center plays a vital role in addressing emergent public health crises across the state. For example, in June 2023, the poison center noticed an uptick in calls from hospitals regarding exposure to tianeptine products purchased at a variety of small retail outlets across the state. Upon investigation, Calello identified an unknown outbreak of tianeptine exposures causing illness, and in some cases severe illness, due to a contaminated “Neptune’s Fix” product being sold in convenience stores and gas stations. Calello notified state and federal officials, authorities and public health agencies about the center’s findings. The FDA soon issued warnings to consumers and health care providers as well as sent letters to retailers urging them to stop selling tianeptine products; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the poison center’s investigative report in its weekly epidemiologic publication, the MMWR. Calello was asked to speak at U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone’s presser introducing legislation to prohibit tianeptine from being marketed to consumers; and did national and local media interviews.

Thomas Cavalieri
Rowan University

A geriatrician and professor of medicine, Cavalieri is vice president, senior advisor for healthcare and medical education for Rowan University. Previously, he was the inaugural vice president of the Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences and chief academic officer for Virtua Health, where he worked to create a new academic health system in southern New Jersey.

For 17 years, Cavalieri served as dean of the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, first as part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ and then as the school was integrated into Rowan University. During his tenure as dean, the undergraduate curriculum was modernized, class size grew three times larger, and the SOM expanded to a second campus in Sewell, becoming the largest medical school in New Jersey. Cavalieri is also overseeing two of Rowan University’s special initiatives: a developing partnership with the Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center aimed at enhancing care for South Jersey veterans, and the development of a proposed intergenerational Wellness Village on the university’s West Campus, where people can live well and age successfully. Cavalieri also serves on the Board of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which oversees national graduate medical education. He is helping to try to solve the physician shortage, focusing on recruiting physicians in underserved and other areas while ensuring that medical education programs maintain high standards.

Michael Charlton
AtlantiCare

As part of his drive to enhance patient care, AtlantiCare President and CEO Charlton launched VISION 2030, an aggressive six-year strategic plan aimed at transforming health care by redefining how it is measured and delivered locally, regionally and nationally.

Also under Charlton, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Galloway, is undergoing a $75 million expansion that will add a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department, a Comprehensive Command Center, 50 new private patient rooms and an expansion — to four stories — of an existing two-story patient elevator. All 50 rooms will have smart technology, which will create a better patient experience with communication; while the elevator expansion will allow for more-efficient patient transport and will provide more ways for hospital support departments to access patients.

During Charlton’s tenure, AtlantiCare became the world’s first-named partner for Oracle Health’s Clinical AI Agent, deploying advanced technology like the generative AI-based Oracle Clinical AI Agent, which enables clinicians to use voice commands to enhance their computer efficiency and focus on patient interactions. AtlantiCare providers already report a 41% reduction in total documentation time — saving 66 minutes per day. Charlton and his team have also built on a partnership with Drexel University, developing a new medical school in Atlantic City.

Chris Cozic
Genmab

When Cozic, Genmab’s global vice president of human resources, joined the leading international biotech in 2017, the company had “a few hundred people,” and its New Jersey office had fewer than 10 employees. Today, with more than 2,500 people across five countries, Cozic has helped Genmab to create an environment that supports growth while maintaining a distinctive, welcoming culture that empowers employees to innovate and collaborate with others who may not naturally be in their department, but can still bring new perspectives or dimensions to a challenge.

A recognized expert in strategic leadership, organization design, human resource management, policy development, employee relations and organizational development, Cozic knows how to build a community that responds to team members’ needs in a way that makes Genmab stronger. Programs include enhanced medical benefits — 100% of medical and vision insurance premiums are paid by the company — and family support programs for parenthood needs. Genmab also offers, at no cost to workers, benefits like an employee assistance program that provides short-term counselling, referrals, and follow-up services for personal and work-related challenges; and discount perks at a variety of retail and service providers. And as a board member at BioNJ, Cozic lends his guidance to advancing the organization’s mission of helping members help patients.

Jennifer D’Angelo
New Jersey Innovation Institute

With decades of experience in health technology and innovation, New Jersey Innovation Institute Executive Vice President, Healthcare and COO D’Angelo is a recognized leader in transforming health care through digital solutions. As chief operating officer the subsidiary of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, she oversees all core operational departments and drives strategic initiatives shaping the organization’s future. One accomplishment under her leadership is a partnership with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to launch the NJII Venture Studio, the state’s latest Strategic Innovation Center, focused on accelerating and commercializing intellectual property.

She also leads NJII’s Healthcare Division, which includes the New Jersey Health Information Network. The statewide interoperability initiative leverages advanced networking technology and data analytics to securely connect and share data across more than 21,000 providers, facilities and health systems, reducing medical errors, enhancing data quality, and improving care coordination, ultimately making health care more efficient and cost-effective for both patients and providers. D’Angelo’s extensive experience in health tech lets her bridge the gap between technology and patient-centered care, ensuring innovation aligns with real-world clinical and operational needs.

D’Angelo is now positioning NJII for long-term growth, planning to double its impact over five years while driving AI-driven health care transformation.

James Davis
Quest Diagnostics

From spearheading the new “Purpose” of Quest Diagnostics, working together to create a healthier world one life at a time, to extending Quest’s operating presence into Canada with the acquisition of Toronto-based LifeLabs, Quest Chairman, CEO and President Davis keeps breaking new ground for the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services.

Acting as a “North Star” for more than 55,000 employees, Davis brings the company’s many resources together for a shared mission. Under his leadership, Quest acquired Haystack Oncology in June 2023, adding cutting-edge technology for identifying cancer recurrence in early stages using a simple blood test. Quest is now making the new Haystack MRD test available domestically to medical oncologists. And in late February 2025, as part of Davis’ drive to acquire more labs, Quest announced that, under terms of a definitive acquisition agreement, the company will acquire select assets of Fresenius Medical Care’s wholly owned Spectra Laboratories, a leading provider of U.S. renal-specific laboratory testing services.

Additionally, under a separate agreement, Quest will provide comprehensive laboratory services related to end-stage kidney disease and specialized water testing for patients and providers served by dialysis centers operated by Fresenius Medical Care and its wholly owned and joint-venture partners in the United States.

Robert Davis
Merck

Davis serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Rahway-based global health care giant Merck.

The company marked a big 2024 with full-year worldwide sales of $64.2 billion, up 7% from 2023 – along with notable developments in innovation and its pipeline.

“We delivered strong growth in 2024, reflecting demand for our innovative portfolio, including for KEYTRUDA, which continues to benefit more patients with cancer globally, the successful launch of WINREVAIR and strong performance of our Animal Health business,” said Davis in February when he announced Merck’s earnings. “We’re continuing to progress our pipeline, advance key clinical programs and augment our pipeline through promising business development. Our business remains well positioned thanks to the dedication of our talented global team – and I am more confident than ever in our long-term growth potential.”

Nandkumar Deorkar
Avantor

Deorkar is senior vice president of research and development for Avantor – overseeing the company’s Bridgewater Innovation Center, which serves as its technology-driven research and development hub. Avantor is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services in the life sciences and advanced technology sectors.

In November, Avantor cut the ribbon on a new and expanded Innovation Center – spanning 60,000 square feet and doubling its previous lab capacity.

“We are committed to supporting our customers’ requirements and growth, and this expansion allows us to take an even more collaborative approach to deliver customized solutions that move science forward,” he said in 2023 when the project was announced. “By adding capacity, talent and capability to our Innovation Center, Avantor is in a stronger position to support the growing demands for gene therapy and mRNA workflows, facilitate pipeline project execution and enable quicker production scale-up. These enhancements will pave the way for the innovations of tomorrow.”

Joaquin Duato
Johnson & Johnson

Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Joaquin Duato, Johnson & Johnson marked a year of progress and transformation in 2024.

Duato leads 130,000 employees who focus on tackling the toughest health challenges by developing innovative medicine and medtech solutions – operating in a broad set of high-unmet need, high-growth and high-innovation segments.

With Duato at the helm, the New Brunswick-based global health care giant is accelerating innovation, using data science and the latest technology to create breakthroughs in care – from cell therapy to robotic-assisted surgery.

In 2024, the company invested industry-leading sums in its pipeline – approximately $50 billion in R&D and M&A, including a recent acquisition agreement with Intra-Cellular Therapies. Johnson & Johnson reported sales growth in 2024 of 4.3% to $88.8 billion – and operational growth of 5.9%.

“2024 was a transformative year for Johnson & Johnson, marked by strong growth, an accelerating pipeline, and industry-leading investments in innovation,” said Duato in January. “With our strong financial foundation, differentiated portfolio and robust pipeline, we are well positioned to sustain the high pace of growth and innovation that is the hallmark of Johnson & Johnson.”

Matthew Edson
Rowan University

Edson is the founding dean of the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University, the first veterinary school in the state.

The new facility, located in Harrison Township, includes educational and research space as well as a multi-specialty veterinary teaching hospital that will be open to the public – with an anticipated opening in August.

This fall, the school is slated to admit its first class of nearly 70 DVM students – approximately half of which will be New Jersey residents.

In November, leaders from the school and Merck Animal Health unveiled the school’s new Shelter Medicine & Community Engagement Mobile Unit, funded through a $500,000 gift from Merck.

“We are building relationships with human provider organizations that serve community members experiencing homelessness and other barriers to care to help these community members be able to access care for their pet family members as well,” Edson said.

Perry Farhat
RWJBarnabas Health

Since 2022, Farhat has served as director of diversity and inclusion at RWJBarnabas Health System and the administrative director of the Babs Siperstein PROUD Center and the PROUD Gender Center of New Jersey.

The Babs Siperstein PROUD Center is the first primary care facility in the state that specializes in the health care needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Under his leadership, the PROUD Center has received awards and recognition, including an NJBIZ HealthCare Heroes Award for “Innovation.”

Farhat also serves on Gov. Phil Murphy’s LGBTQ+ Taskforce.

Earlier this year, RWJBarnabas Health hosted its 4th Annual Business Resource Group Summit – with Farhat noting its six thriving BRGs.

“Our BPN BRG maintained a mentoring program, empowering our Black employees and fostering their professional development.” Farhat wrote in a January social media post. “Our VETS BRG celebrated veteran employees and provided care kits to over 500 veteran patients honoring their service with gratitude. Our AWARE BRG delivered impactful personal and professional development workshops for women, while our PROUD BRG members reached over 7,000 individuals at 20+ LGBTQ+ events, sharing information about our specialized LGBTQ+ health care services.”

John Gallucci Jr.
JAG Physical Therapy

Gallucci founded and leads JAG Physical Therapy, one of the fastest growing comprehensive physical and occupational therapy practices providing rehabilitative care to patients and sports teams.

The organization now operates in over 150 locations throughout the region.

“Twenty-one years ago, I started the company in a small 1,800-square-foot facility in West Orange, New Jersey,” Gallucci said in September when the company opened its 150th location in New Brunswick. “I told my wife that one day, we were going to be the largest provider of outpatient physical therapy in New Jersey and New York – and here we are opening up our 150th location.”

JAG Physical Therapy also boasts several notable partnerships – as the official provider of physical therapy for organizations such as the New Jersey Devils, Columbia University Athletics, Princeton University Athletics and Seton Hall University. Last month, the company and Seton Hall extended their longstanding relationship.

“Partnering with Seton Hall over the last 20 years has been a great privilege, allowing JAG Physical Therapy to make a meaningful impact on both its athletic and academic programs,” said Gallucci.

Robert Garrett
Hackensack Meridian Health

One of the state’s most respected leaders in health care, business and beyond, Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Bob Garrett continues to take the health system to new heights. HMH boasts the state’s largest health care network: 18 hospitals, 500-plus patient care locations – with 36,000 team members and 7,000 physicians, that provide a wide range of medical services.

“We’re seeing tremendous growth,” Garrett recently told NJBIZ Editor Jeff Kanige. “We’re going to be investing $1.3 billion into Jersey Shore [University Medical Center] for a new critical care tower, new private rooms, new operating rooms. And then at JFK University Medical Center in Edison, we’re investing a lot in some of those same areas, critical care operating rooms, new emergency department, a new ambulatory cancer center that’s actually going to be opening this year. In total, over the next several years, we’re going to be investing $600 million in JFK University Medical Center.”

At last month’s New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Walk to Washington, Garrett was honored with the prestigious Thomas H. Kean Sr. Business Leadership Award. “Bob has built Hackensack Meridian Health into a national leader in the health care industry, which brings prestige and prominence to our state,” said New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken. “And he has done it with competence, grace, and humility.

Warren Geller
Englewood Health

The longtime president and CEO of Englewood Health, Geller has overseen substantial growth and reach for the organization beyond its main hospital campus to better serve local communities. The health system now spans over 100 locations across five counties in North Jersey.

Geller has focused on significantly enhancing patient care services, leading to the delivery of tertiary-level care and better quality and safety outcomes. He has also driven initiatives to expand outpatient services, build an integrated physician network, bolster community relations, modernize the hospital’s campus, upgrade facilities and technology, foster health equity – and focus on population health.

These efforts have led to a variety of awards and recognition for the Geller and the health system, such as Englewood Hospital again being named as a Top Teaching Hospital for 2024 by The Leapfrog Group. It marked the seventh time the hospital earned this distinction – and it was one of only four hospitals in the state to receive this designation.

“Achieving national recognition as a top teaching hospital, again ranking our hospital among the best in the country for safe and effective care, is an honor that belongs to our entire team,” said Geller in December.

Fabian Gerlinghaus
Cellares

Gerlinghaus is the co-founder and CEO of Cellares, a biotechnology and cell therapy startup.

Last year, the company cut the ribbon on a Bridgewater facility. “Bridgewater is such an important site for us,” he said. “It’s our flagship IDMO [Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization] Smart Factory.”

The 118,000-square-foot facility represents the first IDMO dedicated to clinical and industrial-scale cell therapy manufacturing. Since Gerlinghaus launched the San Francisco-headquartered company alongside Omar Kurdi and Alex Perch in 2019, Cellares has raised more than $355 million – growing from the three founders to a team of more than 250 employees.

Cellares expects to grow even more by the end of this year – with Bridgewater playing a critical part in that effort. In September, Cellares announced the completion of the first cGMP Cell Shuttle at the Somerset County location.

“Bringing our first cGMP Cell Shuttle online in New Jersey is a major step for Cellares and our partners,” said Gerlinghaus. “This facility showcases our innovative approach and aligns with our mission to provide life-saving cell therapies to patients in need – faster and more efficiently than ever.”

Andre Goy
Hackensack Meridian Health

Goy leads Hackensack Meridian Health’s John Theurer Cancer Center, the Garden State’s largest cancer care program.

An expert in oncology, Goy specializes in lymphoma treatment and research programs. He has been the lead investigator of three FDA-approved treatments for mantle cell lymphoma – bortezomib, lenalidomide and ibrutinib.

An example of the innovative and exciting work under his leadership – in August, the John Theurer Cancer Center announced the launch of its cancer risk and early cancer detection program, designed to better identify the risk of cancer in individuals and enable earlier diagnosis. HMH is the first in New Jersey to offer this comprehensive, early detection, and cancer risk management.

“This new program opens an entire new field in cancer, from preventing cancer in someone with genetic risk factors, to detecting cancer earlier, and reducing cancer recurrence,” said Goy. “Combining technology, genomics, and AI, our goal is to intercept cancer – including in underserved communities – by bringing new tools to people’s homes with a user-friendly platform to navigate their risk factors – and prevention or treatment options.”

Sebastian Guth
Bayer

Guth serves as COO of Bayer’s Pharmaceutical Division – responsible for commercial operations of all markets in which the company is active, including its U.S. headquarters in Whippany.

Last year, the global life sciences giant announced a streamlined leadership team aimed at ushering in its next phase of growth.

Guth works with teams globally to drive the commercial strategy to enhance customer value, maximize opportunities, and generate revenue growth and profitability around the world – while supporting the company’s strategy to substantially grow in the U.S. market.

Earlier this year, Bayer announced further progress in its pharmaceutical growth strategy with multiple regulatory filing submissions underway for key growth drivers darolutamide, finerenone and elinzanetant.

“We are successfully delivering on our ambitious business goals despite significant headwinds,” said Stefan Oelrich, member of the board of management, Bayer AG, and president of Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division, at a conference in January. “Our new operating model is visibly becoming a key enabler to drive growth and efficiency gains.”

Perry Halkitis
Rutgers School of Public Health

A respected leader and prolific writer, Halkitis serves as dean, Hunterdon Professor of Public Health & Health Equity, and Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics & Epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health.

An infectious disease epidemiologist, applied statistician and public health psychologist, Halkitis conducts his work through research, teaching and activism.

He is also the founder and director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, & Prevention Studies.

In a reflection of the recognition his work receives, the Perry N. Halkitis Endowed Chair in LGBTQ+ Public Health was established in 2023, via a $5 million gift, to ensure that LGBTQ+ health remains central to the work of the Rutgers School of Public Health for years to come.

His body of work includes authoring six books and 300 peer-reviewed academic articles. And he has served, since 2013, as the founding editor in chief of Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health. Halkitis serves as an expert voice and source – appearing frequently across the media spectrum.

Debbie Hart
BioNJ

Under the leadership of president and CEO Hart, BioNJ has become the trusted voice of the life sciences industry in New Jersey. From her advocacy work to fostering medical innovation and patient access while ensuring health equity and health care affordability, to hosting key industry events and serving as chair of the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology, Hart is recognized as a respected thought leader.

A strong advocate for advancing education, Ms. Hart sits on the board of the Blanche and Irwin Lerner Center for the Study of Pharmaceutical Management at Rutgers University Business School. She served on the advisory boards for Students 2 Science, the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Biomedical Engineering Program, and the founding advisory board that guided the establishment of the nationally recognized Monmouth County Biotechnology High School.

Hart has testified before state and federal legislative committees, authored numerous op-eds and is a frequent speaker on issues affecting medical innovation and Patient access.

She was named one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People in Biotechnology by Scientific American Worldview; a PharmaVOICE 2021 Red Jacket Honoree and to PharmaVOICE‘s 100 Most Inspiring People list.

Leslie Hirsch
Saint Peter’s Healthcare System

In his role as president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, Hirsch continues to oversee the growth and evolution of the organization, which he joined in 2015.

Hirsch is a leader in the hospital field nationally and was recently elected to a three-year term on the board of trustees of the American Hospital Association, beginning January 2025. He has served several terms on the AHA’s Regional Policy Board (RPB) 2 for New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and began serving a three-year term as RPB 2 chair this past January. Hirsch has the distinction of being the longest serving chair of the board of trustees in the history of the New Jersey Hospital Association, having served two consecutive terms in 2015 and 2016. He was elected chair of the NJHA HealthPAC board of directors in 2023 and continues to serve in that role.

As president and CEO of Saint Peter’s, Hirsch leads one of the few remaining Catholic hospitals and single-hospital health systems in New Jersey. Over the last several years, he led a process to secure Saint Peter’s future and Catholic identity, resulting in the signing of a definitive agreement in 2024 to form a strategic partnership with Atlantic Health System. Through a comprehensive Catholic identity agreement, Saint Peter’s will remain a Catholic institution, continuing to carry on its Catholic mission after the merger with Atlantic Health, which is expected to be completed mid-2025.

Pavita Howe
BioNJ

Howe serves as vice president, innovation, and entrepreneurship for BioNJ, a trade group that serves as the voice for the state’s life science sector. In this role, Howe engages and supports the life sciences entrepreneurial community and innovation ecosystem expanding BioNJ’s outreach and collaboration with investor, academic and industry partners to increase successful entrepreneurship.

Howe’s experience as an entrepreneurial leader spans business development, marketing, strategy, program management, new products, launches, business planning and building ecosystems at startups, academic institutions and large organizations. Before joining BioNJ, Howe served as director of entrepreneurship partnerships at Rutgers University, where she worked with internal and external partners to grow Rutgers’ entrepreneurial ecosystem, bringing visibility to Rutgers affiliated startups across multiple industries, and connecting them to valuable resources at the university and across the broader New Jersey entrepreneurial network.

Before Rutgers, Howe spent her career working in marketing and leadership roles at startups in California and New Jersey. Her first entrepreneurial experience was with Forte, a San Diego-based technology startup that was acquired by Genesys, where Howe led the Marketing Launch team until the company’s acquisition by Alcatel. She served as a mentor and advisor at TechLaunch NJ and the NJ Technology Council and was a co-organizer at Morris Tech Meetup.

Sho Islam
Middlesex County Office of Business Engagement

Islam is director of the Middlesex County Office of Business Engagement and a leading figure in New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem, especially within the Life Sciences and Food & Beverage verticals. He is valued and sought-after among the startup, growth-stage, and the entrepreneurship community for providing actionable guidance and connections to build runway and accelerate growth.

He works in close partnership with leadership of New Jersey, such as those at NJEDA; the Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology; BioNJ; Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, to name a few, to ensure programs, products, and policies reflect current market needs and be conducive to retaining, attracting and growing these key industries in the Garden State. In addition, with nearly two decades of experience selling the state’s economy, Islam also has a proven track record of helping companies expand within New Jersey, as well as attracting innovative companies from domestics and international hotspots to N.J.

In his role with Middlesex County, Islan continues to sell Jersey and leads a dedicated team that supports homegrown startups, expanding businesses and attracting global enterprises to New Jersey. He and the County are also working closely with stakeholders on the HELIX-NJ project in New Brunswick.

Beyond his professional contributions, Islam volunteers on committees such as the NJBDA, and mentors first-generation college students.

Ed Jimenez
University Hospital

Jimenez was tapped in late 2022 to serve as president and CEO of University Hospital and earlier in March announced that he would leave that post for a job as president and CEO of Main Line Health, a system serving Philadelphia and its western suburbs.

At University Hospital, Jimenez was credited with several notable accomplishments. He advanced a $1.8 billion campus renovation and expansion project; achieved the No. 1 survival rate in the U.S. for liver transplantation; spearheaded an ambulatory strategy focused on network and service line expansion; and led the hospital that was named to Forbes America’s Best Employers by State for 2023

During his time in Newark, Jimenez was a mainstay on NJBIZ Power lists, including last year’s Power 100.

“I am incredibly excited and deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead Main Line Health,” Jimenez said on the occasion of his most recent move. “I look forward to working with the dedicated colleagues and medical staff who are integral to providing exceptional care to our community.”

“I am excited to welcome Ed to Main Line Health. His leadership, vision and unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence make him the ideal person to guide the System into the future,” said Steve Higgins, chair of the Main Line Health board of governors.

Robert Johnson
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

When Johnson was named dean of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in 2011, he was the first alumnus to serve in the role and his subsequent service, which ended last year, as interim dean of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School made him the first leader to oversee two medical schools at the same time. With a shortage of health care workers hitting nationwide, Johnson’s leadership at the school educating the next generation is even more important these days. A 2021 recipient of the NJBIZ Healthcare Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award, Johnson’s clinical expertise and research focuses on adolescent physical and mental health, adolescent HIV, adolescent violence, adolescent sexuality, health equity and family strengthening.

Johnson chairs the Governor’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and is also chair of the Board of Deacons at Union Baptist Church in Orange. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, vice chair of the Community Prevention Task Force of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a former member of the Board of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education at the National Academies of Science. He previously served as president of the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners, chair of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Council on Graduate Medical Education, chair of the Newark Ryan White Planning Council, and a member of the National Council of the National Institute of Mental Health.

Dr. Nizar Kifaieh and Yan Moshe
Hudson Regional Hospital

After the three-facility CarePoint Health Systems Inc. filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in November 2024, the team of President and CEO Kifaieh and Chairman Moshe turned around the beleaguered system under the Hudson Regional Hospital brand.

CarePoint’s unsustainable health care model relied largely on out-of-network patients that lacked insurance and were unable to pay for health services. But Hudson Regional adopted a different approach, combining a hard-nosed business plan with the patient concern of a physician. Under Kifaieh and Moshe, the CarePoint facilities will be integrated with Hudson Regional’s flagship Secaucus hospital. HRH’s strategy features adding specialty practices with in-network coverage for over 95% of New Jersey residents — a model that included a robust Medicare and Medicaid focus, providing substantial revenues in profitable areas to support community hospital needs.

The vision of Hudson Regional’s leadership played a crucial role in this transformation, leveraging a deep network of urgent care and medical practices that fed into the hospital system, creating a significant network benefit.

Devdatt (Dev) Kurdikar
embecta

Since its spinoff from Becton, Dickinson and Co. in 2022, President and CEO Kurdikar has successfully led embecta – the world’s leading producer of insulin injection devices – to consistently beat financial expectations in each quarter. He did so while shepherding the newly independent organization through a shopping list of challenges, beginning with the maze of requirements involved in a spinoff becoming an independent, publicly traded company. Kurdikar also steered embecta through the highest inflation in a decade, and kept his team focused on mitigating supply disruptions triggered by military conflicts, port strikes, shipping accidents and natural disasters — all while avoiding disruption to customers who depend on the company’s lifesaving insulin injection devices.

In the midst of these and other accomplishments, Kurdikar led embecta through the process of establishing its own post-spinoff independent distribution network and enterprise resource planning system. He was also instrumental in implementing embecta’s “Hungry Mindset” concept, where every employee acts with precision and urgency while continually seeking improvements across activities. Kurdikar is positioning the company for continued growth with a focus that includes three priorities: strengthening the core business of insulin injection devices; expanding the portfolio; and prioritizing free cash flow to pay down debt, which will provide flexibility for investments.

William Lewis
Insmed

Lewis is chair and CEO of Insmed. The former co-founder and leader of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals Inc. joined the Bridgewater-based global biopharmaceutical company in 2012. He became chair of the board of directors in November 2018.

Before founding Aegerion, he spent more than 10 years working in investment banking in the U.S. and Europe. He also worked for the U.S. government.

Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Oberlin College as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor with Honors from Case Western Reserve University. He is a member of the board of trustees of Case Western Reserve University and a member of the board of trustees of BioNJ, the life sciences association for New Jersey. He is also chair of the board of directors of NewAmsterdam Pharma.

Last year, Insmed joined with actress Jane Seymour on a campaign to raise awareness of gender and age biases in health care. Known as “unseenism,” the social phenomenon is especially prevalent for those with chronic conditions, according to Insmed. Leading up to the initiative’s launch, Insmed conducted a nationwide survey of 2,000 participants. The effort sought to discover how the feeling can shape health decisions of people aged 40 and up.

Dr. Steven Libutti
Rutgers Cancer Institute

Under Libutti’s leadership as director, the Rutgers Cancer Institute, together with RWJBarnabas Health, retained its status as the state’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year, he will preside over the opening of the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, a $750 million project in New Brunswick.

The 520,000-square-foot facility will accommodate inpatient and outpatient treatment, research laboratories, retail space and ancillary services – and will be the state’s first free-standing cancer hospital. Meanwhile in Livingston, a $225 million cancer center is also due in 2025. That site will serve as the northern hub of RCI.

Libutti is a prominent expert in the management of neuroendocrine tumors and past president of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. His clinical practice focuses on gastrointestinal malignancies including cancers of the liver and pancreas.

The recipient of funding from the NCI for the past 25 years, Libutti is also a researcher whose work focuses on developing novel cancer therapies through an understanding of the tumor microenvironment as well as on a better understanding of the tumor suppressor genes.

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