Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett has been named chair of the World Economic Forum’s Health and Healthcare Governor’s Community, the health system announced Aug. 15. 

During his two-year term, Garrett’s mission will be to help define the industry agenda and drive change to improve access to health care and outcomes and to drive more efficiency in the industry. 

Dr. Shyam Bishen, head of the Centre for Health & Healthcare at the World Economic Forum, said the group was “delighted” to have Garrett as chair, adding, “We believe with him at the helm, during this period, the community will make significant strides in solving the pressing challenges of the health care industry and drive much needed impact especially in areas of health outcomes and access.” 

Some of the items on the WEF’s agenda include digital technologies to make care more accessible while protecting patient privacy, addressing health equity and the impact of climate change on personal health. 

Earlier this year, Garrett spoke with NJBIZ about some of the discussions that take place during the WEF’s annual meetings in Davos, Switzerland, which he has attended for several years.

“Health care topics have become more mainstream at the World Economic Forum,” Garrett told NJBIZ at the time. “At the very beginning, it wasn’t as prevalent.” 

In January, the forum launched the Global Health and Healthcare Strategic Outlook, which addresses issues such as misinformation, funding challenges, mental health, inequities, workforce shortages, supply chains, climate impacts and macroeconomic instability. 

The report’s introduction reads, “Now is the time to take forward key learnings from the pandemic response and align stakeholders, industries, countries, and sectors to a shared vision for health and healthcare by 2035.” 

According to Hackensack Meridian Health, Garrett and 39 other leaders from eight countries also signed the Zero Health Gaps Pledge at the January meeting, which is a pledge to ensure that people in all communities have access to high-quality health care. 

“We learned in the COVID-19 pandemic that health care is more global than ever and I am honored to serve in this role with the World Economic Forum and help address some of the world’s most challenging healthcare issues,” Garrett said about his new role. “Together we can improve outcomes and help to transform healthcare globally.”

Established in 1971, the World Economic Forum is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to strive “in all its efforts to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest while upholding the highest standards of governance.