The basics:

• Mark Sparta named COO of Hackensack Meridian Health, effective July 2
• Leadership restructure includes new division president roles
• Longtime COO Mark Stauder to retire after advisory transition

Hackensack Meridian Health is making a series of changes to its leadership structure aimed at enhancing patient care, streamlining operations and driving innovation across the network.

After Mark Stauder retires as chief operating officer in July, the Edison-based health care system will name Mark Sparta as his successor, according to a May 13 press release.

Sparta’s 30-year career at Hackensack Meridian includes serving as president and chief hospital executive of Hackensack University Medical Center. He currently serves as president of the network’s northern market.

As COO, Sparta will lead operational and management functions for HMH’s 18 hospitals, patient care services, clinical joint ventures, ambulatory services, facilities and construction, real estate and network-wide clinical services.

‘Proven leadership’

According to the announcement, Sparta will also assume the role of president of the HMH Hospitals Corp. and Hackensack Meridian Ambulatory Care boards.

Sparta joined HMH as a staff physical therapist and steadily progressed through various leadership posts. His accomplishments include spearheading the development of the Helena Theurer Pavilion at Hackensack University Medical Center, as well as expanding ambulatory and urgent care services in the northern region.

HMH Chief Executive Officer Robert Garrett said Sparta’s “proven leadership, deep understanding of our organization, and unwavering commitment to patient-centered care make him the ideal choice to lead our operations.” He went on to say, “His vision and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mission of transforming healthcare.”

According to HMH, after Stauder steps down July 2, he will transition to an advisory role before fully retiring later this year. Stauder is also set to be honored as one of NJBIZ’s ICONs during a May 20 event at The Marigold in Somerset.

Before joining Hackensack Meridian in 2019, Stauder was president and COO of Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health System. In January, he was installed as 2025 board chair for the New Jersey Hospital Association.

HMH – the largest health network in New Jersey – also plans to eliminate the regional president role at the organization. Instead, it will create two new positions – president, Acute Care Hospital Division, and president, Specialty Hospitals and Clinical Services.

Currently president of the southern market, Kenneth Sable, was appointed president of the acute care hospital division. In this position, he will have responsibility for directing the activities of the acute care hospitals and establishing current and long-range objectives, plans, programs and policies in alignment with overall strategic plan and mission, HMH said.

Other changes

Regina Foley, presently chief nurse executive and chief transformation & integration officer, was named president of specialty hospitals and clinical services.

In her new role, Foley will oversee strategic direction, operational performance and clinical excellence of all specialty hospitals and clinical specialty services across HMH. The network said Her purview includes the operations at Carrier Clinic, Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, Long Term Acute Care Hospital at Raritan Bay, nursing, rehabilitation, pharmacy, imaging, laboratory, EMS/transfer center, transformation and the Integration Management Office.

Additionally, Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jose Azar was promoted to executive vice president, chief quality officer and clinical service line officer. In this expanded role, Azar will now also oversee the development of HMH’s network clinical service lines. According to HMH, he will focus on quality and growth.

Commenting on the leadership changes, Garrett described Sable, Foley and Azar as “exceptional leaders who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to quality, innovation, and patient-centered care.”

“Their expertise and dedication will be instrumental in driving HMH’s continued success, and I am confident they will excel in these new roles,” he said. “This strengthened leadership team of Mark, Ken, Regina and Jose will enable us to better serve our patients and communities by fostering innovation, enhancing quality and driving growth across our network.”

According to a HMH spokesperson, all of the new roles begin July 2.