Introducing the 2019 NJBIZ Health Care Heroes finalists

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The NJBIZ Health Care Hero awards honor individuals, and organizations, making a positive impact on the condition of health care in the state.

Following an open nomination process, honorees are selected by a panel of independent judges.

The 2019 finalists will be recognized, and winners announced, during a morning event and ceremony on June 18 at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset. For more information, or to register, visit our Events page.

Congratulations to the 2019 Health Care Hero finalists:

Education Hero – Individual

Tara Augustine, chief executive officer
Paradigm Therapeutic Day School

Amita Avadhani
Saint Peters University Hospital

Craig French, EMS medical direction coordinator
Cooper Health

Elaine Hewins, domestic violence education & awareness program coordinator
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Dr. Meena Murthy, chief, Division of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolism
Saint Peter’s University Hospital

Donna Nickitas, dean and professor
Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden

Bonita Stanton, founding dean
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University

Health Care Professional

Sarah Balzano, director, Garden Practice Transformation Network; director, Measures Management Department
New Jersey Innovation Institute

Robert Garrett, chief executive officer
Hackensack Meridian Health

Samantha Hernandez
Saint Barnabas Medical Center-RWJBH

Kevin Joyce, vice president, Insurance Networks
Atlantic Health System

Donna Provenzano, director family-centered care
Children’s Specialized Hospital

John Rimmer, director, Emergency Department
Hoboken University Medical Center, Carepoint Health

Elizabeth Straus, executive vice president
CareOne

Douglas Struyk, president and CEO
Christian Health Care Center

Innovation Hero

William Bruck, director of medical services
Seabrook-The Heart of Recovery

Dr. Attila Kett, chairman of anesthesiology
Saint Peter’s University Hospital

Francine Lane, vice president, Global Transparency
TrialScope

Amy Perry, CEO, Hospital Division; senior vice president, Integrated Care Delivery
Atlantic Health System

Emma Yamada, director of data science
Holy Name Medical Center

Nurse of the Year

Laura Amdur
Hackensack Meridian Health

Sean Deiter
Cooper Hospital

Carol Jones, chief nursing officer
Morristown Medical Center

Linda B. Lohsen, director of the center for healthy living; coordinator of bariatric services
Holy Name Medical Center

Sofia Magnifico, geriatric nurse manager at Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Hospital
Christian Health Care Center

Laura Pizzano
Morristown Medical Center

Michelle Wilder, level III staff nurse, Pediatric Center for Heart Disease
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center

Physician of the Year

Carolyn Gaukler, director, Capital Health Palliative and Supportive Care Program; president, Capital Health Medical Staff
Capital Health

Dr. Elsie Koh, medical director, chief medical informatics officer, regional medical director, medical advisory board member
Azura Vascular Care

Leonard Y. Lee, chair, Department of Surgery
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Catherine Mazzola, president and CEO
New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute

Dr. John R. Middleton, infectious diseases physician
ID Care

Manisha Parulekar, chief, Division of Geriatrics
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center

Dr. Philip Scaduto
Primary Care Partners Atlantic Health

James Wittig, chairman, Orthopedic Surgery Morristown Medical Center Medical; director, Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Oncology and Sarcoma Surgery Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System

Public Health Hero

Christopher Amalfitano, chairman, Emergency Department
Overlook Medical Center

Alicia Cook, author, activist
The Alicia Cook

Brenda Goins, executive director
Salem Health and Wellness Foundation

Alexandra Green, program manager, Community Health
Atlantic Health System-Overlook Medical Center

Jean McKinney, regional director, Community Health Education
Monmouth Medical Center & Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus

Joe Primo, CEO
Good Grief Inc.

Shavonda Sumter, associate vice president
Hackensack UMC Mountainside

Edward A. Torres, executive director of familia y salud Hispanic outreach program, administrative director of pathology and laboratory medicine
Holy Name Medical Center

Patrick Young, president of population health
Hackensack Meridian Health

Volunteer of the Year

Joanne Ehrlich
Englewood Health

Michael Ellis
Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center

Herand Kafafian
Holy Name Medical Center

Brittany McNaboe
Christian Health Care Center

Mayuri Shah
Indian Health Camp of NJ-IHCNJ

Terry Turko
Overlook Medical Center – Atlantic Health System

Vincent Ursino Sr.
Overlook Medical Center

Education Hero – Organization

Atlantic Health Systems Chilton Medical Center

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Health Monitor Network

Holy Name Medical Center’s End-of-Life Planning Efforts

Innovation Hero – Organization

The Manor Health & Rehabilitation

Tourette International Collaborative Genetics (TIC Genetics)

Hackensack Meridian Health

Morristown Medical Center

New Jersey Innovation Institute @ NJIT

WellCare Health Plans Inc. of New Jersey

Workplace Wellness Hero

Delta Dental of New Jersey

Deptford Township

Hackensack Meridian Health

St. Joseph’s Health

T&M Associates

Transwestern