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While HBO Max’s weekly hit series “The Pitt” shines a light on the struggles of medical professionals, those in the industry tackle those challenges daily – without a script. 

To honor these frontline workers, NJBIZ is unveiling the 2026 Health Care Heroes award recipients. 

This program was created to recognize excellence, promote innovation and honor the efforts of individuals and organizations making a significant impact on the quality of health care in New Jersey.   

Based on your submissions, and chosen by a panel of independent judges, the program recognizes individuals and organizations across 13 categories.  

NJBIZ will also unveil the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree at a later date, so stay tuned for that announcement. 

On June 23, we will gather to celebrate these heroes at The Marigold in Somerset. The award recipients will also be recognized in an upcoming NJBIZ supplement. Tickets for the event are now on sale on the event page.  

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact AnnMarie Karczmit at 732-246-5717 or [email protected]. 

Congratulations to the 2026 NJBIZ Health Care Heroes!  

Categories and honorees listed in alphabetical order 

Advanced Practice Providers – Individual 

Christine Edugene, lead advance practice provider, physician assistant, Robotics
Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center 

Kristina Goetz, LEAD APP Pediatrics, pediatric nurse practitioner
Cooper University Health Care 

Audrey Kleet, vice president, Advanced Practice Providers
RWJBarnabas Health 

Ambulatory Health Care (outpatient care) – Organization 

Hoboken University Hospital
Hudson Regional Health

Integrity House  

Overlook Emergency Services – Union Campus
Atlantic Health 

Virtua Health Urgent Care 

Education – Individual 

Susan Chandler, program director
New Jersey League for Nursing Inc. 

Barbara Crump, professor of nursing
Berkeley College  

Stanley Terlecky, vice dean of research and medical sciences, founding chair of the department
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine,  Hackensack Meridian Health 

Shari Ungerleider, outreach and education manager
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Education – Organization  

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center  

St. Benedict’s Preparatory School 

Health Care Professional – Individual 

Alex Binder, vice president, Parker Advanced Care Institute & Home-Based Primary Care
Visiting Physician Services, Parker Advanced Care Institute 

Darlene Carr, vice president, Healthcare Division
NJII  

Jessica Czepiel, manager of care management
Inspira Health  

John Fanburg,  managing member and healthcare law chair
Brach Eichler LLC 

Barry Graf, senior vice president of partnerships and business development
Virtua Health 

Jennifer Iskandar, strategy & program development director
Wellpoint  

Dr. Andrew Pecora, CEO, chairman and oncologist
Outcomes Matter Innovations LLC 

Dr. Dustin Riccio, president and CEO
St. Joseph’s Health  

Kathryn Richardson, senior vice president, Operations; long-term care administrator
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center  

Innovation – Individual  

Sorrita Brown, program supervisor
Rem NJ, Sevita 

Nancy Chiaravalloti, director, Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Kessler Foundation 

Shannon Preston, director of public health initiatives
VNA Health Group 

Kalpana Ramakrishnan, associate director, Business Development
Pharming Group 

Innovation – Organization 

Care Plus NJ Inc.  

The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center 

Woods System of Care 

Mental Health – Organization 

Christian Health  

Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health team
Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center 

Trinitas Regional Medical Center
RWJBarnabas Health 

Nursing – Individual 

Ryane Blue-Luciano, vice president of clinical services
Complete Care 

Deanna DeStefano, vice president of nursing
YCS  

Tara Flynn-Maguire, director of peri-operative services
Bayonne University Hospital, Hudson Regional Health 

Jennifer Gatto, registered nurse
Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health 

Sorcha Hicks, nurse manager, Inpatient Neuroscience Acute Care Units
Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center 

Pharmaceutical Professional – Individual 

Jerry Altshuler, network director, Drug Use Management and Clinical Pharmacy
Hackensack Meridian Health 

Jody Beach, ambulatory care pharmacy manager
Inspira Health 

Lori-Ann Iacovino, clinical pharmacy specialist, Infectious Disease
Holy Name Medical Center 

Physician – Individual 

Dr. Ashwin Agrawal, medical director, Pediatric Celiac Disease Center
RWJBarnabas Health 

Dr. Gerardo Capo, cancer
Trinitas Regional Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health 

Dr. Shabbar Danish, chair and professor of neurosurgery
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health 

Dr. Patrick Fox, Medicaid president
Wellpoint-New Jersey, Elevance Health Inc. 

Dr. Howard Levine, family medicine
Bayonne University Hospital, Hudson Reginal Health 

Dr. Maithili Rao, enterprise medical director – physician enterprise, growth and integration
Atlantic Health 

Dr. Andrew Robinson, medical director, Atlantic Health Hernia Center
Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center 

Dr. Adam Sagot, chief medical officer
Preferred Behavioral Health Group  

Dr. Eleonora Spinazzi, director, Endovascular Services and Stroke
Holy Name Medical Center 

Public Health – Individual 

Corey Basch, professor of public health
William Paterson University  

Jenny Bernard, vice president, Women and Community Health Quality Improvement
Hackensack Meridian Health 

Sahai Cole, vice president
Children and Family Health Institute, VNA Health Group 

John Koufos, president
Cottage Four LLC  

Robin Shorter, senior director of community engagement
Integrity House  

Rehabilitation Therapy – Organization 

Children’s Specialized Hospital
RWJBarnabas Health 

Faith Health Group  

Holy Name Medical Center Rehabilitation – Peripheral Artery Disease Program 

New Jersey Doctors of Physical Therapy  

SportsMed Physical Therapy  

The Cognitive Wellness Program
JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, Hackensack Meridian Health 

The Spine and Health Center of New Jersey   

Volunteer – Individual  

Mary Bowsky, patient and family advisory council chair
Hackensack Meridian Health 

Michael Overton
Community Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health 

Workplace Wellness – Organization 

AmeriHealth  

The Cooper Compassion & Resiliency Experience (C.A.R.E.) Program
Cooper University Health Care 

University Hospital