The New Jersey Hospital Association‘s (NJHA) 2023 Legislator of the Year Award is being presented to two lawmakers – Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, D-6th District, and Sen. Troy Singleton, D-7th District.

Announcing the recognition this week, the organization says the South Jersey legislators were selected based on their championing of the Health Care Heroes Violence Prevention Act, legislation to protect health care workers from rising incidents of violence. The legislators were primary sponsors of the bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy in May and strongly supported by NJHA. The measure protects health care workers from threats and violence through education and enhanced penalties.

The NJHA notes that a survey it conducted last year found that violence and aggression toward health care workers increased 14.6% during the pandemic period, reaching nearly 10,000 incidents in 2021.

“Our health care teams support patients, their families and community members who may be afraid, in pain, stressed and often when they’re in crisis. Sometimes, those intense emotions are misdirected at our team members in the form of violence or aggression,” said NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett in a press release. “Majority Leader Greenwald and Sen. Singleton stood up to protect our health care heroes, sending a strong message that violence against health care workers is unacceptable.”

The awards will be presented at NJHA’s Best at the Beach, a beachfront event celebrating the contributions of New Jersey’s health care community, July 13 at Ocean Place Resort and Spa in Long Branch.

“In addition, both leaders are strong advocates for building the pipeline of much-needed healthcare professionals in the state, along with efforts to expand access to care,” said Bennett. “For their steadfast commitment to good health in the Garden State, NJHA is pleased to honor them along our Best at the Beach this year.”

The NJHA Best at the Beach event will also include the presentation of:

• The Lifetime Achievement Award to Gary Horan, the recently retired president and CEO of Trinitas Regional Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health.
• The Distinguished Service Award to Tom Biga, executive vice president and president of the Northwest Region for RWJBarnabas Health, and Bob Segin, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Virtua Health.
• The Emeritus Prize, recognizing a retiring leader who has left a legacy of unselfish commitment to the association and New Jersey’s provider community and presented for the first time this year, to Lori Herndon, president and CEO of AtlantiCare, and Kevin Slavin, the president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health.

A complete list of honorees is available here. Event details and registration info can be found here.