RWJBarnabas Health names real estate, facilities leader

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As preference and technological advances result in care moving away from hospitals to expanded outpatient facilities, RWJBarnabas Health is bringing on a new executive – in a new position – to help navigate the evolving landscape of ambulatory care and the health system’s facilities and real estate, more broadly.

RWJBarnabas announced the addition of Stephen Barry as executive vice president of facilities management and real estate development Aug. 31. In the new role he will lead day-to-day facility management, overseeing all major construction projects at the system’s acute care and ambulatory locations, and managing efforts to optimize and expand that ambulatory footprint.

Barry will lead a team that manages and maintains facilities and real estate holdings across the entire health system, according to RWJBarnabas. He will report to Chief Operating Officer John Doll.

“As RWJBarnabas Health continues to grow and establish its ever-increasing role as an anchor institution in New Jersey, Steve is a seasoned leader who will help us optimize our physical space to support our dedicated staff in better serving the needs of our patients and community members,” Doll said in a prepared statement. “His background and expertise are uniquely suited to fulfill the needs of this new position, which will evolve over time as our system continues to expand access to care.”

Barry’s background includes 18 years at Rendina Healthcare Real Estate, a Florida company that works with health care systems and physician groups nationwide with a focus on ambulatory strategy and market share growth. As president of that company, he built strong relationships with health care leaders, created and executed the company’s strategy for expanding into new markets, and drove the development of more than 1.5 million square feet of outpatient facilities.

In 2021, the firm partnered with RWJBarnabas on the the 82,000-square-foot RWJBarnabas Health Family Care & Wellness location at the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown. For that project, Rendina served as developer and owns and manages the facilities.

According to RWJBarnabas, Barry also spent two years working as an analyst with J.P. Morgan in New York. He is a current member of the ULI Health Care and Life Sciences Council, where he collaborates with industry leaders on matters related to the finance, development and operations of acute care and specialty hospitals, medical office buildings, outpatient centers, ambulatory care facilities and life science/research facilities.