“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Commissioner O’Dowd on a professional level and the honor of knowing her as a friend. She is the same person in both arenas – smart, honest, personable and a woman of great integrity.

“One of the smartest professional moves I’ve ever made was hiring Mary at the New Jersey Hospital Association to be director of legislation and policy in 2001. She eventually left NJHA to pursue a graduate degree at NYU and move into public service, but she established a stellar reputation  here that has remained with her throughout her professional life. As commissioner, she and I worked closely on many public health and policy issues. Although we didn’t always agree, we could disagree with openness and mutual respect.

“I have especially enjoyed the many projects where the state Department of Health and NJHA have worked collaboratively to improve the health of New Jersey residents – projects like perinatal health, end-of-life care and healthcare quality improvement. She brought her own personal commitment and great energy to these efforts, and that work has made a real difference in people’s lives. That is one of the vital, lasting contributions of Commissioner O’Dowd.”