First Chair in Association’s 104-Year History to Come from a For-profit Hospital
PRINCETON –Edward J. Condit, president and CEO at St. Mary’s General Hospital, today was installed as chair of the Board of the New Jersey Hospital Association. The official installation, as well as the appointment of new Board officers and members, was held during NJHA’s 104th Annual Meeting which was held virtually.
Condit, a Denville resident who has served on the NJHA board since 2016, assumes the role at a time when the healthcare community is facing the sustained impact of COVID on reduced volume, rising costs and workforce shortages.
“It's ironic that this historic event that demanded our highest level of service has now fully revealed our health system’s greatest vulnerabilities,” said Condit.
As providers move forward from the pandemic, NJHA and its collective members comprised of acute care hospitals, behavioral health and rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, home health and other providers, will continue to focus on its mission to improve the health of New Jerseyans, said Condit. That includes supporting and rebuilding the healthcare workforce; caring for the most vulnerable; creating opportunities through jobs and economic activity; advancing health equity; and addressing social determinants of health to create healthier communities.
“But, to do that, we need to be here. Or, to put it another way, to save lives, we need to save hospitals,” said Condit.
Condit succeeds 2022 Board Chair Lori S. Herndon, president and CEO of AtlantiCare. In her outgoing remarks, she recounted the many contributions of NJHA members including 150,000 COVID patients treated and discharged home; a rapid mobilization to meet a fall surge in pediatric respiratory illness; and elevating the dialogue on workforce shortages including the need to create resilience for today’s workers while building the pipeline of tomorrow’s health professionals.
NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett outlined the Association’s 2023 priorities: Creating financial sustainability for providers; supporting and growing the healthcare workforce; showcasing healthcare’s value across the state; and advancing thought leadership.
“The severity of COVID-19 may be lessening, but its consequences are accelerating. From workforce shortages to increased costs of caring, inadequate reimbursements, and sicker patients, the pressures are greater than ever. That’s why we’re working harder than ever to deliver the resources and support you need, and to remind our public officials of the invaluable role you play as the anchors in the communities you serve,” said Bennett.
Under Condit as board chair, the full slate of NJHA Board officers includes:
- Vice Chair Bill Arnold, president and CEO, RWJ University Hospital and President, Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health.
- Treasurer Mark Stauder, chief operating officer at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Secretary Deborah D. Visconi, president and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.
The following healthcare leaders also were appointed as new board members: Eric Carney, president and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health; Vincent J. Dicks, chair, Board of Trustees of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System; Brian Finestein, CEO of Saint Clare’s Hospital Denville; Mary K.E. Maples, of Newark, interim president and CEO of University Hospital; John Matsinger, DO, executive vice president and COO of Virtua Health; Thomas Scott, FACHE, president and CEO of CentraState Healthcare System.
