Press Release
August 7, 2007
Contact: Anna Farneski
(973) 972-3000
farnesam@umdnj.edu
University Hospital’s Board of Directors Holds Inaugural Meeting
New board created by Governor, Legislature
will improve management, operation of UH
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NEWARK — The new Board of Directors for UMDNJ’s University Hospital held its first meeting Tuesday.
Creation of a Board for The University Hospital was set forth in A2900, legislation signed by Governor Jon S. Corzine, which expanded the UMDNJ Board of Trustees and created a separate Board of Directors for The University Hospital.
Governor Corzine telephoned in and thanked the Board of Directors, as well as members of the UMDNJ Board of Trustees, for their willingness to work on behalf of those who rely on the University and The University Hospital for healthcare.
Sworn in as Chair of the Board of Directors was Thomas M. Jackson, Esq., of Morristown.
Jackson is Vice President and Chief Regulatory Counsel at Prudential Financial, Inc., where he coordinates federal and state regulatory matters with respect to insurance, annuity and securities products for the multi-billion dollar financial services firm. As attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jackson was part of a National Fraud Task Force charged with recovering $10 billion in Medicare overpayments.
A member of the New Jersey Healthcare Facilities Financing Authority, Jackson is also a member of the African-American Coalition for Diversity in Government, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Calvary Baptist Church, and a former member of the Board of Directors of 100 Black Men of New Jersey, Inc.
“I am grateful for the confidence the Governor has shown in me,” said Jackson. “At hand is a tremendous opportunity for The University Hospital, an opportunity for us to work together to better the lives of the people we serve by leveraging the gifts, skill and dedication of hospital’s extraordinary physicians, nurses, staff and administration and the expertise of this new Board.”
Also sworn in Tuesday was Blair MacInnes, of Morristown. A lifelong educator, MacInnes is a founding Trustee and first Chair of the Board of New Jersey SEEDS. She previously served on the Board of Trustees at Drew University and of the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
“When people are sick and in need of medical care they deserve caring, efficient and respectful healthcare,” said MacInnes. “The University Hospital provides that for the City of Newark, and I’m delighted to be part of the effort to ensure that service continues and improves.”
Other members of the board include four members of the UMDNJ Board of Trustees, including Mary Ann Christopher, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey. Christopher has served as Chair of the UMDNJ Board’s Joint Conference/Planning Committee, which was The University Hospital’s governing body prior to today’s meeting.
“Today marks a landmark moment in the history of The University Hospital,” said Christopher. “The work initiated by UMDNJ members of the JCPC will be further refined and enhanced by the newly constituted University Hospital Board. The shared legacy of both governing groups will be the provision of comprehensive, high quality, accessible care to all patients.”
The Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Christopher Vice Chair of the Board.
Other UMDNJ Board members on the University Hospital Board of Directors include Dr. Kevin M. Barry, an anesthesiologist, Dr. Jonathan Orenstein, a dentist, and Eric S. Pennington, Esq., an attorney.
Also attending the meeting was Robert Del Tufo, Chair of the UMDNJ Board of Trustees.
“The Hospital Board has talented and energetic Directors who, I know, will serve the Hospital, the community and the New Jersey well,” Del Tufo said. “I, personally, and the UMDNJ Board as a whole shall work closely with Chairman Jackson and the Board Directors to assist in any way while also discharging our own statutory responsibilities.”
Dr. William F. Owen Jr., UMDNJ’s new President, also addressed the gathering.
"The senior management team at UMDNJ looks forward to a close and fruitful relationship with the newly formed Board of Directors of University Hospital,” Dr. Owen said. “Accelerating the success of this necessary community asset and mission-critical resource for UMDNJ will be hastened with the appointment of Chairman Jackson and his fine governing team.”
In other business, the Board created a series of committees: a Finance and Audit Committee, a Quality Committee and a Medical Liaison Committee.
Darlene L. Cox, President and CEO of the hospital described the meeting as an historic event for the hospital and the community.
“This dedicated Board of Directors for The University Hospital will increase our ability to fulfill our unique mission,” she said. “Their leadership, guidance, and focus on strategic imperatives will better equip us as we continue our financial turnaround.”
UMDNJ is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,700 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.
