Dr. Camacho to be Recognized as an Outstanding New Jersey Physician at May 3 Ceremony
West Orange, NJ, May 4, 2023 – Margarita Camacho, MD, MBA, MS, Surgical Director, Cardiac Transplantation, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Quality Director, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northern Division, RWJBarnabas Health, was recognized with the 2023 Edward J. Ill, M.D., Excellence in Medicine Awards’ Physician’s Award presented by the EJI Excellence in Medicine Foundation. This esteemed recognition is presented to one New Jersey physician each year for dedication and extraordinary service to the profession and to the citizens of the state. The recognition ceremony was held last night at the Park Château Estate & Gardens in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
Dr. Camacho is the most accomplished female heart transplant surgeon, having personally completed over 650 transplants and is amongst the top 1% of heart transplant surgeon all-time volume in the country. Dr. Camacho joined Newark Beth Israel in 2005 as the surgical director of the cardiac transplant and mechanical assist device program. Since then, she has been an integral part of the growth and success of the transplant program. RWJBarnabas Health is home to one of the three largest transplant programs in total transplanted adult heart volume in the nation and the most comprehensive pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery programs in the state.
“The Edward J. Ill, M.D., Excellence in Medicine Awards’ recognition of Dr. Camacho with the Physician’s Award is a testament to her passion and dedication,” said Darrell K. Terry, Sr., MHA, MPH, FACHE, FHELA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. “Her combination of leadership, commitment to her patients, and surgical superiority make her a truly rare talent in her field and this prestigious honor is well deserved.”
Dr. Camacho holds a Doctor of Medicine from New York Medical College, and also recently completed Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership degrees from Cornell University in 2021. Since 2012, Dr. Camacho has been a faculty member of the Liberty Science Center Transplant Surgery Program. She also sits on the Data Safety Monitoring Board for the C-Pulse Implantable Counter-pulsation Pump Trial and the Advisory Board of Trustees for New Jersey Sharing Network, and is a member of Adjudications Committee for INTERMACS (International Registry for Mechanical and Circulatory Support) and the Pyramid Society of Vassar Trustees. In addition, she sits on the Alumni Admissions Committee for her undergraduate alma mater, Vassar College. She is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
More information on the Edward J. Ill, M.D., Excellence in Medicine Awards and a summary of Dr. Camacho’s award-winning submission are available here.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children’s hospitals, Children’s Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state’s largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 38,000 employees and 9,000 physicians – and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. For more information, visit rwjbh.org.