Accolades include Physician of the Year, Public Health Hero, and Mental Health Hero
West Orange, NJ, July 1, 2024 – One outstanding mental health program and three dedicated health care team members from RWJBarnabas Health were recognized by NJBIZ as 2024 Healthcare Heroes, and were honored at a formal event on June 25 at The Palace at Somerset Park.
The esteemed NJBIZ Healthcare Heroes list recognizes excellence, promotes innovation and honors the efforts of individuals and organizations making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the state. Honorees from RWJBarnabas Health include:
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s Eating Disorders Program, part of RWJBarnabas Health’s Behavioral Health Services in partnership with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, offers comprehensive medical care for the treatment of eating disorders, including inpatient care, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care for patients age 14 and older. It was honored in NJBIZ’s Mental Health category. The program’s multidisciplinary team approach addresses the biological, psychiatric, psychological and social issues related to eating disorders.
- Margie Heller, Senior Vice President of Community Health & Global Strategic Partnerships at RWJBarnabas Health, has dedicated her career to healthcare, serving in various leadership roles at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center for over 25 years. Margie has successfully co-led numerous disaster relief missions in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and continually collaborates with universities, international non–government organizations, and medical schools in the U.S and abroad to address health priorities in under resourced countries. She is honored in the Public Health category.
- Dr. Meherwan Joshi is a leading cardiologist at Trinitas Regional Medical Center (TRMC). He completed his residency and fellowship at TRMC, and has been an attending physician at the hospital for two decades. He is part of the core faculty for the internal medicine residency program and the cardiology fellowship, and is a clinical assistant professor at Rutgers Medical School. He is also the director of the Echo Lab at TRMC and leads quality initiatives in the department. Dr. Joshi is an exceptionally dedicated physician and cares not only for his patients, but for his colleagues as well. He is credited with helping create the excellent cardiology program. He was named Physician of the Year.
- Danielle King is Development and Program Manager for RWJUH Somerset’s Babs Siperstein PROUD Center, the first in New Jersey to offer specialized primary care services for the LGBTQ+ community. In her role, Danielle conducts community outreach and helps connect patients with the resources they need. Danielle was also honored in NJBIZ’s Public Health category.
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 healthcare 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.
Contact: Carrie Cristello
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org