Shirley Hwang, RN, MS, AOCNS
Regional Vice President of Business Development
Originally from Taiwan, Shirley attended the Taipei Medical College, School of Nursing, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She earned her Master’s Degree in nursing from the University of Illinois, School of Nursing in Chicago. She worked at UCLA Medical Center as clinical nurse specialist before coming to New Jersey in 1991 to work as an oncology advanced nurse practitioner at the East Orange VA Health Care System, where she received several government research grants to establish the oncology outcome research program.
In 2005, Shirley joined the team at Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) as Administrative Director of Cancer Services, and was promoted to Assistant Vice President of the Regional Oncology Service Line, and subsequently to Vice President of Business Development. At MMC, Shirley also established the Neuroscience Program and the ethnic-specific medical programs, including the Chinese and Russian Medical Programs. The Chinese Medical Program was subsequently expanded to other RWJBarnabas Health facilities.
It was that expertise, combined with her firsthand knowledge of the health care system, local doctors and services that eventually led to the development of the Chinese Medical Program. Often approached by friends and family, members of her church congregation and the local Chinese community for recommendations and assistance regarding medical care, the need for a coordinated approach that increased access to a broad array of services became apparent to Shirley. She approached Monmouth Medical Center’s Senior Administration about her idea to help the Chinese community access health care services – and the Chinese Medical Program was created. Now serving nearly 1,500 patients each year, the program brings much-needed health and wellness programs to more and more people throughout the state as word spreads of its many patient success stories.
