PRINCETON – The New Jersey Hospital Association, the state’s largest trade association for the healthcare provider community, has announced new additions to its policy and advocacy team as the field focuses on meeting the state’s health needs on the road forward.
“Recent years have brought massive disruptive forces to health and healthcare, including high rates of inflation, skyrocketing expenses, and significant volume and revenue losses,” said NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett. “It is essential that New Jerseyans continue to have access to the highest quality, best-prepared healthcare system when they need it most. We are excited to have these talented and knowledgeable professionals joining our team to support our mission of improving the health of the people of New Jersey.”

Under the leadership of NJHA’s Chief Government Relations Officer Christine Stearns, the following professionals are joining NJHA, effective March 20:

Shadaya Bennett is joining the NJHA team as director of government relations and policy. She recently served as director of policy in the office of Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz where she managed legislative and state budget matters. Previously she served as legislative director and chief of staff to Assemblywoman Shanique Speight where she managed daily operations of the office and policy development. She graduated from Temple University and has a master’s degree from Kean University. She is also a 2022 graduate of the Leadership Newark Public Policy Fellowship Program and has been listed as one of InsiderNJ’s “Millennials to Watch”.

Carolyn Singer is joining NJHA as deputy director of government relations and policy. Singer is a highly accomplished communications professional with a demonstrated track record of success in political campaigns and public service. With her extensive experience as a communications director for New Jersey Senators Linda Greenstein and Dawn Marie Addiego, she brings a wealth of expertise in strategic messaging and advocacy. She is a graduate of Binghamton University.

Amber Lee Yurcisin also joins NJHA as a deputy director of government relations and policy, after nine years as administrator for the N.J. State Laborers’ Political Action Committee. She earned her master’s degree in political science from Kean University. Recognized by Senator Vin Gopal as a Labor Leader Honoree in 2019, she also has extensive experience in federal, state and local campaign field operations, organized labor political trainings, planning and staffing events and campaign finances.

These new additions will be rounding out NJHA’s team that includes Omna Syed, newly promoted to Senior Policy Analyst after three years at NJHA. NJHA’s Neil Eicher, Vice President of Policy, will lead NJHA’s focus on sound healthcare policy and regulatory issues.

Priority issues for the provider community include ensuring the fiscal stability of the healthcare system and building the healthcare workforce to address a nationwide shortage of workers.

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NJHA, based in Princeton, is a not-for-profit trade association committed to improving the health of New Jerseyans. It works with its nearly 400 members to deliver quality, accessible and affordable healthcare to patients, residents and communities.