UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES ED JIMENEZ AS NEW PRESIDENT & CEO

Newark, NJ – University Hospital, New Jersey’s only public acute care hospital and the principal teaching hospital for Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM), and all other Newark-based medical education, today named Ed Jimenez, MBA as its new President and CEO.

“To lead a hospital as essential as University Hospital is to the people of our state requires both a level-headed and compassionate approach that I am confident Ed Jimenez will bring to this role,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Throughout his career, he has overseen significant hospital expansions and optimized the operations of a complex organization by navigating professional partnerships, implementing creative and data-driven solutions, and maintaining the bold vision necessary to accomplish these goals. I commend Chair Freeman and the entire University Hospital board for finding such a qualified candidate to lead our state’s only public hospital and thank interim CEO Mary Maples for serving this hospital with dedication and skill during this transition.”

“We began the search for our next President and CEO with several goals and expectations. We wanted a leader with the experience to propel our vision of improving health for generations to come,” said Tanya Freeman, Chair, University Hospital Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Ed Jimenez to University Hospital. We look forward to working alongside him as we continue to be the strongest voices on behalf of our teams and the communities we serve.”

Jimenez has an extensive record as a healthcare executive. Most recently, he served as CEO of University of Florida Health Shands Hospital. Jimenez has held key leadership positions at some of the east coast’s largest hospital systems, including St. Joseph’s Healthcare System and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  In 2003, Jimenez spent two years as the Executive Director for Ambulatory Services of the former University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) (now University Hospital).

“I return to University Hospital with a profound appreciation for its continued commitment to the underserved communities of Newark,” said Ed Jimenez, incoming President and CEO of University Hospital. “I would like to thank Mary Maples for assisting with a smooth transition, and the Board of Directors for choosing me to build upon the mission and values of University Hospital as a community-first facility dedicated to the public good. I look forward to working with the UH team to expand the Hospital’s influence as a leading advanced care resource for the region and beyond.”

The announcement comes months after former President and CEO Shereef M. Elnahal, MD, MBA was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health.  Soon after, the University Hospital Board of Directors created a search committee and hired executive search firm Odgers Berndtson to help fill the role. The Board also conducted two listening sessions with stakeholders and community members to hear their input regarding characteristics the ideal candidate would possess.

“Newark is New Jersey’s largest city by population and one of the state’s most diverse municipalities,” said Diane Hill, PhD, Chairwoman, University Hospital Community Oversight Board. “We needed a leader who understood how to work with diverse populations to overcome specific health disparities facing our communities every day. Mr. Jimenez knows Newark and has proven his ability to execute the mission and vision of University Hospital with targeted, data-driven methods with empathy and refinement. We welcome him and look forward to collaborating on our continued implementation of our health programs across the city and region as we improve the quality of life for communities in Newark and beyond.”

“Ed Jimenez has made it a point throughout his career to promote diversity in health care settings, build relationships by fostering an open work environment, and lead by example,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver. “His ability to truly understand and address the needs of the people he serves leaves no doubt that he has what it takes to lead a hospital that delivers critical care to the people of Newark and surrounding communities. I thank the entire University Hospital team for their efforts to find a new CEO/President and keep this vital hospital running in the meantime, including Chair Tanya Freeman, interim CEO Mary Maples, and interim Chief Legal Officer Tracy Forsyth.”

Since May, Mary K. E. Maples, Esq. has served as Interim President and CEO, working with the executive team to maintain the Hospital’s forward progress during this time. Maples, who joined University Hospital in 2018 as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, agreed to accept the interim position and delay her departure from the Hospital to ensure a smooth transition.

“We are grateful to Mary Maples for her leadership and her willingness to step into this critical interim role, even though she chose not to pursue the permanent position,” said Freeman. “Mary has been an invaluable advisor to the Hospital and the Board since she joined our team and we are thankful for her expertise, insight and guidance when we needed it most.”

“It has been my honor to work with the incredible team at University Hospital over the last four years and see the amazing progress we have made together as we pursue our vision to partner with our communities to improve health for generations to come. I am grateful to the Board of Directors and Community Oversight Board members for their steadfast partnership as we have worked diligently to further our mission to deliver exceptional care to every patient, every time,” said Mary K. E. Maples, Esq. “I will always support the work of University Hospital and am excited to see the new heights the team will reach under Ed’s leadership.”

The Board will work with the leadership team during the transition in January.

# # #

About University Hospital

University Hospital is part of one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers and is the Level 1 Trauma Center for Northern New Jersey. Located at University Heights in Newark, University Hospital is a principal teaching hospital of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and a regional resource for advanced services across many medical specialties. For more information about University Hospital, please visit www.uhnj.org.