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If they’re not dealing with a worldwide pandemic, they’re tackling an industrywide staffing shortage. And yet, the 2025 NJBIZ Health Care Heroes have remained committed to their patients and their profession, going above and beyond every day.

This program was created to recognize excellence, promote innovation, and honor the efforts of individuals and organizations making a significant impact on the quality of health care in New Jersey.

Based on your submissions, and chosen by a panel of independent judges, the program recognizes individuals and organizations across 10 categories.

On June 24, we will gather to celebrate these heroes at The Palace at Somerset Park. Hackensack Meridian Health is the presenting sponsor for this program.

Tickets for the event are now on sale on the event page. Early-bird pricing ends May 19; ticket sales close June 16.

Congratulations to the 2025 NJBIZ Health Care Heroes!

Lifetime Achievement Award

Robert Garrett, CEO

Hackensack Meridian Health

Read more about this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient here.

Education Hero – Individual

Eleni Pellazgu, director of nursing; hospitalist nurse practitioner

County College of Morris; Atlantic Health

John DeLuca, senior vice president of research and training

Kessler Foundation

William Gottshall, director of nursing

Lincoln Technical Institute

Les Barta, director, Simulation Technology Program

Rutgers University, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Daria Napierkowski, professor

William Paterson University

Education Hero – Organization

Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut

Hackensack Meridian Health

Mainstream Recovery

New Jersey Council of County Colleges

New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset

Innovation Hero – Individual

Dr. James Cassuto, section chief of nuclear medicine, Overlook Medical Center; system associate medical director of nuclear medicine, Atlantic Medical Group

Atlantic Health System-Overlook Medical Center

Dr. Ihor Sawczuk, president of academics, research and innovation

Hackensack Meridian Health

Nathaniel Cooke Jr., director, Market Development

Propel America

Innovation Hero – Organization

Cooper University Health Care

Holy Name Medical Center

Kessler Foundation

NJ Sharing Network

Nurse of the Year

Susan O’Kane, assistant nurse manager for cardiac telemetry and NICHE coordinator

Atlantic Health System-Overlook Medical Center

Richard Kitrick, pediatric trach/vent nurse

Bayada Home Health Care

Janice Mazurek-Reilly, perioperative nurse manager

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Ketty Davila, director of nursing

Faith Hospice Care LLC

Victoria Berner, nurse manager

Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health

Cheryl Porta, neurology nurse practitioner

Holy Name Medical Center

Maureen Harding, senior vice president of patient care services

RWJBarnabas Health

Ryan Murphy, lead advanced practice nurse, Division of Palliative Care and Geriatric Medicine

St. Joseph’s Health

Public Health Hero

Corinne Scarpa, navigator for veteran services, business outreach manager

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Madelyn Tannous, manager, Food Security

Hackensack Meridian Health

Dr. Tushar Patel, president

Health Camp of New Jersey

Balpreet Grewal-Virk, senior vice president of community health

RWJBarnabas Health

Anya Nawrocky, director of member experience and growth

Wellpoint

Volunteer of the Year

Claudia Zilocchi, volunteer, Hackensack University Medical Center Emergency Department

Hackensack Meridian Health

Dr. Andrew Murray, CEO

OOMC (Omni Ophthalmic Management Consultants)

Grant Hobson, volunteer

RWJBarnabas Health

Health Care Professional

Keri Furci, lead advance practice provider

Atlantic Health System-Overlook Medical Center

Darian Eletto, chief clinical officer of behavioral health services

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Mark Bush, president and CEO

Care Options for Kids

Dr. Omar Bellorin-Marin, medical director, GI Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; medical director, Robotic Surgery; program director, General Surgery Residency Program; clinical assistant professor, Surgery, Rowan-Virtua School of Medicine; surgery clerkship site co-director, Rowan-Virtua School of Medicine

Holy Name Medical Center

Dr. Rupen Parikh, chief medical officer

Hunterdon Cardiovascular Associates, Flemington

Dr. John Feltz, president and CEO

Lifeline Medical Associates

Dr. Varun Malik, primary care

Optum Medical Care

Alexis LaPietra, system director, Addiction Medicine Emergency and Hospitalist Service Line; medical director, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery

RWJBarnabas Health

Physician of the Year

Dr. John Sobotka II, associate medical director for emergency and observation psychiatry

Atlantic Health System-Overlook Medical Center

Dr. Alexander Itskovich, medical director, Statesir Cancer Center

CentraState Healthcare System

Dr. Jessica Israel, executive vice president and chief medical officer

Complete Care

Dr. Arnold Pallay, practicing physician and medical director; executive medical director; volunteer president

Consensus Health; Partners in Care; Montville Township Board of Health

Dr. Steven Kirshblum, chief medical officer

Kessler Foundation

Dr. Rachana Kulkarni, director of community cardiology and women’s heart health collaborative

RWJBarnabas Health

Dr. Uzma Hasan, division chief of pediatric infectious diseases; assistant professor

RWJBarnabas Health; Rutgers Health-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Dr. William Lowe III, vice chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; medical director, Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center; medical director, Outpatient Quality and Informatics; chair of the credentials committee; treasurer, Medical Dental Staff

Saint Peter’s University Hospital

Dr. Thomas McCarrick, chief medical officer

Vanova Health

Mental Health – Organization

Elements Psychological Services

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Hackensack Meridian Health

New Jersey Innovation Institute

Penn Medicine Princeton Center for Eating Disorders

Samaritan

Physical Therapy – Organization

Attain PT

CentraState Healthcare System

Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH), an RWJBarnabas Health facility

Cooper University Health Care

Holy Name Pediatric Rehabilitative Gym

Workplace Wellness Hero – Organization

Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation

Hackensack Meridian Health

The County of Monmouth

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11 a.m. May 23, 2025, following the announcement of this year’s Health Care Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The awards, now in its ninth year, are organised by Skills for Health and celebrate a range of support roles in health and care.

There are nine categories, which recognise and honour the hard work carried out daily by thousands of staff across the UK. From porters and cleaners to receptionists, gardeners and security guards, these often unsung heroes make up roughly 40 per cent of the NHS’s million plus workforce. Our Health Heroes Awards is a national celebration of their achievements and an opportunity to give thanks for the important role that they play in keeping our health service functioning.

NHS Employers sponsored the Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Healthcare Award, which was won by Pauline Taylor a children’s complex care quality assurance nurse at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

In the same category, Caroline Dowsett a clinical nurse specialist at East London Foundation Trust took the silver award and Vedantee Shiebert, a child and adolescent mental health services lead nurse at Central and North West NHS Foundation Trust, was awarded the bronze prize.

For a full list of the winners and more information, please visit the Our Health Heroes website.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger poses alongside Eaton Health Village honorees (Photo – David Franco, L.A. County)

In Recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Supervisor Kathryn Barger Honors Healthcare Heroes Behind Eaton Health Village.

By News Desk

During Tuesday’s public hearing, Supervisor Barger honored the team behind Eaton Health Village—a locally driven partnership that delivered critical mental health and medical support to the Altadena community during its time of crisis.

“In the aftermath of a disaster, it’s important for survivors to feel seen, supported, and cared for,” said Supervisor Barger. “That’s exactly what this remarkable team of providers delivered, a safe and healing space for individuals navigating one of the darkest chapters of their lives. Their lifesaving mental health support is nothing short of heroic.”

Eaton Health Village was spearheaded by a coalition of organizations, including Heritage Clinic, MAHI International, Medical Mission Adventures, Molina Healthcare, and local faith-based institutions. Together, they provided vital medical services to more than 500 individuals and distributed essential supplies to nearly 3,000 residents affected by the wildfire. Most importantly, every person who sought help was connected with a mental health professional.

Week after week, even after the flames were extinguished, the Eaton Health Village team remained a steady presence, a source of support as the community began the long journey to recovery.

Dr. Evelyn Wong, Executive Director of Medical Mission Adventures, reflected on the effort: “As we continue to stand by our community through the long road of recovery, we’re reminded that healing doesn’t happen alone. For a disaster of this magnitude, it truly takes a village to heal a village.”

Cameron Smyth, Vice President of State Government Affairs for Molina Healthcare, emphasized the importance of local partnerships: “Molina Healthcare has been a fixture in L.A. County for over 40 years and has always been dedicated to serving its local communities, especially during times of need.”

From a faith-based perspective, Dr. Bryon Rivera of Heritage Clinic highlighted the deeper mission behind their work: “Because we have been freely loved by God, we are compelled to extend that love to the Altadena community through free mental health support. It has been, and continues to be, an honor to serve alongside such mission-minded individuals and organizations.”

The work of Eaton Health Village is far from over. The team is now preparing to launch free group therapy sessions and trauma-focused care, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—an evidence-based treatment proven effective for survivors of trauma and loss. These ongoing services will be funded through continued grant support.

Courtney Johnson, RN

Registered Nurse, Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center

After a 30-mile bike ride, Queen Creek great-grandfather Robert Darling suffered a heart attack at a stoplight. Johnson, returning home from her night shift, heroically pulled him out of the car and performed CPR until help arrived. Darling’s family found Johnson two days later, and the two reunited. “For days, I had been praying that he was alive, and it was just a thrill to see that something I did out of instinct is keeping a family together,” Johnson says.

Alyssa Dinowitz

Founder, Chemo Companions

Dinowitz often accompanied her mother, a breast cancer patient, to her chemo treatments while organizing carpools for other patients and providing groceries to those who lost their jobs due to illness. Dinowitz continued these benevolent acts after her mother’s passing, leading her to start the nonprofit Chemo Companions. “In 15 years, I’ve met thousands of the most amazing people that I’m friends with,” Dinowitz says. “They’re family.”

Sara Lettieri

Volunteer, The Joy Bus

Chef Jennifer Caraway’s organization delivers healthy, delicious meals to cancer patients in the Valley. But they need dessert, too, right? Lettieri, a school nurse by profession, bakes delicious pies every Wednesday and serves on The Joy Bus’s events committee. “She even took it another step further and convinced her son to give up his Sundays to serve as a prep cook in our kitchen,” Caraway says. “She is a super rad human!”

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The Daily Record has announced the 2025 Health Care Heroes honorees.

As home to several renowned medical and federal institutions, Maryland is a national leader in health care research and development. The Health Care Heroes Awards honor those individuals and organizations that have made an impact on the quality of health care within the state.

Health Care Heroes will be presented in the following categories: Advancements and Innovation in Health Care, Community Outreach (organization and individual), Lifetime Achievement, Mental Health Heroes (organization and individual), Nurse of the Year, Nurse Practitioner of the Year, Physician Assistant of the Year, Physician of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Workplace Wellness Program of the Year.

“The 2025 Health Care Heroes go above and beyond to improve the quality of health care in Maryland. They work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others and demonstrate strong empathy, compassion and listening skills,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “The accomplishments of this year’s honorees are incredibly noteworthy, and we at The Daily Record are honored to celebrate these outstanding health care leaders.”

Honorees will be recognized on June 20 through an online video celebration, on The Daily Record’s social media channels and in the daily email alert.

Various sponsorship opportunities are available that include multimedia marketing in the video celebration, the right to use the Health Care Heroes logo, print and digital marketing, and much more. To secure a sponsorship, please contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at [email protected].

The Event Partner is the Maryland Hospital Association. The Supporting Sponsor is Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital.

For a complete list of honorees and more information visit thedailyrecord.com/health-care-heroes/.