Listen to this article

The basics:

• Carole Johnson named president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark
• Previously led HRSA at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Former NJ DHS commissioner with experience in Medicaid, health equity
• Will oversee hospital’s $1.8B multiyear expansion and modernization plan

University Hospital announced Sept. 30 that Carole Johnson as its new president and CEO, effective later this year. 

The appointment follows a nationwide search, the Newark health care provided added. 

Johnson will take the reins from Dr. Kaitlan Baston, who has served in an interim leadership capacity since May. Baston stepped into that role after former CEO Ed Jimenez left the hospital to lead Main Line Health in Philadelphia. 

A former New Jersey Department of Health commissioner, Baston will move on to her next role as CEO of New Jersey-based AI health care company Vinyl Health, according to University Hospital. 

In a statement, Gov. Phil Murphy applauded the new leadership appointment. “Carole is an agile, renowned health care leader who has devoted decades of her career to improving health outcomes for underserved populations, he said. “This is a critical time in history for health care, and as we tackle complex challenges like ongoing federal Medicaid reductions, University Hospital needs a leader with a proven track record of success.

“I am confident she will bring her wealth of experience in State and federal settings to University Hospital,” Murphy continued. 

The governor also thanked Baston “for stepping in to serve as interim President and CEO and for her work and commitment to patient care and institutional excellence.” 

Meet the new CEO 

Johnson joins University Hospital from the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she served as federal administrator. 

In this role, Johnson led federal efforts to: 

• Address the maternal mortality crisis 
• Advance health equity and access to care 
• Recruit and train the next generation of the health care workforce 

University also said she spearheaded the first major restructuring of the national organ transplant network in 40 years. 

Industry experience

“I am honored to join the incredible team at University Hospital that works tirelessly every day to serve the people of Newark,” Johnson said. “I thank the Board for their strong support and look forward to working together with them and state, local, and community leaders as we continue to expand access to high-quality health care services at New Jersey’s only public academic medical center.”

I am honored to join the incredible team at University Hospital that works tirelessly every day to serve the people of Newark.
– Carole Johnson, incoming president and CEO

Johnson also served as commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, where she worked to improve and expand the state’s Medicaid program and to increase access to social service programs. 

Additionally, she served in both the Obama-Biden and Biden-Harris administrations, working on health care and public health issues, including the Affordable Care Act; the maternal mortality crisis; the national responses to COVID, Ebola and Zika; and the opioid epidemic. 

Johnson previously held leadership positions with organizations such as the Alliance of Community Health Plans, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the American Heart Association, according to her LinkedIn profile. 

On the horizon

In her new position at University Hospital – the only state-designated Level I Trauma Center for Northern New Jersey – Johnson will oversee the facility’s $1.8 billion multiyear, phased campus plan. 

“I welcome Carole to Newark and to University Hospital. This is an important moment for our hospital, and our Board looks forward to working with her to carry our mission forward in this next chapter,” said Tanya Freeman, chair of the hospital’s board of directors.

The first phase of the expansion project, launched in partnership with Rutgers University, kicked off July 1. It aims to expand, modernize and transform the Newark hospital. 

Earlier this month, the facility also completed a $20 million addition of its emergency department. Take a look here:

Leadership reacts

Local and state officials are also celebrating the appointment:

“Newark welcomes Carole Johnson as she takes the helm at University Hospital. Known for her talent to welcome all stakeholders to the table, we are excited to create a close partnership with her to ensure that Newarkers are involved, and to put our city at the pinnacle of America’s healthcare policies.”
– Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

“This is a critical moment for health care in this country. As some work to dismantle care for those who need it most, I am glad to have a community partner in the work of getting people the care they deserve.”
– U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-10th District

“The thread that ties Carole Johnson’s career together is her unwavering commitment to health equity, meeting the needs of every community with creativity, strategic investments, and steady guidance through unforeseen challenges. Her record of expanding access to care, addressing the maternal health crisis, and responding proactively during the COVID-19 pandemic makes her the right person to lead and oversee the expansion of University Hospital into a premier destination for practicing medicine and delivering compassionate care to every patient who walks through its doors.”
– Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-29th District

“Carole’s experience and vision make her well prepared to guide the hospital through its campus expansion plan, and I look forward to working with her to build a stronger and healthier future.”
– Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor-Marin, D-29th District

“University Hospital is not just a hospital – it is a lifeline for the people of Essex County, especially in Newark, where access to high-quality, compassionate care is essential. Carole’s deep understanding of community-based care will help improve outcomes for University Hospital patients and their families. I welcome her to Newark and am optimistic about the impact her leadership will have.”
– Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.