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Hackensack Meridian Health, 1 Hospital Plaza, Old Bridge, NJ (2025)

08/19/2025

Merry Christmas in July!

Every summer, Timothy Sullivan's commitment to giving back to Hackensack University Medical Center is remembered with an unforgettable tradition. Hundreds of toys are shared with the pediatric patients of Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, as the Jersey Police Honor Legion brings cheer in an annual celebration in place for almost 20 years.

Timothy, who passed away in 2022, established the joyous practice after undergoing treatment at Hackensack. After serving as a first responder on September 11, the NJHL executive board member was diagnosed with cancer. As he received care, he saw the children facing the same treatment and felt he had to give back.

Today, NJHL continues to keep Timothy's legacy of giving alive with the support of our Child Life team. Santa Claus, Captain America, Spiderman and plenty of presents brought smiles to patients' faces.

08/15/2025

Happy birthday to our beloved Primo! Our furry friend and his "dad" Don light up the days of team members and patients alike at Hackensack University Medical Center, and we're glad to have the chance to return some of the joy as we celebrate Primo's 6th birthday.

Please join us in sending our favorite pup some well wishes!

08/13/2025

Nothing can derail Harry from his life's quest. Today, August 13, he is striking out to find the perfect hot dog -- and it isn't his first attempt.

"This will be the 106th time I pursue this passion to find the perfect Texas wiener in New Jersey," he says.

The 88-year-old's adventures have even been captured in a PBS film, "One All the Way." But one obstacle nearly ended his chase.

Ten years ago, a fractured spine led Harry to an ER visit and a life-changing diagnosis: multiple myeloma. That's when he met Dr. David Siegel, chief of the multiple myeloma division at John Theurer Cancer Center — home to one of the world's largest myeloma programs.

The connection with his new doctor was immediate. “I’ll never forget it,” Harry recalls. “I arrived on a stretcher, flat on my back, wearing this brace. Dr. Siegel walked in, and for the first twenty minutes, we didn’t even talk about cancer.

“He saw my Giants gear and we just started joking around, talking like old friends. He had this way about him that just put you at ease. Then he looked at me and said, ‘Alright, here’s the plan. You’re getting your first chemo tonight, and we’re going to do surgery on your back.’”

And so it happened. After 16 weeks of chemo, Harry was offered a stem cell transplant. He met with Dr. Siegel and Dr. Michele Donato, chief of the stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy program, among the top 10 in the country. Dr. Donato and her team have performed a total of more than 8,000 blood and marrow stem cell transplants, around 400 every year.

“Dr. Siegel asked me, 'Do you know how to dance?' I told him I didn't, really. He said, 'Well, with the stem cell transplant, if it works, you have the opportunity to live a normal life.'

Dr. Siegel was right. Just three months after the transplant, Harry was on his 32nd annual retreat with his friends. “My doctors said it was too soon, but I promised I’d be careful,” he says with a laugh. “Sixty guys, and there I was, wearing a mask, sitting in the back, but I was there. I wasn’t going to let cancer break that streak.” Five months after that, he was playing in his son’s charity golf tournament.

Dr. Siegel witnessed this determination firsthand. “From the moment I met him, I knew he was a fighter with an incredible spirit,” he says. “Seeing him thrive ten years later is the greatest reward in this profession. He is a testament to what’s possible when you combine modern medicine with an unbreakable will.”

His new lease on life led to stardom. In 2020, Harry and his buddies, Ronald and Larry, were featured in an award-winning documentary about Paterson. A central part of the film's story of its legendary hot dog joints shows the trio on a "hot dog crawl" to visit the iconic spots.

Today, Harry, Ron and Larry organize them all over North Jersey, heading to the other side of the Driscoll Bridge this week. It's just one way the last decade has been about more than just survival.

“I have to be honest. People say cancer is the worst thing that can happen to you. For me, these have been the ten best years of my life,” he says. “I’m not kidding. I’ve met the most incredible people when I go for my infusions at John Theurer Cancer Center. And as for Dr. Siegel… there isn’t a time I go there that I miss seeing him. He’s more than a doctor; he’s a great human being. He didn’t just save my life; he gave me the best decade of it. And for that, I’ll eat a hot dog any day.”

08/05/2025

Dr. Jeremiah Kurz has dedicated his life to helping others.

As a gastroenterologist at Hackensack University Medical Center, he sees patients daily, addressing a range of digestive health concerns. But recently, his life-saving care went above and beyond his work.

Dr. Kurz donated a kidney to a stranger.

Years earlier, he'd participated in a donor drive through his synagogue -- one he'd nearly forgotten about when he got the call. He was a match for a patient in desperate need.

Inspired by a sense of gratitude for his life, he felt called towards that act of extraordinary altruism. “I have so much going well in my life,” he says. “What can I do to give back?”

At 39, the recipient had endured a previous kidney transplant that lasted 20 years before failing. Tethered to dialysis and severely restricted, his life has been transformed by Dr. Kurz's selflessness.

In a heartfelt letter, the recipient shared his dreams of writing, traveling and simply enjoying the life he was missing. His family wrote to Dr. Kurz to express their overwhelming gratitude and the hardship of seeing their loved one battle kidney failure.

Dr. Kurz’s journey wasn’t without its challenges. This was his first surgery, and like most people, he experienced nervousness and some tough days of recovery.

But the discomfort was a small price to pay for the immeasurable gift he bestowed. Supported by his loving wife, family, community and fellow team members, he recovered quickly, cared for by the compassionate nurses at Hackensack University Medical Center's new surgical pavilion.

Dr. Kurz praised the team’s attentiveness and responsiveness, particularly Katie from the transplant group, Rose and Kira from his office team and his surgeon, Dr. Ravi Munver, vice chair of urology, for their expertise and support.

“I couldn’t ask for better,” he says.

This act of kindness highlights not only Dr. Kurz’s extraordinary compassion, but also the spirit of teamwork and caring that permeates Hackensack University Medical Center.

While Dr. Kurz downplays his own heroism, the impact of his donation is undeniable. He has given a fellow human being the chance to live a full and healthy life, a gift far beyond the scope of his daily medical practice.

08/01/2025

These common foods lower your risk of colorectal cancer. Give these delicious tips a try!

07/31/2025

“It’s amazing, I can’t even describe it, it’s so cool. I left high school knowing what I wanted to do and came back. It’s very fulfilling to serve my local community - to serve here as a teenager and come back serving as a professional. I knew I needed to come back to where I’m from and bring back that innovation, right back to my community.”

From the moment Dr. Stephanie Sansone was diagnosed with scoliosis in 8th grade, through years spent consulting doctors from far and wide for an innovative approach to her condition, attending a high school partnered with Jersey Shore University Medical School, volunteering at Riverview Medical Center and completing her medical education before finally making her full circle moment at Ocean University Medical Center and Jersey Shore University Medical Center, providing the best care possible for her community has been her goal.

She recalls sitting in the patient chair as a child, listening to the initial remedial plan being recommended to use a hard brace and feeling the weight of her scoliosis diagnosis. “Because I was so young I felt like this was the end of the world. When you're an 8th grade girl you’re thinking about wearing cool clothes and going to prom, not wearing a bulky brace.” After consulting another physician in New York beyond her local specialists, she was recommended a soft brace. Dr. Sansone immediately saw the value of perspective and continuous advancement of technology in medicine. “The forefront of research and new techniques with a soft brace allowed me to significantly improve my quality of life and I knew the new impact of innovation. It’s not a one size fits all for patients.”

From there, she applied to her community premed high school, Monmouth County Academy of Allied Health & Science, which was partnered with Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Inspired by the impact her New York-based physician made on her, Dr. Sansone sought out Weill Cornell Medical College, continuing with her residency in OB/GYN at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and completing her fellowship at New York Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Being a female surgeon, especially a female robotic surgeon, seeing mentors along my path who are also strong women with families…I’ve had a lot of great female mentors that have inspired me.”

Dr. Sansone strives to bring the same approach that inspired her as a child and through her education to her patients today. “There is an art of medicine. It’s beyond the black and white textbook and scientific research. When you enter an appointment, you have to observe your patient’s situation, not treat them like a scientific fact. I see patients that deal with things like pelvic organ prolapse or urine leakage. It's not a huge operation necessarily but that patient can sometimes be embarrassed and on the verge of tears. The diagnosis—how they feel, that’s where the part of empathy and compassion comes in—recognizing how they must feel through these conditions. To another doctor it can be a diagnosis, but to me really it is beyond that.”

07/30/2025

Shirley knows the power of personalized care. When a man in his 70s was admitted to Southern Ocean Medical Center showing the same symptoms as his wife, who he'd visited as she suffered from pneumonia, she acted right away to ensure they'd share a room.

As a registered nurse in telemetry, Shirley's patient-centered approach allowed the couple to heal side by side and find peace of mind in each other’s presence.

Later, when the wife began showing signs of stress, Shirley knew it was more than her anxiety. She said she “just felt anxious,” but Shirley knew it was more than that. When her oxygen levels began to drop, it was clear the patient was in respiratory distress. With her worried husband lying in the bed beside her, Shirley knew she had to act quickly. In a highly stressful and potentially frightening situation, she remained calm and composed.

“After I called a rapid response, I explained there would be a lot of clinicians coming in to take care of his wife,” she says. “I reassured him everything would be okay, and she was going to be in the best of care.”

While the wife was transferred to the Critical Care Unit and stabilized, Shirley spent the beginning and end of her shift bringing her husband to visit.

“The husband kept thanking me,” she says. “He was so grateful.”

When his wife eventually returned to their shared room, the couple sought out Shirley for additional guidance and care. The couple’s daughters were even looking for her, knowing the exceptional care she had provided their parents during such a complex situation. Shirley helped guide the family through the recovery process and built trust between them. Time and again, the husband told his daughters, "She is the absolute best!"

This dedicated act and so many more led to Shirley's reception of the 2025 Elizabeth Kellogg Award for Nursing Excellence, a prestigious award that recognizes nurses who consistently excel in their work and embody Southern Ocean's mission, vision and core values.

“Winning the Kellogg award is an incredible honor,” says Shirley. “It reaffirms that the care and compassion I bring each day to my patients makes a difference. Nursing isn’t just about medical care, it’s about building relationships, trust and comfort that we provide to the patients.

“I pour my whole heart into nursing,” she says. “It’s my calling.”

07/29/2025

Providing top quality care to our community is what we do — in New Jersey and beyond.

Congratulations to our inspiring, incredible team members and physicians, whose dedication to the health and wellness of our patients made these recognitions possible.

🏅 Hackensack University Medical Center is a top 20 hospital nationwide, #1 in the NY/NJ Metro area and the #1 hospital in the state

🏅 Jersey Shore University Medical Center is top 20 in the NY/NJ Metro area and top five in New Jersey

🏅 JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute is again a nationally ranked rehabilitation hospital

🏅 John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is NJ’s only nationally ranked cancer center

07/23/2025

Regina Foley has held many positions, in many locations, across many teams in her more than 35 years with us, and she's made a difference in every one.

Today, as our president of specialty hospitals and clinical services, she remains just as involved with our teams as when she began as a nurse at Ocean University Medical Center.

“Nursing in our family was always a positive,” Regina says. Growing up, her mother was a nurse and raised Regina and her sister, Marie, with those values. “We grew up in an ‘I’m here to help’ mindset. That’s what motivates people to go into nursing: to be helpful, to reduce suffering. My mom did home care, and I saw how much she knew and how much she could help others. I knew the nursing path was for me.”

The appreciation stuck with both sisters. Marie is now vice president and chief nursing officer at Ocean University Medical Center.

Regina’s path hasn’t always been traditional. While big career changes may not be thought of as typical, she sees nurses as uniquely qualified to take them on. “I want to do right by our patients and their families and our team members. If I saw something that wasn’t right, I was quick to say, ‘Can I help with that? Can I do that?’” Her willingness and initiative helped her to learn and grow.

As Regina took on a growing clinical responsibility, she began to see ways her team could collaborate with others, including operations. “I thought, why can’t we work together?”

That mindset is how, after a multitude of leadership roles at Ocean University Medical Center, she took on the challenge of chief operating officer at Bayshore Medical Center. “When you're in a place for a while, you may feel like you can't go anywhere, but I knew I wanted to be challenged. Take advantage of opportunities, or be okay with not doing it,” she says.

“Everybody has their own path, and mine has certainly had its turns. I take advantage of them. If you gain success and momentum from them, it opens things up.”

It’s what has kept her inspired throughout her career at our network. “That's a differentiator for us. I’ve had the benefit of growing up here at HMH. We aspire to live the work,” she says “I do not feel good about saying something or asking for information or giving directions unless I feel I could do it myself, and I'm really appreciating it.

Her role keeps growing, but the why behind her work has stayed the same. “The vast majority of patients we take care of at HMH, they’re our friends and family in the communities we serve. It’s about making sure we have access to care for the people we care about and want to do right by,” she says. “You're family to us. You come to us for care. We want to be there for you.”

07/21/2025

Impaired driving ends lives. As part of our role in keeping our community safe and well, education is crucial.

We are deeply grateful to Pascack Valley High School and Southern Regional School District for allowing our EMS program and our air medical partner, Air Methods, to participate in their recent Project Crash events.

These impactful demonstrations educate seniors about the devastating consequences of drinking and driving through realistic trauma scenes, complete with crashed cars, student performances and dedicated first responders who are both EMTs and firefighters and members of the student body. The program effectively conveyed the potential aftermath, leaving a lasting impression on students and staff alike.

Thank you to our partners for investing in the safety and well-being of our young people and making a difference in our community.

07/18/2025

Home Care allows you to:

⚖ Create work-life balance

🩺 Tend to family while growing in your career

🗓 Have the autonomy to manage your schedule

All while truly making a difference by providing one-on-one compassionate care to patients! 🙌
Explore our positions and discover a fulfilling career on our careers page!

07/15/2025

Marwa’s world was turned upside down when her mother passed away. She'd been her rock, her source of strength and inspiration, and Marwa couldn't bear to live in Egypt alone. The overwhelming grief ignited her determination: She would start a new life. She made the courageous decision to move to America.

In New York City, Marwa pursued a cosmetology license, bringing the work she had done in Egypt and Dubai to a new country. She faced cultural differences, language barriers and loneliness, but in spite of it all she flourished. She found success through a great job in a salon, until the pandemic caused it to close its doors.

Once again, Marwa reconsidered her future. This time, she decided to pursue a career in health care, beginning with the radiology program at Middlesex College. Her second clinical rotation brought her to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

“While I was a student, I was hired as a diagnostic imaging aide at Jersey Shore. I felt like one of the lucky ones. I am so proud to be a team member,” Marwa says.

It was a perfect match. Hackensack Meridian Health's "Earn While You Learn" was launching, and Marwa would become its very first participant.

The program provides opportunities for individuals to earn and train while studying, connecting her with leaders and mentors who guided her through the process of becoming an X-ray technician. When she completed her training, she immediately secured a position at Jersey Shore.

The sense of accomplishment was immense, as was the joy of being part of the team. “It feels like home to me. I love the people and feel loyal to them,” she says.

Marwa’s journey is a testament to her resilience. She transformed her grief into a source of strength, and her mother’s legacy lives on through her achievements. And there’s more to come. Inspired by leadership, Marwa continues to learn. She is midway through CT scan certification and has plans to pursue certification in other modalities.

Marwa encourages other students to participate in the “Earn While You Learn” program. She tells everyone, “It gives you lots of opportunities and builds confidence. It’s good for your career and you will reap the benefits later on. Hackensack Meridian Health is one of the best! It has very impressive rankings. I am lucky to be part of the team.”

Hackensack Meridian Health

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