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Hackensack Meridian Health

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Hackensack Meridian Health

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Hackensack Meridian Health, Hospital, 250 Old Hook Road, Westwood, NJ.

Pascack Valley Medical Center is a full-service, 128-bed hospital that serves the Pascack Valley and Northern Valley communities with a caliber of care that is consistent with Hackensack Meridian Health and Ardent Healthcare's world class standard.

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.”

07/10/2025

If you have diabetes, knowing what to look for when you grocery shop might be a hassle. These endocrinologist-approved tips can help.

07/09/2025

As the new chief nursing officer at Carrier Clinic, Jennifer is a major proponent of the importance of care in the face of mental health. It's a cause she's dedicated her life to.

Growing up in a family that valued compassion and care, she was inspired by her mother's work as an emergency room nurse and her great aunt's rise to the level of chief nursing officer. Jennifer knew from an early age that she wanted to be a nurse.

That commitment extends beyond her job. When her son's best friend tragically lost his mother to su***de, Jennifer didn't hesitate to take him in.

“He found his mother in her room,” Jennifer says. “I knew his mom for about a year but never knew she was suffering.”

Thanks to a welcoming family and care, he is doing well and has made great strides.

The experience was one of many that fueled her passion for awareness. “There is such a need for more behavioral health services for children,” she says. “I saw the struggles of families. I have a son with ADHD; we went through a lot of different programs. Unfortunately, there is very little available for children who are younger than 12 years old.”

When Jennifer heard about the role at Carrier, she saw an opportunity to apply her career experience, her passion and her personal drive towards her commitment to expanding services for children and adolescents.

As CNO, Jennifer aims to prioritize patient-centered care, develop community outreach and foster a culture of empathy and understanding, creating an environment where patients feel supported and valued.

Jennifer’s professional and personal experience have shaped her commitment to compassionate and innovative care. “My goal is to elevate the voice of nursing, and I’d like to be actively involved in research,” Jennifer says. “I’ve met with the unit nurse managers; it’s important to know and understand how I can help them. Whatever support I can provide, I will. Together, we will take nursing and Carrier Clinic to the next level. I am honored to be part of it.”

07/04/2025

This Fourth of July weekend and throughout the summer, make sure you stay safe behind the grill!

07/01/2025

Nine years ago today, Hackensack Meridian Health was formed. This milestone is a testament to the care and commitment of our incredible team, and to the trust of our patients. We are honored to be a trusted resource for our community.

06/30/2025

When you get drunk, your brain is working overtime. Here's what's going on in your mind.

06/28/2025

Lauren's interest in care began at an early age. The eldest of four daughters raised in rural Pennsylvania, she grew up closely watching her mom work as a pharmacist.

“She was really the first role model I had in health care, so I was able to see what her life was like. And in some ways, it helped me realize that was not the field I wanted to pursue. I knew I wanted a more holistic approach to treating patients that includes lifestyle and social factors in addition to medications,” Lauren says.

It was witnessing other family members that would have the biggest impact on her decision to go to Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Many of her loved ones dealt with chronic conditions, including her father, who used a plant-based diet to get his high cholesterol under control.

“That was a real life, close example of how someone was able to use lifestyle in medicine,” she says.

That, coupled with a family-medicine doctor in her hometown who would use weekly cooking classes to show community members how to address barriers they face to making healthy meals, helped her find her calling.

Lauren’s mantra for the coming months is to stay calm, cool and collected during what will be a busy time in both her career and her personal life. She is excited to have matched into the Child Neurology Program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, once more inspired by family and those closest to her. Her fiancé, who she'll be marrying this week, grew up with dyslexia.

"I didn’t really realize how much pediatric neurologists have a role with children with learning disabilities. I am super passionate about education and I think physicians have a great opportunity to help advocate for children in the classroom setting and really change the trajectory of their lives,” she says. “Plus, seeing how great my neurology rotation was and having a love for the pediatric population – it’s a nice way to marry the two.”

She decided to pursue her residency and fellowship at Jersey Shore due to her positive experiences there and at the School of Medicine. During her rotations, she became familiar with the medical center’s environment and built strong relationships with team members and attendings.

“It’s so important to have a support system. Knowing some of the friends I’ve made over the past few years will also be at JSUMC is comforting,” Lauren said. “I’ve been blessed to meet so many amazing people.”

Address

250 Old Hook Road
Westwood, NJ
07675

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