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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.