A Top 10 list? That’s not enough when you’re talking about the more than 40-year career of Bob Garrett, the CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health.
Garrett announced Monday that he will retire next summer from an organization he literally helped to create a decade ago. And while creating a health system that is recognized around the world for excellence is an incredible feat, it’s only one of many accomplishments Garrett has had over his career.
That’s why a Top 10 list just isn’t enough. And why BINJE is presenting a Top 20 list of Garrett’s accomplishments:
20. Built HMH into a national thought-leadership platform
Garrett became a go-to voice for health-system transformation, delivering keynote addresses at HIMSS, POLITICO’s Health Care Summit and global policy forums.
19. Received major national honors, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor
One of the nation’s most prestigious recognitions, he was given the award in 2025 for exceptional service and leadership.
18. Advanced HMH as a Great Place to Work and Fortune Best Workplace
HMH earned repeated national workplace honors, including Best Workplace for Women and a Top-40 ranking on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
17. Established a 10-year strategic partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering
A deep collaboration that strengthened cancer research, treatment standards and clinical integration across New Jersey began in 2016.
16. Forged international partnerships, including a 2025 affiliation with India’s Apollo Hospitals
A cross-border collaboration with the India-based health system, the country’s largest private health care system, focused on affordability, workforce development and community health innovation.
15. Became Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Health & Healthcare Governors Community in 2023
A global leadership role held by only a handful of health-system CEOs worldwide.
14. Repeatedly honored in BINJE’s Best leadership lists
Garrett earned multiple BINJE’s Best distinctions recognizing his statewide impact, innovation and sector-defining leadership.
13. Ranked three consecutive years on Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most Influential People” list
The only New Jersey health-system CEO to appear on the national list, reflecting his outsized influence.
12. Oversaw the “Be the Difference” $1 billion fundraising campaign
The campaign includes a record $125 million gift — the largest in New Jersey healthcare history and among the largest in the U.S.
11. Championed one of the country’s strongest health-equity programs
HMH built a statewide social determinants of health platform with extensive screening and referral infrastructure to fight inequities.
10. Led HMH’s nationally recognized COVID-19 response (2020-22)
Hackensack University Medical Center became a U.S. epicenter, running major clinical trials and treating tens of thousands of patients.
9. Built one of the nation’s first “smart hospitals”
In 2023, HMH opened the Helena Theurer Pavilion, which includes robotics-heavy surgical infrastructure, advanced patient-room technology and next-generation clinical design.
8. Drove a $3.2 billion capital investment plan
Garrett committed billions to expansions, modernization and new care sites across the network.
7. Helped HUMC earn a spot on the U.S. News Honor Roll
In 2025, Hackensack University Medical Center became the first hospital in state history named among the nation’s top 20.
6. Achieved top U.S. News rankings for adult and children’s care
HMH’s flagship hospital, HUMC, became the only New Jersey hospital ranked No. 1 for both adult and pediatric care for two consecutive years.
5. Executed the Carrier Clinic merger
In 2019, he created New Jersey’s largest behavioral-health provider and opened the state’s first urgent-care behavioral health center.
4. Created the Center for Discovery and Innovation
In 2019, he created a world-class biomedical research institute that produced rapid COVID diagnostics, variant testing and breakthroughs in infectious disease and cancer.
3. Opened New Jersey’s first private medical school in 60 years
In 2018, the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine launched with a modern curriculum, community immersion and a three-year path to residency.
2. Built New Jersey’s largest integrated health network
HMH grew to 18 hospitals, 41,000 team members and more than 500 care locations — nearly double its size at launch.
1. Co-led the 2016 merger creating Hackensack Meridian Health
Garrett and the late John Lloyd of Meridian unified Hackensack University Health Network and Meridian Health, forming one of the two dominant health systems in New Jersey and setting the foundation for every accomplishment that followed.
