Bob Garrett keeps coming back to one word: quality.
Across a decade-plus run atop Hackensack Meridian Health, Garrett has overseen mergers, new markets and a system that dwarfs what he originally set out to build. But asked what he’s most proud of, he skips past the growth numbers.
“What I’m most proud of, honestly, in spite of every accomplishment, every growth opportunity we’ve had, is that the quality of care has significantly been enhanced across all of our hospitals and all of our care sites,” he told BINJE.
The numbers back him up.
Under Garrett, flagship hospital Hackensack University Medical Center became the only New Jersey hospital ranked No. 1 for both adult and children’s care by U.S. News & World Report for two years running, according to HMH. Eight network hospitals have also earned four- and five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — putting them among the nation’s highest performers, the health system says — and HUMC carries the top-ranked cancer center in the state.
Read more on Bob Garrett
- Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Bob Garrett to retire next summer
- 20-20 vision: Ranking some of Bob Garrett’s many accomplishments at Hackensack Meridian Health
- Anywhere — with anyone: Willingness to partner has helped Garrett, HMH become leaders of innovation
Garrett and his team have made it look easy. He knows it’s not. He said the instinct to protect quality only gets harder to hold onto as an organization scales.
“As you grow and get bigger, it’s easy maybe to take your eye off some basics — but that’s something we can never compromise on,” he said.
For Garrett, the payoff shows up in outcomes he tracks closely, even if he doesn’t rattle off the underlying numbers on the call.
“When I see those kinds of statistics, I see how it affects people’s lives,” he said. “I see how we’ve been able to improve the overall health of the communities we serve. That’s close to my heart.”
That philosophy has also shaped how he’s run the business side of a system this size. Garrett rejects the idea that fiscal discipline and patient care are in tension.
“You can’t cut your way to success,” he said.
Being responsible with health care dollars is one thing — but not at any cost.
“We will never make cuts at the expense of good quality and good patient outcomes,” he said. “That’s our guiding light, our shining star.”
Garrett spoke with BINJE shortly after announcing his retirement, which will take place on June 30, 2027 – when he’ll transition to a CEO Emeritus role for a year. Here is more of the conversation, edited slightly for conversational flow.
BINJE: This is a day that everyone knew was coming, but still, the thought of someone like you ever slowing down can be hard to fathom. Why now?
BG: The way I look at this is there’s never a good time to step away, in some respects — you try to find that right time. But if there was going to be a time, this is the right time, both professionally and personally. The organization is doing really well, we’re well positioned for growth and success in the future, and I felt personally that this was the right time too, given where I am in life — grandkids now, two, hopefully more to come. I want to get involved in some other professional activities, extend my board service, help other organizations move forward, and spend a little more time traveling. I’m not going to go from 100 miles an hour to zero, but maybe something in between is right for me now.
BINJE: We’re guessing you won’t coast into retirement?
BG: I told the leadership team today that I’ll be working to that last day, last hour, last minute, last second. There’s so much on the table right now, and I’m sure we’ll have some significant announcements between now and next July 1st. Hopefully I give my successor a great roadmap they can build on. And listen, it won’t be Bob Garrett 2.0 — they’ll do it their way, and they should. But they’re inheriting an amazing team, the best in health care as far as I’m concerned, and the organization is positioned so well in the market to succeed.
BINJE: We’re in an era where when people talk health care, they want to talk cost and politics — nobody wants to talk care. How do you keep your eye on the ball with all that noise?
BG: It’s not easy. One conversation I had recently kind of went like this: someone told me, “Bob, you’ve been in the field for 45 years, and we still don’t know if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.” I said that’s the best compliment I could get — mission accomplished — because I’ve tried to keep the politics out of it. Quality of care, patient safety and patient experience cut across the bipartisan spectrum, and I’ve been able to work with leaders of both parties. In terms of cost, yeah, that’s part of the equation, and I’ve always said you can’t cut your way to success. Does that mean you shouldn’t be responsible in how you spend health care dollars? Absolutely not. But we will never make cuts at the expense of good quality and good patient outcomes.
BINJE: State Chamber CEO Tom Bracken put you in the same class of leaders as PSEG’s Ralph Izzo, Verizon’s Dennis Bone, Prudential’s Art Ryan — all New Jersey business legends. Do you realize you’ve become an inspiration and a role model, not just in health care but for other leaders in the state?
BG: I certainly appreciate those incredibly kind words. I have a lot of respect for Tom, and the leaders he mentioned are idols and mentors to me — Ralph Izzo is on our board now, and I look up to him as a great mentor and visionary. I don’t really think of myself that way, but I do realize that in leadership, you have a responsibility to mentor others, so I never turn people down for a mentoring session. I’m talking at Harvard Business School next month. I just try to do my job, do the best I can for my organization, and be true to our mission.
BINJE: That being said, going into the N.J. State Hall of Fame is pretty cool. You’ll be inducted Thursday. How cool is that?
BG: I could not be more honored to be inducted. You think about it — Albert Einstein, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, Lawrence Taylor this year. I don’t pretend to be anywhere near those icons. It’s just an incredible honor.
