Dr. Kaitlan Baston, the outgoing interim CEO at University Hospital, will be named the CEO of Vinyl Health, a New Jersey-based healthcare A.I. company, it was announced Wednesday.
Baston will bring a proven track record of innovation, compassion, and system-wide leadership to Vinyl Health.
It’s another leadership role for Baston, who founded the Cooper Center for Healing at Cooper University Health Care before being named as the state health commissioner (in the summer of 2023) to interim CEO at University Hospital in May of this year.
It was announced Wednesday at Carole Johnson, the state’s Department of Human Services Commissioner, will succeed Baston. It’s unclear when the transition will take place, but it will be this year, state officials said.
Baston said she was grateful for her time at University Hospital while applauding the announcement of Johnson, with whom she will help transition into the role.
“Over these last several months, I have had the privilege of working alongside the dedicated staff at University Hospital that are committed to providing exceptional patient care and pushing the mission of the public hospital forward,” she said. “Carole Johnson has a decades-long career working with some of the brightest minds in health care on public health and health policy issues. I am confident that the hospital will continue to grow and flourish under Carole’s staunch leadership.”
Tanya Freeman, the chair of University Hospital’s Board of Directors, thanked Baston for her service.
“Dr. Baston’s leadership during this transition has been invaluable,” she said. “Her unwavering dedication to patient care and her support for our staff have strengthened the hospital at a pivotal time. We are truly grateful for her contributions and wish her continued success in all that lies ahead.”
