Projects underway are opening a new era at Community Medical Center.
What does the transformation of Community Medical Center (CMC) look like? On April 29, it took the form of the Spring Gala, where CMC celebrated the achievements and contributions of two leading supporters who have steered the hospital toward a brighter future.
But the Gala was just part of a larger, longer-term effort to bring the hospital into a new era of its 60- year history. The Gala supports the Campaign to Transform CMC, which funds the hospital’s multi-million dollar master facility plan creating critical infrastructure and program changes that will improve the patient experience and help ensure delivery of the highest quality of care throughout the community.
“This strategic initiative will not only transform CMC’s physical plant and facilities, but also attract top doctors and other medical professionals,” says Patrick Ahearn, Community Medical Center Chief Executive Officer. “Patients in our area are increasingly finding that the medical services and expertise they need are right here in their own community at CMC.”
Major Benchmarks
The master facility plan and supporting transformational campaign began in 2019 and are expected to roll out over 7 to 10 years with support from RWJBarnabas Health and community contributions from private donors. A number of major milestones already have been achieved. Key components of the ambitious project include:
- A world-class medical education program: In 2021, CMC became an academic medical center, welcoming its first residents—physicians who have graduated from medical school and are now developing more specialized knowledge and experience in a variety of disciplines. The program benefits from a partnership with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and brings to CMC both new medical professionals and seasoned physicians and specialists.
- Emergency Department renovation: CMC is renovating the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Emergency Pavilion (ED) to ensure emergency patients receive prompt, exceptional care. Highlights include a triage area for walk-in and ambulance patients; radiology services such as CT scans right in the ED; dedicated areas for specialized care such as behavioral health; and design features that make the space more calming, efficient and convenient.
- A new building that will become the face of the hospital: Plans are under way to construct a 300,000-square-foot main hospital building that will include new operating rooms, inpatient beds and outpatient services.
- Primary care hubs: CMC will continue establishing new outpatient facilities such as the recently opened Lab and Women’s Imaging Center in Barnegat that reach beyond hospital walls and provide access to health care services throughout the community.
A master plan for improved facilities: Major upgrades planned for the CMC campus include a new central utility plant and a new 600-spac e parking garage.
Models of Leadership
A highlight of the Community Medical Center (CMC) Spring Gala held April 29 at The Ocean Club in Seaside Heights was the presentation of awards to two key hospital leaders and supporters. With a signature sponsorship from the Grunin Foundation, the event raised more than $140,000.
“These honorees not only are beloved local citizens, but also recognize that a strong hospital is essential to a strong and healthy community,” says Jennifer Shufran, Vice President, Community Medical Center Foundation. “Their contributions are helping to drive CMC’s transformation from a small, local hospital to a world-class medical institution delivering top-notch health care throughout our region.”
The honorees were:
Francis Kelly, MD
Physician of Distinction Award
Dr. Kelly began his CMC tenure in 1981 and has been an integral member of the hospital’s medical staff. A graduate of Hunter University in 1966 and the University of Rome Medical School in 1976, he began his career at Jersey City Medical Center as a surgical resident and later moved to private practice in Toms River. From 2010 to 2019, he practiced at Atlantic Shore Surgical Associates.
He has held significant positions at CMC, including Chief and Vice Chief of Surgery. In 2019, he left his practice and took a role as Vice President for Special Projects. Dr. Kelly was integral in projects such as transforming the ICU Step-Down Unit; raising Leapfrog safety ratings; improving the cardiac program; and marshaling the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Kelly and his wife, Marlene, have four children and four grandchildren.
Scott Beck, DC, DICCP
Emerging Leader Award
A lifelong resident of Toms River before moving to Barnegat last year, Dr. Beck has deep roots in the local community and has long worked to make it a better place to live and raise a family. As a teen, he protected beachgoers as a lifeguard and volunteered with the Pleasant Plains First Aid Squad, later becoming an EMT. In college, he pursued a career in health care. For 17 years, he has served the community as a chiropractor specializing in pediatric and family care, and has built Beck Wellness Center into a premier local health and wellness facility.
Dr. Beck serves as Co-Chair of CMC’s Council of Emerging Leaders. He also chairs the Barnegat Township School District’s Community Advisory Committee and has supported the Ocean County Library Foundation, Ocean County YMCA and other local charities and organizations.
Dr. Beck and his wife, Kathleen, have two children.
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