West Orange, NJ, Dec. 17, 2025 –RWJBarnabas Health announced today that Aaron F. Hajart, MS, ATC, FACHE, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer for Community Medical Center, effective January 1, 2026. Mr. Hajart, who currently serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the 592-bed teaching hospital, succeeds Patrick Ahearn following his distinguished tenure and more than 25 years of service to New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system.
In his new role, Mr. Hajart will lead Community Medical Center’s continued growth and operational excellence, delivering high-quality, patient-centered care for residents of Ocean County and the surrounding region.
“Aaron is a respected leader with a deep understanding of hospital operations, care delivery, and our commitment to the patients we serve,” said Bill Arnold, Executive Vice President and President, Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health, CEO Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. “His proven ability to work collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and care teams to strengthen performance and keep patients at the center of every decision will help CMC continue to transform healthcare in Ocean County.”
CMC was recently recognized as a High-Performing Hospital in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 list of Best Hospitals for Maternity Care, and also received an “A” grade in The Leapfrog Group Fall 2025 Hospital Safety Grades.
Mr. Hajart joined RWJBarnabas Health in 2022 as the Southern Region Senior Vice President for Service Line and Practice Integration, before assuming his current role in 2023. As COO, he has led efforts to improve hospital communications, reduce readmission rates, grow key service lines including gastroenterology, oncology, and maternal care, and advance physician recruitment and retention initiatives. There will be a search conducted to fill the COO position at CMC.
Before joining RWJBarnabas Health, Hajart served as COO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. He holds a Master of Science in Human Relations in Business from Amberton University and a Bachelor of Behavioral Sciences in Athletic Training from Hardin-Simmons University. He has been a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2021.
“I am honored to lead Community Medical Center and to work alongside our dedicated physicians, nurses, and staff,” Mr. Hajart said. “Together, we will continue to strengthen access to care, enhance the patient experience, and serve our community with excellence.”
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org
About Community Medical Center
Community Medical Center (CMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is an academic medical center dedicated to advancing the quality of life and health of the greater Ocean County region by providing safe, high-quality care. CMC is a fully accredited acute care hospital and maintains national accreditations in multiple specialty areas. Highly sophisticated services, not typically found in a community hospital, include advanced cancer, cardiac, emergency, maternity and neurology care, as well as cutting edge surgical care. Patients have access to advanced technology including the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical platform, Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System for joint replacement procedures and state-of-the-art imaging technology. RWJBarnabas Health and CMC, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. The J. Phillip Citta Regional Cancer Center at CMC features one of the most sophisticated linear accelerators used for radiation therapy, a CyberKnife for treating inoperable tumors and holistic therapies to care for the whole person. CMC provides a broad array of health and wellness programs designed to help people achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles and optimal health. Visit rwjbh.org/community for more information.
Contact:
Rob Cavanaugh
Robert.Cavanaugh@RWJBH.org