West Orange, New Jersey, August 4, 2026 – Susan C. Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chair of the Board of Trustees for RWJBarnabas Health, has been honored with an inaugural Board Leadership Award from NJBIZ, which recognizes outstanding board members whose governance, expertise and commitment have made a meaningful impact on their organizations and communities. Dr. Reinhard’s combination of policy expertise, operational experience, and board governance leadership will guide RWJBarnabas Health’s continued evolution as a leading academic and integrated health system in the state.
Dr. Reinhard was appointed Chair of the RWJBarnabas Health Board of Trustees in 2025, becoming the first woman and the first nurse to lead the health system's Board. A founding Board member since 2016, she previously served as Vice Chair and chaired the Quality and Safety Committee, while also serving on the Audit, Compliance, Strategic Planning/Academic Affairs, Human Capital and Executive committees. She has also served on the Board of Directors of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital since 2013.
A nationally recognized nursing and health policy leader, Dr. Reinhard has dedicated her career to translating research into policies that improve patient care, strengthen the healthcare workforce and advance long-term care. She currently serves as a Visiting Professor for the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators at UC Davis and previously served as Senior Vice President of AARP's Public Policy Institute, Founder of the Nurses on Boards Coalition, Professor and Co-Director of the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy, and Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health under three governors from both political parties. She earned a PhD from Rutgers University and an MSN from the University of Cincinnati.
Honorees were celebrated at a breakfast event at The Marigold in Somerset on August 4th.
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 for 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
Contact: Carrie Cristello
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org