2026 List Recognizes Deidre Blaus, Lisa Breza, Nancy DiLiegro, and Deanna Sperling
West Orange, NJ, July 28, 2026 – Four RWJBarnabas Health executives were recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as 2026 Women Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know. This list highlights the female hospital presidents and CEOs around the country who are expanding access to care, spearheading new initiatives, and helping to close the gender gap in leadership. RWJBarnabas honorees include:
- Deirdre A. Blaus, MHA, Chief Administrative Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Sommerset, is responsible for overseeing daily operations. Her leadership has been instrumental in the hospital’s growth to better serve our community, expanding services, recruiting new medical specialists and implementing the latest technologies. In particular, she has led the expansion of the hospital’s cancer services, ensuring patients have comprehensive care close to home.
- Lisa A. Breza, MSN, RN, Chief Administrative Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, has administrative oversight of the hospital’s acute care and ambulatory settings, and provides strategic leadership and direction to enhance operational processes and achieve key hospital goals.
- Nancy DiLiegro, PhD, FACHE, President and CEO for RWJBarnabas Health Trinitas Regional Medical Center, is responsible for ensuring high-quality care delivery to thousands of patients each day. Overseeing all internal and external operations at Trinitas, she works closely with the hospital’s physicians and staff to implement best-in-class clinical practices, identify and develop new innovations and tools that drive hospital growth and increase patient outcomes, and facilitate relationships with key stakeholders.
- Deanna Sperling, RN, President and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center, is responsible for bridging the gap between behavioral health and non-behavioral health services. Under her leadership, the system’s behavioral health services place an emphasis on training staff to deliver trauma-informed care and treatment, in which patients are asked what has happened to them, rather than what is wrong, a shift that underscores respect, kindness and compassion for all.
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 diverse communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate and equitable 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 $5.5 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org