West Orange, NJ, July 27, 2026 – The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) recognized two exceptional programs and one outstanding individual from the RWJBarnabas Health system at the 2026 Best at the Beach Awards, held last night at Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch. This annual awards program celebrates organizations that share NJHA’s commitment to improving the health of New Jersey.
RWJBarnabas Health Food Access and Nutrition Initiative was honored with New Jersey Hospital Association’s Connect Award, which recognizes members’ internal or external communication campaigns across all media platforms and audiences. RWJBarnabas Health is advancing food security and healthier communities through an innovative, multi-level food-as-medicine strategy that combines healthcare, agriculture, education, government, and nonprofit partnerships to strengthen local food systems and address the root causes of diet-related disease. Building on nearly two decades of work—from the launch of KidsFit nutrition education in 2007 and the Beth Greenhouse in 2016 to the 2025 opening of Harvest, a first-of-its-kind farm-to-community center developed with the Urban Agriculture Cooperative—the health system has created a scalable model that improves both economic and physical health. Its approach spans individual clinical interventions, community infrastructure, and policy and education initiatives. Through five Food Farmacies, with two additional locations opening in 2026, RWJBarnabas Health has served more than 106,000 individuals and 32,000 households, distributed 1.7 million pounds of food and nearly 890,000 diapers, and expanded access to nutrition counseling and healthy foods. Harvest further supports food access, nutrition education, workforce development, and local agriculture through food distribution, commercial kitchen space, and community programming. Complementing these efforts, the health system has conducted more than 6,500 SNAP assistance encounters and completed more than 2,700 SNAP applications and recertifications, helping connect residents with critical nutrition resources while driving lasting systems-level change.
Trinitas Regional Medical Center's Transitions of Care Program earned the Inspired Aging Award, which recognizes successful efforts to inspire new attitudes toward aging through initiatives that create wellness, autonomy, fulfillment, cognitive health, satisfaction and other benefits for older individuals.The Transitions of Care Program provides compassionate, comprehensive support to older adults during the critical period following hospital discharge, helping reduce preventable readmissions while promoting independence, safety, and overall well-being. Serving a population in which more than 60 percent of patients are age 65 or older, the program combines home visits, medication management, health monitoring, patient education, and essential tools such as pillboxes, blood pressure monitors, glucometers, and scales to empower patients to manage chronic conditions confidently. The team also addresses social determinants of health by assisting with transportation, healthy food access, SNAP enrollment, smoking cessation resources, and other community services. Recognizing that successful aging extends beyond clinical care, the program provides meaningful emotional support, particularly for patients without family, and in 2025 expanded efforts to combat isolation through holiday celebrations, home-delivered meals, birthday recognitions, and assistance securing shelter for a homeless patient. These initiatives reflect the program’s commitment to treating the whole person and ensuring older adults experience dignity, connection, and quality of life as they age.
Diann Johnston, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer for the Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health was honored with the organization’s Legacy of Care Award. A highly accomplished healthcare executive, she has extensive experience leading complex acute care hospital operations, including mergers, acquisitions, and organizational transitions. Prior to joining RWJBarnabas Health, she served as Chief Operating Officer for a nationally ranked health system. She joined Monmouth Medical Center as Chief Nursing Officer and was later promoted to Chief Nursing Officer for the RWJBH Southern Region, where she helped drive exceptional performance in quality, patient engagement, and safety. Under her leadership, Monmouth Medical Center has earned numerous national distinctions.
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