West Orange, NJ, March 4, 2026 – RWJBarnabas Health has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 100 hospitals and health systems with great heart programs for the third consecutive year in 2025. The hospitals, health systems and institutes recognized on this list are distinguished for their excellence in heart and vascular care. These programs consistently deliver outstanding patient outcomes, cultivate highly skilled teams of cardiovascular specialists, and advance the field through impactful research and innovation.
RWJBarnabas Health Heart & Vascular is one of the nation’s largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs, delivering heart and vascular care across 12 hospitals and nearly 100 ambulatory sites in New Jersey. With more than 800 cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular specialists, the system operates the state’s most extensive network of cardiac catheterization labs, imaging platforms and advanced diagnostics, including support for one of the nation’s largest cardiac amyloidosis programs.
“We are proud to once again be recognized among the nation’s leading heart programs,” says Conor Barrett, MD, MBA, Chief Clinical Officer and SVP, RWJBarnabas Health Heart & Vascular. “This recognition underscores our ongoing commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and ensuring that patients across New Jersey and beyond have access to the most advanced cardiovascular care.”
RWJBarnabas Health is home to New Jersey’s only heart transplant program and one of the largest in the country, with more than 1,450 transplants performed, alongside leading programs in advanced heart failure, left ventricular assist devices, and minimally invasive valve and structural heart interventions. The system is the largest structural heart and left atrial appendage occlusion program in New Jersey and New York, consistently advancing minimally invasive therapies that improve outcomes and reduce recovery time.
As the state’s most comprehensive academic health system, RWJBarnabas Health partners with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School to train future cardiovascular leaders, conduct more research than any other system in New Jersey and publish more than 300 studies annually. The program is also a national innovator in AI, digital health and remote monitoring, translating research breakthroughs into real-world patient care. The system is also New Jersey’s largest safety-net provider, delivering charity care to thousands of heart and vascular patients each year.
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 44,000 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