Atlantic Health names new CEO from Johns Hopkins

Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO of Atlantic Health. Photo courtesy of Atlantic Health
Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO of Atlantic Health. Photo courtesy of Atlantic Health
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Atlantic Health, parent company of Morristown Medical Center, went to Johns Hopkins for its next president and CEO.

Brian Gragnolati will start on May 4, 2015, succeeding Dr. Joseph Trunfio, who is retiring after more than 20 years with the system.

Brian Gragnolati, president and CEO of Atlantic Health. Photo courtesy of Atlantic Health
Brian Gragnolati, new president and CEO of Atlantic Health. Photo courtesy of Atlantic Health

As senior vice president of the community division at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Gragnolati has overseen operations of three owned and two affiliated community hospitals, along with  ambulatory and surgery centers.

He also has helped lead Hopkins’ efforts to expand its insurance products, grow its geographic footprint and develop business models, according to Atlantic Health.

“After a rigorous and inclusive search process, we have selected a uniquely qualified candidate with the precise background and expertise needed to usher Atlantic Health System into a new era of health care delivery and ensure continued growth,” Robert A. Toohey, vice chair of Atlantic’s board, said in a statement.

Gragnolati said his career has been dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives.

“Atlantic Health System is well positioned to execute on its vision of empowering communities to be the healthiest in the nation and reaching unprecedented new heights in health care delivery and I cannot wait to get started,” he said in a statement.

He assumes leadership of a fast-growing network that includes Overlook Medical Center in Summit, Newton Medical Center in Newton, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown.

The system opened a giant wellness center in Morris Township last fall.

Morristown Medical Center regularly racks up industry- and media awards for its health care. For seven straight years, Fortune magazine also has ranked the Morristown-based health system among the 100-best companies to work for.  This year, it came in 39th, on a list that includes Google, Whole Foods and Twitter.

At the same time, Gragnolati inherits a seven-year-old court battle, nearing a decision, which could have ramifications for hospitals across the state.  The town of Morristown is challenging  Morristown Medical Center’s nonprofit status, in an attempt to assess property taxes.

Gragnolati has a bachelor of science in health systems analysis from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration from Western New England College in Massachusetts.

Here is a statement from Atlantic Health:

Atlantic Health System Names Brian Gragnolati as New President and Chief Executive Officer

Veteran Leader at Johns Hopkins Medicine to Take Reigns of Prominent New Jersey Health Care System

MORRISTOWN, NJ, March 12, 2015 – Atlantic Health System welcomes Brian A. Gragnolati, FACHE, as the new president and chief executive officer, effective May 4, 2015.

Gragnolati joins Atlantic Health System at an exciting time of growth for the organization. A collaborative, strategic leader, he brings extensive experience working with communities, patients, physicians, nurses and those who pay for health care services to deliver better and safer care, improve health outcomes and provide better value. His prior experience will be critical as Atlantic Health System focuses its efforts on further developing the capabilities of the organization to thrive during this time of significant change in the health care industry.

“We are thrilled to announce Brian Gragnolati as the new leader of our robust health care system,” said Robert A. Toohey, Vice Chair, Atlantic Health System Board of Trustees, who chaired the search committee. “After a rigorous and inclusive search process, we have selected a uniquely qualified candidate with the precise background and expertise needed to usher Atlantic Health System into a new era of health care delivery and ensure continued growth.”

Gragnolati serves as senior vice president, Community Division, at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. There, he is operationally responsible for three owned and two affiliated community hospitals, numerous ambulatory and surgery centers and community physician integration. He also leads the delivery system business development activities in the United States and co-leads Hopkins’s efforts to expand its insurance products, redefine and grow it geographic footprint and develop models of clinical and financial integration.

Gragnolati’s other leadership roles were at WellSpan Health in York, Pennsylvania where he served as President of York Hospital; Medical Center Hospital of Vermont in Burlington; and Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. He has had the benefit of having both strong academic and community-based hospital experiences.

“Having worked in health care my entire professional career, I have seen first-hand the difference we can make in people’s lives. As leaders of health care systems, this is our purpose and our privilege and what I love most about our profession” said Gragnolati. “Atlantic Health System is well positioned to execute on its vision of empowering communities to be the healthiest in the nation and reaching unprecedented new heights in health care delivery and I cannot wait to get started.”

Current president and CEO, Joseph P. Trunfio, will retire after more than 20 years of service. After announcing his departure last September, the Atlantic Health System Board of Trustees embarked on a comprehensive national search for his replacement.

“Working together with our departing CEO and our incoming leader, the Board of Trustees will ensure a swift and smooth transition of roles,” explained Karen Kessler, Chair, Atlantic Health System Board of Trustees. “We will deeply miss Joe, whose steadfast leadership propelled Atlantic Health System to become a regionally and nationally renowned health care provider, but we are enthusiastic about our future under Brian’s guidance.”

Gragnolati is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on numerous community boards. He is current board member of the American Hospital Association (AHA) and serves on their Operations Committee and Committee on Research. He also is a current member of the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) Executive Committee and received Maryland’s AHA Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion award in 2007 and again in 2015. He also serves on the Montgomery County, Maryland Business Development Corporation after serving as its inaugural chairman.

He was a member of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Implementation Committee, which studied the impact of the relocation of medical activities from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda (now the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center).

He received a bachelor of science in health systems analysis from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Business Administration from Western New England College in Massachusetts.

About Atlantic Health System

Atlantic Health System, headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, is one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey. It includes Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ; Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ; Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ; Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ; and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, as well as Atlantic Rehabilitation, and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. It also includes its subsidiary, Atlantic Ambulance Corporation. Atlantic Health System comprises 1,599 licensed beds, more than 14,000 employees and more than 4,000 physicians. Atlantic Health System is a clinical and academic affiliate of The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; a Major Clinical Affiliate of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; part of Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the largest ACOs in the nation, and is a member of AllSpire Health Partners.

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