The board of directors of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton announced today the appointment of Richard Freeman as president and CEO on June 16.
Freeman succeeds Anthony “Skip” Cimino who steps down in June after five years as president and 26 years of service as a trustee and executive of the organization.
An experienced healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience as a CEO or COO, Freeman spent most of his career with National Medical Enterprises and Tenet Healthcare. He earned a master’s in business administration from Temple University.
Prior to joining RWJ Hamilton, Freeman integrated Mountainside and Pascack Valley hospitals into the Hackensack University Health Network, serving as president of both hospitals.
Freeman also brings leadership experience in academic medical centers. Prior to Hackensack, he was chief operating officer of Beth Israel Medical Center and Continuum Health Partners in New York City, which during his tenure had 1,200 beds, 500 physicians in its faculty medical practice and over $1 billion in revenue. He also served as chief executive officer of the Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital, where he successfully integrated the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“Richard Freeman is the right leader at the right time for RWJ Hamilton,” J. Lynne Cannon, chairman of the hospital’s board of directors, said in a statement. “His success in driving growth, quality, financial and service initiatives gives us confidence that he will shape the future for RWJ Hamilton and take us forward.”
Freeman is set to assume the position of president and chief executive officer on June 16.
“Now is an unprecedented time of change in healthcare, when the standards for high quality, high value care are at their height” Freeman said in a statement, “RWJ Hamilton’s track record impressed me as one that provides a strong foundation upon which to grow and serve this community as healthcare continues to evolve.”
More information is online at rwjhamilton.org.
