For nearly 20 years, The Nicholson Foundation has worked to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in New Jersey. The Foundation recently announced that it would commit its last grants through the middle of 2020 and close its Newark office at the end of 2021. We spoke to Jan Nicholson, President of the…Read More…

Marcela Ospina Maziarz, MPA, is the Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health.   We know that the Health Resources and Service Administration, part of the federal government, selected New Jersey as one of nine states to receive a grant to improve maternal health. Can you tell us how New Jersey is using…Read More…

Don Liss, M.D., is Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, a member of the Quality Institute’s Leadership Council. In this interview, he talks about the challenges of providing high quality health care that’s still affordable. You recently returned to New Jersey. Can you tell us what you…Read More…

Frank Ghinassi, President and CEO, University Behavioral Health Care at Rutgers Global Health Institute. Your organization works closely with the New Jersey Medicaid program. Can you describe how that relationship works to support people with mental health issues? The Medicaid program provides coverage for a robust, multi-level and multi-dimensional network of care for individuals eligible…Read More…

As program officer for the Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC), Julie DeSimone, LSW, provides mayors and community leaders with valuable tools and expertise to help residents live healthier lives. Can you tell us about the wide-ranging experience that supports your work with the Quality Institute’s Mayors Wellness Campaign? After finishing my Master of Social Work, with…Read More…

Brittany Lee, LMSW, recently joined the Quality Institute as a policy associate. In this Take Five, Brittany discusses the focus of her work. Can you tell us how you will advance the Quality Institute’s mission? I joined the Quality Institute primarily to concentrate on reproductive health issues. There is a significant need to improve education…Read More…

  Christine Nazarenus is Chief Vision Officer and Co-Founder of Medical Marijuana 411, which provides online resources for medical cannabis education. You were working in a technology company and founded your first start up in 1998. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was your first client and later you developed a company focused on the character driven…Read More…

    This week’s newsletter includes our third Legacy Take Five interview. Throughout the year, we’ll interview some of our longstanding members who will share how their partnership with the Quality Institute helps them advance the mission we all share: improving the safety, quality, and affordability of health care for everyone. Jon Dolan is President…Read More…

Joshua Rothenberg is the Chief Operating Officer for Dialyze Direct, which is based in Neptune, New Jersey, and provides hemodialysis to people in nursing homes, with plans to expand to residential homes. Recently, President Donald Trump announced an executive order to transform kidney care and shift more than 80 percent of patients on kidney dialysis…Read More…

  Kevin Conlin, President & Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has been a member of the Quality Institute for almost 20 years and is one of our earliest members. Can you tell us why the organization values its membership? Improving…Read More…