The New Jersey Hospital Association, the state’s oldest and largest healthcare trade association, today held its annual awards program to honor several individuals and organizations for their commitment to the state’s healthcare system and the patients and communities they serve.

NJHA’s 2018 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Michael R. D’Agnes, of East Brunswick, president and CEO of Raritan Bay Medical Center, part of Hackensack Meridian Health.

D’Agnes began his career in 1978 as the vice president of finance at The Medical Center of Princeton (now Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center). He has held leadership positions at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, served as CEO at Bayonne Healthcare System, now part of CarePoint Health, and most recently CEO of Raritan Bay Medical Center.

D’Agnes served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of NJHA during a time of great change from 2006 to 2008, and led the transition to new leadership under Betsy Ryan during his term.

Under D’Agnes’ leadership, Raritan Bay received a variety of organizational accolades and patient care quality designations, launched new patient-focused services, opened the Medical and Surgical Pavilion at Raritan Bay-Old Bridge and guided the medical center to a merger with Meridian Health (now Hackensack Meridian Health) in 2016.

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