Inspira Health Network Board of Trustees Approves New Board Leadership

Former NJHA CEO Betsy Ryan appointed as Chair, along with a new Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer; new Trustees also join Network and Hospital Boards to support Inspira’s mission of providing high-quality health services to the community

Mullica Hill, NJ (April 5, 2023) – Inspira Health Network’s Board of Trustees today announced board member Elizabeth A. Ryan, Esq., former President and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) and the first woman to helm the association, will serve as the new Board Chair, effective today. In addition, existing Trustees will assume other leadership positions, with Dawn Flitcraft serving as Vice Chair, Bob Hickock as Secretary and Toni Pergolin as Treasurer. Karen Albanese, David Krishna and Donna Perez were also newly appointed to the Board of Trustees.

“As we continue to dedicate ourselves to the health of the communities we serve, we’re thrilled to have a diverse slate of strong leaders serve on our board as our advocates,” said Amy Mansue, President and CEO, Inspira Health. “These appointments reflect our steadfast commitment to ensure we have the ability and right people to provide the highest quality of health care. All of these board members stand out as true leaders in their industries and in their communities, and their ongoing counsel will help guide our organization as we advance our mission.”

An advocate for patients and hospitals in New Jersey, Elizabeth has served on the Inspira Health Network Board of Trustees since 2018, bringing a wealth of policy and advocacy experience. She is currently Executive in Residence at the Bloustein School of Public Policy at Rutgers University and teaches in its program in health administration. As leader of NJHA from 2008 to 2017, she strengthened the association’s membership to include all of New Jersey’s acute care hospitals and a growing representation of post-acute care providers representing the continuum of health care services. She led the association through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and repeated attempts to repeal it. Elizabeth started her career practicing law in Mount Holly and went on to serve as assistant counsel under former Gov. Jim Florio and Chief of Staff of the State Department of Health. Born and raised in New Jersey, she received her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University (Cook College).

Elizabeth will be assuming the position of Board Chair from Ronald Rossi, who served in this role for the past three years. “We are grateful to Ron for his extraordinary leadership and the indelible mark he has left on Inspira,” said Mansue. “As we welcome new Board leadership, we look forward to their guidance and working together to better meet the health care needs of our community.”

In addition to a new Chair, Inspira has appointed a new Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer to continue to provide governance oversight and guidance of the health system’s activities:

• Dawn Flitcraft, Vice Chair, is former president of the Ethical Revision division of WCG, a Princeton-based company that provides comprehensive services for clinical trial stakeholders. She now is a consultant and advisor for FLS Life Sciences.
• Robert L. Hickok, Secretary, is a retired partner with the law firm Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP. A resident of Mullica Hill, he brings a unique skill set of litigation, litigation management, economics, and economic analysis of law.
• Toni Pergolin, Treasurer, has served more than 15 years as president and CEO of Bancroft, a leading regional nonprofit provider of programs and services for individuals with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and those in need of neurological rehabilitation.

The newly appointed Network Board of Trustees members will also provide a new perspective to help guide Inspira as they serve out their terms:

• Karen Albanese is a controller with KONRAD Companies. She has over 30 years’ experience including board governance, bylaws, committees, management, finance, and human resources in various industries. She most recently served on the Rowan College of Burlington County Foundation Board of Trustees as Chair.
• David Krishna is the president and chief executive officer at DeliverCareRx. He has taken three start-up pharmacy programs to national success, and is a strategic leader with a history of taking organizations to the next level.
• Donna Perez is a vice president, investment officer and a financial advisor for Wells Fargo Advisors in Vineland. She is an active member of the community who has served on numerous local boards and committees.

Additionally, Network Board Trustee Zenaida Cobián, Ed.D., will also be joining Inspira’s Hospital Board of Trustees – the governing body of Inspira’s hospitals that oversees and guides their various activities.  Cobián, a resident of Pittsgrove, has served as the Superintendent of Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District since 2014, and brings her passion for and expertise of education to her role as an Inspira Trustee.

For more information about Inspira Health Network, please visit www.InspiraHealthNetwork.org or call 1-800-INSPIRA. To stay connected with Inspira announcements and work being done in the community, please join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.