Congratulations to Jim Baird, DO, Emergency Department Assistant Medical Director at Jefferson Washington Township Hospital and a regional leader in the battle against opioid addiction, who recently completed the six-month long New Jersey Healthcare Executive Leadership Academy (NJHELA) certification program as a member of the Class of 2019. This year’s cohort focused on the state’s opioid epidemic.
Dr .Baird was a member of the third class of healthcare executives since the academy’s inception in 2017. The 11 participants received a Certificate in Advanced Healthcare Leadership from Seton Hall University’s School of Health and Medical Sciences at a special event held June 7th at the Nassau Inn in Princeton.
This year’s cohort focused on the state’s opioid epidemic. Throughout the program, guest lectures from former Fellows – including St. Joseph University Hospital’s Dr. Alexis LaPietra, and former NJ Gov. Jim McGreevey -- provided insight into the opioid epidemic. Dreamland author Sam Quinones keynoted the event, highlighting his investigative reporting on the surge in opioid prescribing and heroin distribution throughout the country.
A featured project for this year’s group was the #AddictionImpactsMe initiative, a series of three testimonial videos aimed at informing the discussion of stigma and discrimination. The shorts feature hospital staff, treatment providers, consumers of care and family members.
NJHELA is a cooperative undertaking by the New Jersey Hospital Association, the Medical Society of New Jersey and the NJ Association of Health Plans, with academic partner Seton Hall University. NJHELA’s goal is to build collaborative leadership skills among physicians and executives from both hospitals and health insurance companies.
