Anthony Cava to Retire as President and CEO of RWJUH Somerset

Anthony V. Cava, MS, RPH, FACHE, will be retiring from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, effective Jan. 2, 2023. Patrick Delaney, the hospital's Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Cava as the hospital's Chief Administrative Officer.

"Tony Cava guided RWJUH Somerset through a transformative time in the hospital's 123-year history, driving significant growth and expansion of the hospital's services to meet the community's needs," said Bill Arnold, Executive Vice President, Southern Region, RWJBarnabas Health, and President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. "We are grateful for his vision and leadership, particularly during the unprecedented challenges we faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrick Delaney has worked side-by-side with Tony for the past seven years and brings a broad knowledge and passion for health care operations and business development. He will continue to build on the hospital's tradition of clinical excellence, positioning it for future growth and ensuring that Central New Jersey residents have access to the highest quality medical care."

Cava, a registered pharmacist with more than 35 years of experience in health care administration, joined RWJUH Somerset in January 2015 and led the hospital through the merger of the Robert Wood Johnson Health System and Barnabas Health 14 months later. During his tenure, he oversaw renovations that modernized nearly every part of the hospital campus, including a three-year cardiology renovation and expansion project, which included renovations to the hospital's Cardiac Catheterization Lab, 60-bed Cardiology Pavilion and newly renovated space for Cardiac Diagnostic Testing Services; a new Same Day Surgery Center; a new Rehabilitation Services Department and renovations to the Maternity Pavilion, Radiology Department and Behavioral Health Unit. Renovations are currently under way on the hospital's Eating Disorders Unit. RWJUH Somerset became the first in New Jersey to offer primary care services to the LGBTQ+ community when it opened its Babs Siperstein PROUD Center in 2017.

Putting patient safety at the forefront, under Cava's leadership, the hospital achieved seven consecutive "A" Patient Safety Score ratings from the Leapfrog Group and earned Healthgrades 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award, ranking in the top 5% in the nation for patient safety. In 2021, the hospital received its third consecutive designation as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nursing Credentialing Center.

Delaney joined RWJUH Somerset in March 2015 as Administrative Director of Operations and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2016 and then to Chief Operating Officer in 2020. He oversees the hospital's ambulatory services and support areas, including Laboratory, Pharmacy, Radiology, Rehabilitation Services, Maintenance, Food and Nutrition, Environmental Services, Patient Transport, Security, Construction Services, Emergency Management, Pastoral Care and Volunteer Services.

He has worked closely with Cava to oversee hospital operations and facility improvements, including plans to begin construction this summer on a two-story vertical expansion that will house the hospital's Orthopedic Center of Excellence. Delaney also led the hospital's operational response to the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing COVID-19 screenings, testing and vaccination clinics, and helped lead the hospital's transition to the Epic electronic health record system in 2021.

Delaney previously held leadership positions at Bayshore Community Hospital, where he served as Senior Manager of Operations; Business Manager for the hospital's Diagnostic Imaging/Women's Center and Physician Liaison for Surgical Services for Bayshore Community Hospital and Riverview Medical Center. He obtained a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice and a master's of business administration from Monmouth University.

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