HOW THE ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
As a neonatologist, Judy Aschner, M.D., devoted her career to the care of critically-ill newborns and to improving pregnancy outcomes. Now, as a researcher at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation, her grant-funded work focuses on finding novel therapies to prevent and treat neonatal lung diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neonatal pulmonary hypertension, as well as understanding and mitigating the impact of early life external environmental exposures on long-term health outcomes for infants and children. As principal investigator of a pregnancy cohort in the national Environmental Influences on Children’s Health Outcomes study, Dr. Aschner is working towards enriching a huge population-level study with high-risk pregnancies and children with developmental, physical and sensory disabilities - a group of children that have traditionally been excluded from many large research efforts.
FROM THE COURT TO THE SKY
Hackensack Meridian Health team members demonstrate their commitment to patients, the community and each other through various initiatives. One popular example is the annual Basketball Fever Tournament, where hundreds of team members compete to raise money for the Circle of Compassion fund. This fund provides crucial financial assistance to colleagues facing hardship, from catastrophic events to other unexpected emergencies. It also supports network-wide wellness programs. Similarly, fundraising efforts by Hackensack Meridian Health’s Air Medical Team have taken flight, supporting important causes like Tackle Kids Cancer, an initiative that focuses on
pediatric cancer research, patient programs and family support. We’re incredibly proud of our compassionate team members who go above and beyond every day.
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH IN CANCER BIOMARKERS
Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation researcher Olivier Loudig, Ph.D.,’s donor-funded research includes projects focused on breast, cervical, lung, prostate and bladder cancers. He and his team have designed novel technologies and received patents for the isolation of vesicles contained in exhaled breath, which may facilitate early and non-invasive detection of lung diseases and cancers. Their work refines the threshold of detection through minute isolation of unique and diseasespecific biomarkers. Recent peer-reviewed publications of his laboratory’s work have demonstrated the potential of an exhaled-breath test for detection of lung cancer. Your generosity fuels our innovations!
ADVANCING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF NURSING
The donor-funded Sheila Cancro Institute for Nursing Leadership and Practice Excellence advances the mission of humanizing care through the art and science of nursing. It provides infrastructure, support and advocacy for Hackensack Meridian Health nurses as they advance their careers, education and research.
The impact of the Cancro Institute is nothing less than extraordinary. The lecture series hosted 20 workshops with nearly 900 attendees, more than 70 newly graduated nurses were hired through our student nurse apprenticeship program, NSPIRE, and more than 865 nurses participated in Beyond the Residency, a program offering continued mentorship for new nurses after their one year residency. Through the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Employment Bonus Program, 63 scholarships were awarded, with 25 new nurses graduating and beginning to fulfil their three year commitment to work at Hackensack Meridian Health. By investing in the development of our nursing team, we have established a reputation as one of the nation’s most recognized health care networks for nursing excellence. This commitment is reflected in our nurse vacancy rate for 2024, which was just over 5 percent—significantly lower than the national average of 10 percent.
Be The Difference is a transformational effort focusing on four key pillars: enhancing the delivery of patient care, accelerating groundbreaking research and discovery, expanding equitable access to advanced care and revolutionizing medical education while supporting the nursing profession.
Through this ambitious initiative, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation aims to reshape health care for patients, clinicians and the diverse communities it serves, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future. Thank you for making a difference!
TRANSFORMING CANCER OUTCOMES
“The ultimate dream and goal of an oncologist is to prevent cancer, or detect it earlier— and eventually, I believe we will intercept cancer altogether. We are very fortunate to offer such cutting-edge technologies to our communities, thanks to the generosity of the Hennessy family and our inspired team of dedicated clinicians and researchers.”
ANDRÉ GOY, M.D. PHYSICIAN-IN-CHIEF FOR ONCOLOGY, HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
“Because of your generosity, the promise of cancer prevention and early detection are no longer just goals—they are becoming the standard, changing lives before cancer has a chance to take hold.”
ELIAS OBEID, M.D., MPH DIRECTOR, HENNESSY INSTITUTE FOR CANCER PREVENTION AND APPLIED MOLECULAR MEDICINE
The Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention and Applied Molecular Medicine—established through generous donor support—is transforming the future of cancer care by shifting the focus toward prevention, early detection and personalized screening strategies. By integrating cuttingedge technology, genomics and a wellness-centered approach, the Institute is pioneering innovative methods to prevent cancer or intercept it at its earliest, most treatable stages.
Through a strategic collaboration with CancerIQ, a leader in risk-based education and patient engagement, the Hennessy Institute enhances its ability to identify high-risk individuals early. This partnership strengthens referral pathways and expands access to essential genetic counseling and testing services. Led by a multidisciplinary team of expert clinicians and researchers, the Institute offers comprehensive risk assessments and personalized genetic counseling, empowering individuals to take proactive steps in managing their health. At the forefront of precision prevention, the Hennessy Institute provides access to a broad array of diagnostic technologies designed to evaluate and accelerate the adoption of the most promising tools for the future.
These include:
J Multi-Cancer Early Detection testing, capable of identifying multiple cancer types at their earliest stages
J Liquid biopsies, which leverage genomics and Artificial Intelligence to analyze circulating tumor DNA
J And even the use of specially trained dogs to detect cancers such as lung, breast and colorectal by sniffing breath, urine and other samples—thanks to their remarkable ability to identify unique volatile organic compounds associated with cancer
