JACKSON – Township officials recently presented a proclamation by Mayor Michael Reina that recognized a long-time health care administrator from CentraState Medical Center of Freehold.
CentraState serves Jackson residents and has locations on Bartley Road and South Hope Chapel Road. Township Councilman Nino Borrelli serves as the Council’s representative to CentraState Medical Center serving on their Legislative and Community Affairs Committee which meets quarterly.
Mayor Reina’s proclamation was read during a Township Council meeting and a resolution was voted on and passed by the Council at that same meeting.
John Gribbin announced his retirement in February. His 45 years in the health care field includes 22 years as chief executive officer and president of CentraState.
“As the Township Council’s representative to CentraState Medical Center which has office locations in Jackson and serves many of our town’s residents including health and wellness programs at the Jackson Senior Center, Mayor Reina, my fellow Councilmen and I extend our thanks, appreciation, and congratulations to Mr. Gribbin for his many years of service to many communities including our town and wish him a well-deserved and enjoyable retirement,” Councilman Borrelli added.
Borrelli said he was honored to present the proclamation from Jackson Township to Gribbin at a celebration ball held in his honor at The Shadowbrook in Shrewsbury on May 13. “Other area towns like Marlboro and Freehold Township also presented proclamations to Mr. Gribbin.”
Gribbin said, “it has been my privilege to serve this community for more than twenty years and to have worked with board members, senior management, physicians and staff who have helped grow CentraState from a hospital to a comprehensive health system.”
While retiring from his position as president and CEO, Gribbin will continue to work on special projects through the System’s partner, PIER Practice Solutions.
CentraState Board of Trustees Chairman, John Cantalupo noted that Gribbin was successful in ensuring CentraState remained a reliable and trusted community resource during a period when so many hospitals around the state were facing financial pressures.
“He redefined what it means to be a community hospital by never losing focus for the organization throughout his tenure,” Cantalupo. added
Past Board Chairman, John Eggert, described Gribbin as a visionary who has long understood that a hospital’s role is more than treating illness. “He led the way in introducing a broad range of wellness services through the Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness Center designed to maintain health and better manage chronic conditions through education, management techniques and coaching, that have helped strengthen the connection between CentraState and the community.”
Gribbin joined CentraState Healthcare System in 2000. During his tenure, he presided over the opening of the new three-story Donna O’Donnell, RN Medical Arts Building, and the construction of The Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory campus, the largest construction project in CentraState’s history.
Gribbin was also instrumental in successfully advocating for new cardiac regulations providing greater access to high quality cardiovascular care for patients throughout New Jersey. He also played a key role in partnering with the Visiting Nurse Association and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in developing the Freehold Family Health Center.
“CentraState is well positioned for the future. I felt the timing was right for the organization to transition to new leadership,” Gribbin said.
Last month, CentraState promoted Tom Scott to replace Gribbin as president and CEO after serving seven years as a Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Scott will administrate the 284-bed acute care hospital, three senior living communities housing 630 residents, an ambulatory campus, four satellite health pavilions, a family medicine residency program and more than 2,600 employees.
Cantalupo said, “Tom was the unanimous choice of our Board after a deliberate process. He is a well-respected leader who was instrumental in growing this organization to its present state, who also has a strong vision for navigating challenges in the healthcare landscape, now and into the future.”
