3rd Annual Women's Leadership Conference

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Sustainable Strategies To Support The Wellbeing of Healthcare Professionals

Meet Our Leaders

Dr. Ije Akunyili, MD, MBA, MPA

Chief Medical Officer

Jersey City Medical Center, RWJBarnabas Health

Dr. Ije Akunyili is the Chief Medical Officer of Jersey City Medical Center, a comprehensive full-service acute and sub-acute care 348-bed teaching hospital. The Medical Center is a state-designated Level II Regional Trauma Center. The Medical Center is a facility of RWJBarnabas Health, the largest provider of health care in New Jersey. As a leader, Dr. Akunyili’s expertise and commitment to equitable, world-class care contribute significantly to shaping the region's future of healthcare and scientific exploration. At Jersey City Medical Center, she has been instrumental to transformational changes in Quality, Safety and a historical expansion in its the academic enterprise with the addition of four new fellowship programs in Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Cardiology and Pulmonary/Critical Care. She is also the operational leader over the Women’s Health and Pulmonary service lines. 

Previously Dr. Akunyili served as the Regional Medical Director for TeamHealth, Northeast Group, where she had strategic, operational, and clinical oversight of nearly 20 emergency departments, critical care, and hospitalist service lines in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. In addition to her executive experience, Dr. Akunyili has vast leadership and advocacy experience and is the Past President of the Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians (CCEP). She is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. 

Dr. Akunyili graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania and attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her emergency medicine residency at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. In addition, Dr. Akunyili earned an MPA in international development from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.  She is also board certified in Obesity Medicine and has a passion for metabolic health and wellness. 

Dr. Akunyili is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and a member of the Alumni Board of the Harvard Kennedy School whose mission is public service around the globe. In addition, she was named in Becker’s Healthcare, Black Healthcare Leaders to know in 2024.  She was appointed by New Jersey Governor Chris Murphy, to the Board of Medical Examiners.  She is the cohost of the Hudson Health TV show.

Cynthia L. Jackson, LCSW

Clinician, ABH

Concern Employee Assistance Program

A Service of the Atlantic Health System

Ms. Jackson received her Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers University.  She has over 30 years of experience in the mental health field, and is currently a member of the clinical staff at Concern Employee Assistance program. Ms. Jackson works with a diverse population providing support in areas such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. Throughout her career, Ms. Jackson has been committed to advocating for mental health awareness and providing guidance to both

individuals and organizations. With a strong foundation in both clinical practice and case management, she is a trusted professional in the mental health community.

Sara Jones

Vice President of Workforce Experience

Atlantic Health System

Sara Jones, Vice President of Workforce Experience, is responsible for driving programs to improve workforce experience, inclusion, engagement and retention at Atlantic Health System as we further our great place to work culture. Sara serves as a trusted advisor and coach to senior leadership across the system, fostering an inclusive environment where every team member has their voice heard in shaping the unique programs we provide to empower and support our team members and their families.

Sara is an accomplished Human Resources leader with more than 20 years of proven success building partnerships with business leaders to proactively develop people solutions that adapt to the rapidly changing environment. Throughout her career at Atlantic Health, she and her team have led initiatives that have nationally positioned us at the top percentile for engagement, making Atlantic Health a Best Place to Work on many health care industry-specific lists along with national lists.

Sara joined Atlantic Health from Toys “R” Us in Wayne, New Jersey, where she served as Director of Talent Acquisition and Talent Management, responsible for developing customized workforce plans to deliver talent strategies that infused the company with diverse, world-class talent. Prior to Toys “R” Us, Sara spent seven years with Saint Clare’s Health System as an HR Business Partner supporting all clinical teams and medical staff.

Sara received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from William Paterson University. She holds her Professional Human Resources Certificate through the Human Resource Standards Institute and has recently become a Certified Executive Coach through the International Coach Federation.

Dr. Lisa K. Tank, MD, MBA, F.A.C.P.

President and Chief Hospital Executive

Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health

Dr. Lisa Tank is a visionary leader in healthcare, now serving as president and chief hospital executive at Hackensack University Medical Center. With expertise in internal medicine and geriatric medicine, Dr. Tank has built a reputation for driving transformational, value-based care across multiple clinical settings. Her leadership has consistently focused on improving patient outcomes through innovative programs and strategic partnerships.

Her vision centers on three key priorities: delivering comprehensive patient-centric, high-quality care and exceptional patient experience in a high reliability organization; fostering multi-professional team member development to create an exceptional workplace; and driving growth and innovation while strengthening financial performance.

Dr. Tank previously served as senior vice president and chief medical officer of Hackensack University Medical Center and as regional chief medical officer of the health network’s northern region. She has led Hackensack University Medical Center’s medical staff and clinical programs, building a robust department of Medical Affairs and pioneering initiatives in regulatory compliance, telehealth, and electronic health records. As former chief of Geriatrics, she spearheaded development of the medical center’s geriatrics program, elevating it to national prominence with Level 3 Certification from the Patient-Centered Medical Home Program and the first Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification for Delirium nationally. Dr. Tank was honored as Clinician of the Year by the American Geriatrics Society and she has been recognized among ROI Influencers in Health Care.

Under her collaborative leadership, Hackensack University Medical Center earned recognition as New Jersey's #1 adult and #1 children's hospital, received a CMS 5-star rating, and secured an “A” rating from The Leapfrog Group. She led the medical center through the challenges of COVID-19, ensuring data-driven decision-making and system-wide collaboration to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients with a focus on exceptional patient experience and team member engagement. A recognized leader during the pandemic, Dr. Tank was honored with the “Hometown Hero” Award for decisive action in creating critical care guidelines and enhancing patient-family communication through technology. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in service, innovation, and a commitment to advancing healthcare for future generations.

Beyond the immediate scope of her current role, Dr. Tank serves as an associate professor at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and an assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. She is a board-certified geriatrician, a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Greater New York Hospital Association/United Hospital Fund Clinical Quality Fellowship (GNYHA) fellow. She earned her MBA from George Washington University, and currently sits on the board of the Visiting Home Services of New Jersey and Joint venture ASCs.

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Tank has led initiatives that improved patient outcomes and positioned Hackensack University Medical Center as an academic leader in healthcare delivery. She has also helped to achieve significant milestones in quality of care and patient safety, built dynamic teams with an innovative “Quad" structure consisting of high performing multidisciplinary team members with subject matter expertise, resulting in peak clinical outcomes. These achievements were realized while meeting financial goals and providing cutting edge technology in state-of-the-art facilities with sustainable energy - all of which she attributes to the dedication and skill of the entire team.

“Since I was a trainee, Hackensack University Medical Center has been generous in creating space for me to grow,” Dr. Tank says. “I was fortunate to have mentors who were generous with their time, offering advice, helping to mold me, and inspiring me to pay it forward.”

As a mentor, Dr. Tank believes it is important to show her mentees that leadership is about understanding the granular details, possessing the ability to zoom in and out on each detail, as needed. She takes a hands-on, visible, active-listening approach, providing support by understanding precisely what her teams do day-to-today and determining what they need.

Operating from a place of service and humility, Dr. Tank believes, “it is essential to ensure that our team is a direct reflection of the community we serve. We strive to train our team members to communicate with and respond to the needs of our patients, respectfully assisting them in making informed decisions,” she says.

An overarching goal is to take health care to the patients and improve access. “We are a hospital without walls, delivering transformational care across the continuum with focus on safe transitions of care.”

Deborah Visconi

President and Chief Executive Officer,

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (Moderator)

Deborah Visconi is a highly accomplished executive with more than 30 years of success in providing strategic direction, vision, leadership, and oversight of operations in hospitals and healthcare systems across the metropolitan region.

Due to her remarkable career, she was identified and selected to be the champion leader tasked to transition New Jersey’s largest hospital from its former for-profit management model to a new, non-profit community asset now known as Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.

As a Latinx hospital leader, Deb understands the unique issues and needs of underserved and minority communities, which she has prioritized in the hospital’s community health needs assessment process and its ongoing outreach efforts.

With Deb’s organizational and strategic planning expertise, Bergen New Bridge has expanded programs, services, and enhanced provider relations yielding improvement in quality, safety, and the patient/resident experience. Under her leadership, the Medical Center has been recognized as a ‘Top Hospital’ and a ‘Top Teaching Hospital’ by The Leapfrog Group.

The Medical Center has been recognized as a Top Diversity Leader by Modern Healthcare, received the Empowering Women Award twice from NJBIZ, and has been recognized for four years in a row as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). The Joint Commission recognized the Medical Center with its Advanced Certification in Health Equity, making Bergen New Bridge one of the first healthcare providers in the country to earn this designation.

Consistent with her commitment to healthcare outreach and education, Deb collaborates with the County of Bergen and other community partners to launch programs that deliver care onsite, directly and via telehealth to thousands in the community including the innovative CareRite Now primary care centers located in select Bergen County Inserra ShopRite supermarkets.

Deb is an active volunteer and serves on many boards and has been frequently acknowledged for her accomplishments and leadership, winning several awards, and receiving numerous recognitions from Crain’s, Modern Healthcare, NJBIZ, Becker’s, and many more.