The Honorable Judith M. Persichilli, R.N., B.S.N., M.A., began serving at the New Jersey Department of Health in August 2019, and was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate on January 9, 2020.  

She has been alongside Gov. Murphy leading the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the response to this once-in-a-century health emergency, the Department of Health under her leadership works to protect and improve the health of New Jersey residents.  The Department’s priorities include reducing health disparities, improving maternal health, addressing the overdose epidemic, and increasing access to health care.

Prior to leading the Department of Health, Ms. Persichilli served as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of University Hospital in Newark. She was president emerita of CHE Trinity Health, the health ministry formed in May 2013 by the consolidation of Catholic Health East and Trinity Health of Livonia, MI. Ms. Persichilli previously served as the interim president and CEO of CHE Trinity Health. 

Prior to this appointment, Ms. Persichilli was President and CEO of Catholic Health East (CHE). She joined CHE in 2003 as the Executive Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Division. She was promoted to Executive Vice President of acute care for the system in 2008 and then to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in December 2009 before assuming the role of CEO. Prior to joining CHE’s System Office, she served for eight years as CEO at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton.

Ms. Persichilli also co-founded the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, which provides fundraising support to organizations throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. 

She received her nursing diploma from the St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing summa cum laude from Rutgers University, and a Master of Arts in Administration summa cum laude from Rider University.