Hackensack Meridian Health’s Post

Regina Foley, PhD, MBA, RN has held many positions, in many locations, across many teams in her more than 35 years with us, and she's made a difference in every one. Today, as our president of specialty hospitals and clinical services, she remains just as involved with our teams as when she began as a nurse at Ocean University Medical Center. “Nursing in our family was always a positive,” Regina says. Growing up, her mother was a nurse and raised Regina and her sister, Marie, with those values. “We grew up in an ‘I’m here to help’ mindset. That’s what motivates people to go into nursing: to be helpful, to reduce suffering. My mom did home care, and I saw how much she knew and how much she could help others. I knew the nursing path was for me.” The appreciation stuck with both sisters. Marie is now vice president and chief nursing officer at Ocean University Medical Center. Regina’s path hasn’t always been traditional. While big career changes may not be thought of as typical, she sees nurses as uniquely qualified to take them on. “I want to do right by our patients and their families and our team members. If I saw something that wasn’t right, I was quick to say, ‘Can I help with that? Can I do that?’” Her willingness and initiative helped her to learn and grow. As Regina took on a growing clinical responsibility, she began to see ways her team could collaborate with others, including operations. “I thought, why can’t we work together?” That mindset is how, after a multitude of leadership roles at Ocean University Medical Center, she took on the challenge of chief operating officer at Bayshore Medical Center. “When you're in a place for a while, you may feel like you can't go anywhere, but I knew I wanted to be challenged. Take advantage of opportunities, or be okay with not doing it,” she says. “Everybody has their own path, and mine has certainly had its turns. I take advantage of them. If you gain success and momentum from them, it opens things up.” It’s what has kept her inspired throughout her career at our network. “That's a differentiator for us. I’ve had the benefit of growing up here at HMH. We aspire to live the work,” she says “I do not feel good about saying something or asking for information or giving directions unless I feel I could do it myself, and I'm really appreciating it. Her role keeps growing, but the why behind her work has stayed the same. “The vast majority of patients we take care of at HMH, they’re our friends and family in the communities we serve. It’s about making sure we have access to care for the people we care about and want to do right by,” she says. “You're family to us. You come to us for care. We want to be there for you.” #PeopleofHMH