Dr. Kaitlan Baston Appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of University Hospital

Dr. Baston Has Served as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health Since 2023 and Will Serve as Interim Replacement for CEO & President Ed Jimenez

NEWARK – University Hospital today announced the appointment of Dr. Kaitlan Baston, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, as interim CEO effective May 3, 2025.  While Dr. Baston will not be applying for the permanent position, she has agreed to temporarily fill the role of outgoing Chief Executive Officer and President Ed Jimenez to ensure a smooth transition while the University Hospital Board of Directors searches for a permanent replacement. Jimenez has served as CEO of the hospital since January 2023.

Dr. Baston, MD, MSc, DFASAM, was nominated by Governor Philip D. Murphy to begin serving as Commissioner of Health on July 25, 2023, and was confirmed on March 18, 2024.

“Dr. Baston brings extraordinary expertise in both clinical and operational leadership. I am confident that, under her interim guidance, University Hospital will continue to advance its mission—delivering exceptional care, driving innovation, and building on a legacy of service to the community,” said Tanya L. Freeman, Chair of the University Hospital Board of Directors.

“Dr. Kaitlan Baston has dedicated her life to delivering quality health care to those most in need,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “As Commissioner, she has done a tremendous job leading the New Jersey Department of Health. I am confident that Dr. Baston will be an exceptional interim CEO of University Hospital.”

“I am honored to lead the Hospital during this period of transition. Having worked in healthcare for my entire career, I understand firsthand the importance of clear and effective leadership in building trust internally and in the community,” said Dr. Baston, incoming interim CEO. “I look forward to building upon Ed’s work to expand access to innovative care, advance the master plan, and support our staff.”

Dr. Baston began her career as a full-spectrum family physician focused on underserved populations. Before arriving in New Jersey, her work ranged from public health projects in Rwanda to public maternity and trauma hospitals in the Dominican Republic. She also provided full spectrum family planning services and worked at a bilingual community health center in Seattle, Washington.

Prior to her tenure as Commissioner, Dr. Baston served as the Division Head of Addiction Medicine and Medical Director of the Center for Healing at Cooper University Health Care.  Dr. Baston founded the Center for Healing, which provides integrated pain, addiction, and behavioral health care and undergraduate and graduate medical education in addiction medicine and research. Additionally, Dr. Baston acted as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

Dr. Baston is dual boarded in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, obtained a master’s degree in Neuroscience from Kings College, London, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Baston will hold the position of interim CEO while the University Hospital Board of Directors, led by Chair Freeman, conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

About University Hospital

University Hospital is New Jersey’s only public academic medical center and the principal teaching hospital for all Rutgers Newark-based medical education, including Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers New Jersey Dental School. The hospital is the only State-Certified Level 1 Trauma Center in Northern New Jersey. For more information about University Hospital, please visit www.uhnj.org.