July 14, 2003
GOVERNOR JAMES E. MCGREEVEY APPOINTS MEDICAL CENTER'S JOHN P. FERGUSON TO JOBS GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION


New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey has appointed John P. Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Medical Center to the Commission on Jobs, Growth and Economic Development. Mr. Ferguson joins a 45-member commission made up of representatives of business and industry, research and high-technology sectors, higher education, and the financial industry sector.

"I am very honored that Governor McGreevey has appointed me to this prestigious commission," said Mr. Ferguson. "The charge of our group is to develop a blueprint for New Jersey's economic growth." 

The commission will focus on identifying opportunities for creating well-paid, knowledge-based jobs in the high-technology sector. The commission is also charged with identifying resources to support these emerging technologies, including the workforce training needs for these new jobs.

Mr. Ferguson has been with Hackensack University Medical Center since 1981 and has been its president and chief executive officer since 1986. During his tenure the then-Hackensack Medical Center grew into a major university-affiliated medical center. It is designated as a Level II Trauma Center, providing tertiary and regional services for Northern New Jersey and the tri-state area.

Mr. Ferguson received his bachelor's degree from Saint Peter's College and an MBA from George Washington University. He was also a member of Governor McGreevey's transition team where he co-chaired the committee for Health and Senior Services and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. In addition, Mr. Ferguson has received numerous awards and accolades. 

Mr. Ferguson's leadership resulted in the medical center receiving The Quality New Jersey's 2001 Governor's Gold Award for Performance Excellence. This award is based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 to improve organizational performance and to enhance the nation's ability in the global marketplace. This is the highest award level and indicative that the medical center has sound systematic approaches and fact-based improvement processes in place. Other awards that were received under Mr. Ferguson’s leadership include The HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellenceä in 2003. Two times in a row, HUMC has been named the top-ranked Children’s Hospital in New Jersey and among the top 25 Children’s Hospitals in America by Child Magazine. The medical center has also been named a top 20 hospital by AARP Modern Maturity Magazine. In 1995, the medical center became the first hospital in the country – after the pilot program – to receive the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence and was re-designated in 1999 and 2003

Mr. Ferguson recently received a Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement from Saint Peter's College. Mr. Ferguson has been honored with: the 1997 Chairman's Award for Outstanding Leadership from the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey; the Metropolitan Health Administrators' Association 1997 Award of Distinction; the 1998 Distinguished Citizen of New Jersey Award from the Ramapo College Foundation; the President's Award from the New Jersey State Nurses Association in 1999; and in 2000 was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Boys' Towns of Italy. Mr. Ferguson has been named in "Who's Who of New Jersey Business Leaders" by New Jersey Business News and was awarded the Medical Executive Award by the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey and the "Good Scout Award" by the Northern New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In 2002 he was a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor 

A member of the Board of Trustees at Saint Peter's College, he also sits on the boards of Commerce Bank/North, The MOLLY Foundation for Diabetes Research, the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals, and the Bergen County Economic Development Commission. Mr. Ferguson is also chairman of the board of trustees of Martha's Vineyard Hospital. 
John P. Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Medical Center has been named to the Commission on Jobs, Growth and Economic Development by Governor James E. McGreevey.

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