100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2022

Garrett has led the health system since 2019, overseeing 17 hospitals—including two children’s hospitals and four academic medical centers. The system is also affiliated with the independent Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Under Garrett’s leadership, Hackensack Meridian has made targeting the social determinants of health a top priority through innovative interventions and education. At the medical school, a core curriculum pairs students with families from underserved communities. The objective is for future doctors to more fully understand the many factors that can affect a person’s health and well-being, such as income, food and housing insecurity, transportation issues and mental health and addiction challenges.