January 22, 2024
Valley Health System has announced the promotion of Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE, to the position of President of Valley Health System. In his new role, Dr. Brenner will oversee the operations of the System’s three entities -- The Valley Hospital, Valley Medical Group, and Valley Home Care -- and begin serving on the Valley Health System Board of Trustees.
As President, Dr. Brenner will continue reporting to Audrey Meyers, Valley Health System’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will oversee all operational areas of the System, including its new hospital, home care and hospice agency, medical group, and more than 100 outpatient medical practice and treatment locations.
The announcement was made jointly by Meyers and Kevin Lobo, Chair of Valley Health System’s Board of Trustees. Meyers will continue to serve as Valley Health System’s CEO, stewarding the System’s vision and leading, in partnership with the System’s Board of Trustees, strategy development and future program and service expansion.
Valley also announced the promotion of Karteek Bhavsar, MHA, FACHE, to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Valley Health System. In his expanded role, Bhavsar will report directly to and work closely with Dr. Brenner to lead all System operations, especially the operations of The Valley Hospital in Paramus.
“As we look forward to the milestone of opening our new campus in Paramus – which will be the healthcare destination for generations of northern New Jersey residents for years to come – it is the right time to appoint Rob as our System President,” said Meyers. “He has the vision, the experience, the talent, and the skills to ensure Valley’s continued success.”
Lobo added: “Valley is about to embark on a new and exciting chapter, one that will enhance the care it will provide its patients and the community in ways previously unseen. Against that backdrop, we are pleased to appoint Rob as System President. His passion for employing innovative ways to manage care, his dedication to educating the next generation of doctors, and his ability to prepare for the future of healthcare will serve Valley and the community very well.”
"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Valley Health System’s President,” Dr. Brenner said. “I want to thank Audrey and Kevin, as well as all members of the Valley family, for their past and ongoing support. I look forward to working side by side with Karteek, who has vast operations experience, as well as with the rest of our very talented executive leadership team. Valley is an incredibly special place, and I am privileged to continue to uphold its values of serving and caring.”
About Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE
Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE, joined Valley in 2015 as Valley Health System’s first Senior Vice President and Chief Physician Executive. Since 2019, he has held the position of President of Clinical Integration and the Physician Enterprise. Prior to joining Valley, Dr. Brenner served as Chief Medical Officer of Summit Medical Group and as a Senior Executive at Mountainside Hospital/Atlantic Health System.
During his tenure at Valley, Dr. Brenner has led the development and growth of Valley’s Population Health program, which oversees the coordination of care for more than 90,000 individuals; the launch of ColigoCare, Valley’s nationally acclaimed Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and clinically integrated network, which was recently recognized as the No. 1 ACO in New Jersey for quality outcomes; and in affiliation with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the initiation of Valley’s first two Graduate Medical Education programs in Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) in July 2024.
Dr. Brenner has also played a significant role in the growth of Valley’s award-winning Valley Medical Group, Valley Home Care, and the planning of Valley’s new hospital in Paramus, which is set to open in April 2024.
Dr. Brenner received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons/Overlook Hospital Family Medicine Internship and Residency Program. Dr. Brenner holds a master’s degree in medical management from the Carnegie Mellon University-Heinz School of Public Policy and Management and completed the New York University Stern Strategic Leadership Program.
Dr. Brenner has served on the Board of the New Jersey Hospital Association since 2020 and was recently appointed Board Secretary and Chair of the Association’s Audit and Compliance Committee. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He also serves on the CEO Board of Managers and the Strategy Committee of New Jersey’s Healthcare Transformation Consortium, which brings together New Jersey healthcare system leaders to enhance quality and efficiency of healthcare throughout the state.
He served as a physician in the United States Air Force and earned a U.S. Air Force Commendation and Meritorious Service Medal. He was a member of the American Medical Group Association Foundation Board and served as Chair from 2019 to 2020.
Dr. Brenner is a national speaker on healthcare reform and its implications for patients and physicians. He is known for his presentations on producing value in healthcare, population health, managing physician performance, effective healthcare systems, multispecialty group practices, and the meaningful use of health information technologies.
About Karteek Bhavsar, MHA, FACHE
Karteek Bhavsar, MHA, FACHE, began his career in Valley's Planning Department in 1998 and has progressed through many areas of the organization, holding the positions of Director of Same Day Surgery and Pain Management, Assistant Vice President of Ambulatory Services, and Assistant Vice President of Perioperative Services.
In 2015, Bhavsar was appointed Vice President of Administration and a member of Valley’s Executive Staff. In 2020, he assumed the added responsibilities for Planning and Business Development, followed by his promotion in 2022 to Senior Vice President of Operations and Business Development.
Bhavsar has been with Valley for 25 years and provides operational leadership for the System. He oversees key initiatives, including margin enhancement and the organization’s commitment to being a High Reliability Organization, as well as Information Systems, Facilities, and Valley’s organizational and operational performance.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in health administration from Cornell University. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Graduate of the Comprehensive Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship, and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety.
About Valley Health System
Valley Health System is a regional healthcare system in northern New Jersey. It includes The Valley Hospital, a 451-bed, not-for-profit, regional acute-care hospital that has been consistently recognized for quality care and patient satisfaction; Valley Home Care, a home care and hospice agency; and Valley Medical Group, a multispecialty group practice of more than 300 doctors and advanced practice professionals representing over 40 medical and surgical specialties who practice at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care in Paramus, eight urgent and primary care centers in New Jersey and New York, and many community-based physician practices throughout the region.
Valley Health System is one of the most honored healthcare organizations in New Jersey. Our awards and recognitions are a testament to the exceptional, distinctive care our providers and staff deliver every day.
For more information, please visit ValleyHealth.com.