Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network, today announced the appointment of Joel Klein, M.D., as its new Chief Digital Information Officer. Joel, a technology leader, will join the network on September 15, 2025, and report directly to Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer of Hackensack Meridian Health.
In this pivotal role, Joel will spearhead HMH’s digital transformation, overseeing all technology infrastructure, applications, and cybersecurity. He will be responsible for advancing the network’s position as a national leader in healthcare innovation by driving significant efficiency and new capabilities across all operations. His leadership will be critical in overseeing major enterprise initiatives, including the enhancement of the network’s electronic health record system and the implementation of a new ERP system to streamline operations. Furthermore, Joel will lead the network’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, from ideation to implementation, to revolutionize patient care and outcomes.
“Joel’s unique background as both a physician and visionary technology executive makes him the perfect leader to advance our mission to transform healthcare,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “He understands that technology in healthcare isn’t just about systems and software; it’s about creating better, safer, and more accessible experiences for our patients and empowering our clinical teams with the best possible tools. With his leadership, we will accelerate our AI and digital innovation work, ensuring Hackensack Meridian Health remains at the forefront of medicine.”
“Hackensack Meridian Health has a bold vision for the future of healthcare, and I am incredibly honored to be a part of it,” said Dr. Joel Klein. “My vision is to use AI to augment our clinicians’ expertise, not replace it. We can leverage predictive analytics to identify at-risk patients sooner, use AI to streamline administrative tasks so nurses can spend more time with patients, and develop diagnostic tools that lead to faster, more accurate diagnoses. It’s about building an intelligent health system that is both high-tech and high-touch, and I am eager to collaborate with the talented teams across the network to make that a reality.”
Joel brings over 15 years of experience leading technology solutions for major health systems. He joins HMH from the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), a 14-hospital academic medical system, where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. At UMMS, he successfully led the implementation of both Epic and a new ERP system, and also oversaw the system’s AI governance and innovation center.
A testament to his commitment to patient care, Joel began his career as an emergency medicine physician and continued to practice through the COVID-19 pandemic. His firsthand clinical experience gives him an invaluable perspective on how technology can effectively support frontline caregivers and improve the patient journey.
Joel’s distinguished career is marked by numerous accolades, including being named the CapitalCIO “CIO of the Year” in 2021. He has also been recognized as Physician of the Year by Baltimore Washington Medical Center (2013) and Emergency Physician of the Year by the Maryland Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (2008).
He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds a Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, a Master of Arts in Bioethics from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Yale University.
