RED BANK – Visiting Nurse Association Health Group, New Jersey’s largest VNA, has announced that Robert Lewis Morgan, M.D., MPH, FAAP has been appointed chairman of the recently established Children and Family Institute.
Morgan previously was the chief medical officer for the state Department of Children and Families and brings years of experience in health care – specifically with children and families – to the organization.
The Children & Family Institute is a pillar in VNA Health Group’s 2020 Vision Campaign. The institute will better assist parents in navigating the health care system and social services available for their children. VNA Health Group provides many of these services including the Nurse-Family Partnership, Early Intervention, School-Based Nursing, Special Child Health, and Women-Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program, however, many other services are provided all through separate government, grant and philanthropy funding. Under Morgan’s leadership, the institute will strategically unify services and create a seamless experience for parents and clinicians.
“Dr. Morgan brings an incredible amount of experience and knowledge to our organization,” said Dr. Steven Landers, CEO and president of VNA Health Group. “I am confident he will be a strong asset to our Children & Family Health Institute. Our mission is to provide quality and compassionate care to our most vulnerable citizens – including the youngest members – Dr. Morgan is going to greatly support achieving this mission.”
Morgan will play a key role in researching and developing new home and community health services for the Children and Family Health Institute. His experience and knowledge will propel VNA in their mission of creating a more efficient way to provide health care services to the community’s most vulnerable members. With Morgan’s leadership, VNA Health Group aspires to provide a full range of services at the highest level of efficiency and innovation to the children and families of New Jersey.
“I am very excited to be joining VNA Health Group, the prominent leader in home and community based healthcare for children and families for over a century. I look forward to furthering the work they have been doing and am eager to work with such talent and expertise,” Morgan said. “The VNA’s new Children and Family Health Institute will feature centers of excellence with resources so desperately needed in areas like early childhood and prenatal care, school-based health, post-acute care and hospice as well as primary care and public health.”
A chief medical officer for the Department of Children and Families, Morgan was responsible for assisting the department in ensuring the safety, well-being and success of children, youth, families and communities. Prior to that, he held the position of medical director for the state Department of Human Services in the Division of Youth and Family Services. He has also served as senior public health physician for the state Department of Health and Senior Services, medical director for its Division of Epidemiology and assistant professor of public health and pediatrics at the School of Public Health, formerly University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Morgan served a term as a Democratic assemblyman from the 12th District and was a member of the assembly’s health and education committees.
Morgan received his doctorate in medicine with honors from St. George’s University and his master’s in public health from Columbia University.
