Newswise — Meridian Health Affiliated Foundations in partnership with the Advisory Board in Washington DC, held a combined board summit on March 20, for 90 trustees from across the health system at Wilson Hall on the campus of Monmouth University. The day long summit focused on discussions about the state of the industry and how health care reform may impact philanthropic funding priorities in the future.

“Our Foundations are looking ahead to the future of health care for our communities, and our trustees demand to know how they can grow to best represent the donors and dollars entrusted to their oversight,” said David L. Flood, president of Meridian Health Affiliated Foundations. “We are proud of them for staying ahead of the curve, and setting the standard for accountable philanthropy in the region.”

The summit allowed board members to work and learn, to collaborate and listen, and to plan for the upcoming years. Fred Bayon, managing director and the national spokesperson for the Advisory Board Company, spoke about where opportunities exist to define and champion future infrastructure priorities, and the role that board members can and must play in representing the donors, and the hospitals and health systems they support, to maximize their effectiveness.

“The health care industry, particularly its providers, are facing critical challenges. While many of these issues are unprecedented, they also represent new opportunities for fundraising, said Bayon. “Meridian Health is at the forefront of these changes, and its ability to anticipate future needs is impressive.”

The Advisory Board is a global research, technology, and consulting firm partnering with 150,000 leaders in 3,700+ organizations across health care and higher education, including Meridian Health.

About Meridian Health Meridian Health (www.meridianhealth.com) is a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprising Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel, and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services, and outpatient centers. Meridian Health has consistently been rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality, is one of the FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For", and is the recipient of numerous state and national recognitions for patient care and nursing excellence, including the distinction of being the first health system in the country to receive Magnet designation for nursing.