Heather has been a nurse for 27 years with a focus on leadership for 19 of them. Her clinical background consists of cardiothoracic, interventional and emergency nursing. She holds a Master’s degree in Administrative Science, two Bachelor’s degrees and is a Board certified nurse executive, advanced. Heather joined Saint Peter’s in 2010 and worked with senior leadership and clinical staff to design a state-of-the-art emergency department that was patient focused as well as to build and implement a new clinical information system. Heather hails from a family of nursing professionals including her sister, mother and grandmother

Les is interim CEO and President of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. He came to Saint Peter’s in August 2015 after having served as president and chief executive officer of Saint Clare’s Health System in Denville for seven years. Hirsch also served as president and chief executive officer of Touro Infirmary, a faith-based health care system of Jewish heritage located in New Orleans, LA, from 2005 to 2008; Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver, CO, a member of Exempla Healthcare, from 2002 to 2005, and Cooper Health System, Camden from 1999 to 2002, implementing major clinical, strategic and financial initiatives at each of those institutions. Hirsch served as chairman of the New Jersey Hospital Association Board of Trustees in both 2015 and 2016.

Linda has been in a variety of staff and leadership positions at Saint Peter’s since 1984. She is currently chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services. Under Linda’s leadership, Saint Peter’s became only the fifth hospital in the world to achieve Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the fifth consecutive time. Saint Peter’s first received Magnet recognition in 1998.