Joseph Chirichella, President and CEO of Deborah Heart and Lung Center, has announced the appointment of Aaron Kugelmass, MD, as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Kugelmass joins Deborah from Baystate Health in Springfield, MA, where he has served as System Vice President, Medical Director, Heart and Vascular Program, and Chief of Cardiology Services. Prior to his tenure at Baystate Health, Dr. Kugelmass was an Associate Chief of Cardiology and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Henry Ford Hospital and Health System in Detroit, MI; and, Associate Chief of Cardiology and Director of Interventional Cardiology at Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Kugelmass earned his Medical Degree at Harvard Medical School, did his Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and his Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology Fellowships at Beth Israel Hospital-Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Kugelmass is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine. His expertise is widely sought, and he frequently presents at national and international meetings, as well as publishing widely in JACC, Circulation, American Journal of Cardiology, and Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

“We are delighted that Dr. Kugelmass is joining Deborah,” said Chirichella. “He has extensive experience integrating and balancing the clinical needs of cardiovascular physicians with the business needs of successfully running a hospital. Throughout his leadership career, he has consistently heightened patient safety benchmarks and quality initiatives, both of which are critical mission cornerstones at Deborah. We are confident that Dr. Kugelmass’ progressive thinking supports the the future vision of cardiac, pulmonary and vascular care delivery, and  will allow Deborah to continue to implement programs and processes that will benefit our patients, providers, and support teams, all of whom play key roles in growing a nationally-recognized cardiac program.”

In his spare time Dr. Kugelmass enjoys skiing, hiking, gardening, cooking, travel, and spending time with his wife and two sons.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ is an 89-bed teaching hospital that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, research, and treatment of heart, lung, and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has been a regional and nationally recognized leader throughout its 100-year history, during which time it has healed 2.3 million patients from every corner of the United States and 87 countries in the world. From performing the first open heart surgeries (adult and pediatric) in New Jersey, to running one of the highest volume left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant programs in the region, Deborah has stood at the forefront of medical innovation, all while never wavering from its founding mission “there is no price on life.” Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in the country; and is designated a national Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.