Browns Mills, N.J.—Deborah Heart and Lung Center is proud to announce that Lewis Clark, Vice President of Marketing, Media and Public Relations, and Aaron Kugelmass, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, have been inducted into the Honorary Commander Program at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL).

The program connects a distinguished group of local civic and business leaders with unit commanders, with the goal of enhancing the relationship between JB MDL and its surrounding communities.

“I’m proud that two of our leadership team members have once again been selected as Honorary Commanders,” said Jim Andrews, President and CEO of Deborah. “Lewis and Aaron have great respect for the military and have already proven that they are excellent ambassadors who are capable of fostering strong ties between Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and its surrounding communities.”

What’s Expected of an Honorary Commander

The one-year term for Honorary Commanders at JB MDL begins with an induction ceremony, where inductees recite an oath promising to support the men and women at JB MDL; they also are paired with a unit commander.

Once per quarter, Honorary Commanders are invited to the base for major base immersions, which are full- or half-day events that offer opportunities to cycle through different components of the base, such as touring the flightline or visiting the Army training areas at Fort Dix and the Navy systems at Lakehurst.

Beyond quarterly immersions, Honorary Commanders meet with their assigned unit commanders to observe daily operations of specific squadrons, get updates on current programs and participate in local civic meetings. In addition, they may be invited to military ceremonies, awards banquets and social events throughout the year.

About the Honorees

Lewis Clark is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications and patient experience leadership. He joined Deborah in 2018 as Vice President of Marketing, Media and Public Relations, and his role has since expanded to include oversight of the Office of Patient Experience—giving him a unique, end-to-end view of the entire patient journey.

A longtime advocate for community and civic engagement, Mr. Clark has served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards throughout his career. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. His appointment as an Honorary Commander at JB MDL further reflects his dedication to public service and strengthening the bond between military and civilian communities.

Aaron Kugelmass, M.D., is board-certified in both cardiovascular disease and internal medicine. Dr. Kugelmass earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of California San Francisco. He trained in cardiology and interventional cardiology at Beth Israel Hospital – Harvard Medical School. His clinical interests include acute coronary syndromes, interventional cardiology and healthcare quality improvement. Dr. Kugelmass has also been a principal investigator in numerous clinical research studies and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. He is proud to serve as an Honorary Commander at JB MDL.

About Deborah Heart and Lung Center
Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey, is a teaching hospital in the prevention, diagnosis, research and treatment of heart, lung and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has treated more than 2.3 million hearts from every corner of the United States and 87 countries. From performing the first adult and pediatric open-heart surgeries in New Jersey, to achieving one of the lowest open heart surgery mortality risks in the state as recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health, Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader overall and in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is 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 North America; and is rated High Performing by U.S. News & World Report in four specialties: COPD, Heart Arrhythmia, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Heart Failure.