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The Valley Hospital from 2020 to now. July 15, 2026 This year, The Valley Hospital will celebrate 75 years since its opening day, on August 8, 1951. To memorialize Valley's history over the past seven decades, we are reflecting on the organization's major milestones. In this blog, we'll highlight Valley's continued growth and milestones from 2020 to now. Be sure to check back each month as we continue to share the history of The Valley Hospital! To learn more about Valley's growth in prior decades, browse our blog posts here. Valley from 2020 to now. In 2020, Valley's heroic staff responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, offering support and care to thousands of patients as wave after wave of the virus impacted our community. After the COVID-19 vaccine arrived, Valley's newly established vaccine centers vaccinated more than 200,000 adults and children. Valley also celebrated its topping out ceremony for The Valley Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey, in which the final structural steel beam was placed. In 2021, Valley announced that the iconic mural, titled "The World," created by Polish artist Stefan Knapp, which was proudly once displayed on the side of Alexander's department store in Paramus, would be returning to its hometown. Panels from the mural would be displayed in different locations across the new hospital campus. Valley Medical Group, in partnership with the Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, opened its first general and specialty pediatrics practice in Montvale, New Jersey, in 2022. In 2026, a second location opened in Wayne, New Jersey. The Valley Hospital also welcomed a record-breaking 4,000 babies in a single year in 2022. In 2023, Valley Health System, in partnership with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, announced the establishment of Graduate Medical Education with two residency programs in internal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. The first class of residents started in 2024. Since then, surgery was added as an additional residency in 2024, and in 2027, Valley will launch three new fellowship programs in cardiovascular disease; hematology and medical oncology; and hospice and palliative care medicine. Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE, was announced as President of Valley Health System in 2024 and later Chief Executive Officer, replacing long-serving President and CEO Audrey Meyers, who retired. On April 14, 2024, The Valley Hospital moved from Ridgewood to Paramus in a single day. Staff volunteered and celebrated as patients were moved and ribbon cuttings took place throughout the hospital to commemorate the opening of the new location. Since then, Valley has continued to open new locations, offer more services, and serve the community with high-quality, compassionate care. We look forward to doing so in the decades to come. From the past few years. Presidents: Donald Trump (2017 - 2021), Joe Biden (2021 - 2025), and Donald Trump (2025 - Now) Cost of Milk: A gallon averages $4 Cost of Gas: Averages about $3.50 Historical Events: Since 2020, Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash along with his daughter and others (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, causing global shutdowns (2020), the killing of George Floyd sparked the Black Lives Matter Movement (2020), the January 6 U.S. Capital insurrection occurred (2021), ChatGPT was launched (2022), Roe v. Wade was overturned (2022), Russia invaded Ukraine (2022), Queen Elizabeth died (2022), the Titan Submersible disaster occurred (2023), the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a ship (2024), there was an attempted assassination of President Trump (2024), Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (2025), the Louvre was robbed (2025), the Epstein files were released (2026), and the Artemis II was launched, the first flight of astronauts to the moon since 1972 (2026).

Valley Health System earns LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation in Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2026 Healthcare Equality Index. * by post * Thursday, June 18 2026 @ 09:30 pm * Posted in News and Views PARAMUS, NJ, June 17, 2026 - Valley Health System is pleased to announce its designation as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation's biennial 2026 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). This designation is awarded to medical facilities who score a perfect 100 on the HEI - only 44% of the 750 healthcare facilities who participated in the HEI survey - according to the HRC Foundation. Healthcare organizations are scored on non-discrimination and staff training, patient services and support, patient identification and data collection, patient and community engagement, responsible citizenship, and additional categories. The HRC Foundation cites the HEI as the industry standard benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity practices in the healthcare field, helping healthcare facilities maintain and strengthen LGBTQ+-inclusive care. The report offers aggregate findings, benchmarks, and guidance. The standard of the HEI remains: Every patient deserves safe, respectful, inclusive, and dignified care. "This designation reflects our ongoing efforts to provide safe, supportive, and high-quality care to every person we serve, while maintaining an environment where everyone can thrive," said Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer for Valley Health System. "We are honored to receive this distinction as a healthcare equality leader, as it reinforces our commitment to providing comprehensive and affirming healthcare services that promote the health and well-being of all members of the LGBTQ+ community," said Raffaele M. Bernardo, DO, Medical Director of LGBTQ+ Services for Valley Medical Group. The HRC describes itself as the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 3.6 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen, and supported where it matters most: at school, at work, and in every community across the country. To read the full 2026 Healthcare Equality Index report, please click here. Caption: 2026 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader logo, courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. * Currently 0.00/5 Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

June 15, 2026 Byrne to succeed Megan Fraser upon her retirement from Valley Valley Health System is pleased to welcome Deirdre Byrne as Chief strategy Officer and Vice President of Marketing for Valley Health System, effective monday, july 6. In her new role, Byrne will have responsibility for all aspects of Valley Health System's strategic planning and development, government relations, marketing and communications, and community health and community benefit initiatives. Deirdre will also serve as the System's strategic planning advisor to the Valley Health System Board of Trustees, providing guidance on strategy and operations related to Valley's goals and future growth. "I am proud to step into this new role with Valley Health System. In this new chapter, I look forward to contributing to Valley's future - one of continued growth, innovation, and a shared commitment to caring for our community," said Byrne. "We are delighted to welcome Deirdre to Valley," said Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley Health System. "Under her leadership, we look forward to the expansion of our medical programs and services; continued communication with our patients, community, and employees; and ongoing health education initiatives for the community." About Deirdre Byrne. Byrne is a healthcare strategy executive with more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise growth, network development, ambulatory expansion, and service line strategy for major academic and integrated health systems. Prior to joining Valley, Byrne served as Vice President of Network Strategy at Hackensack Meridian Health, where she led regional and system-wide strategic initiatives across a $9 billion enterprise spanning hospitals, ambulatory care, physician services, and population health. Previously, Byrne also held senior strategy leadership roles at Montefiore Health System, where she directed large-scale transformation planning, ambulatory growth strategy, partnership development, and regulatory initiatives. Earlier in her career, she served in health policy and advocacy leadership roles with Children's Health Fund and the National Conference of State Legislatures. Byrne holds a Master of Public Administration in health policy and management from New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in New York and a Bachelor of Arts in international political economics from Fordham University in New York. She is a Fellow of Lead New Jersey and is active in community volunteer leadership. Retirement of Megan Fraser. The announcement of Byrne's arrival was made jointly with the retirement of Megan Fraser, Vice President of Communications and Marketing for Valley Health System. Fraser joined Valley in 1995 as an Associate in Valley's Marketing & Public Relations Department. She was subsequently promoted to Manager and then Director of Communications and Marketing, serving in those roles until 2009, when she was appointed Vice President of Communications and Marketing. Since 2009, Megan has also led Valley's Community Health and Community Benefit Department, focused on improving the health of its community through education, programs, and services. Over the course of her almost 31-year tenure, Fraser has played a central role in shaping communication strategies, initiatives, and materials, supporting virtually all of Valley's key projects, programs, and services. Her contributions include efforts related to securing Valley's first Magnet designation, the highest credential a healthcare organization can receive for nursing excellence and patient care; the launch of the Leadership Institute; the establishment of key academic affiliations; the launch of various programs and services; and the comprehensive communications, advertising, and public relations strategies surrounding the opening of The Valley Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey. Fraser's leadership of the System's marketing and advertising campaigns has consistently ranked awareness and preference scores for Valley's programs and services among the highest in Bergen County. Fraser also oversaw Valley's Community Health Needs Assessments and the development of vital community health education programs to meet the region's identified needs. Additional accomplishments include serving as an original firestarter on the team that launched Valley's service excellence journey; participating in the establishment of the Ridgewood Academy for Health Professions, a three-year mentorship and research-based program for Ridgewood High School students who have interest in pursuing a healthcare career; supporting the launch of Dispatch Health, an on-demand urgent care service that visits your home; contributing to Valley's achievement of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation through performance on the Healthcare Equality Index survey; and leading both internal and external communications efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. "On behalf of Valley, we wish Megan all the best in her retirement," said Dr. Brenner. "Thank you, Megan, for your outstanding leadership and longstanding dedication to all those we care for - our patients, their families, our trustees, physicians, staff, and the broader health system community."