Eva Turbiner Retiring Following 16-Year Tenure
Zufall Health has announced the retirement of Eva Turbiner, whose 16 years as president and chief executive officer transformed a tiny clinic into a nationally recognized health center that now serves more than 41,000 underserved patients in seven New Jersey counties.
Turbiner, whose career as a health-care executive spans more than three decades, said she will leave the organization at year’s end.
“Eva’s vision and expertise have turned a small, volunteer operation into a vital and thriving organization that makes affordable, quality care accessible to tens of thousands of vulnerable people,” said Michael O’Donnell, chairman of Zufall’s board of directors. “We are grateful for her many years of dedicated leadership and wish her well in her retirement.”
An executive recruiting firm, WittKieffer, has been hired to conduct a national search for Turbiner’s successor.
“It has been the honor of my life to work here,” she said. “I am so proud of the organization we are today and its recognition as a trusted advocate for the uninsured of New Jersey. I am also grateful for the support of our dedicated board of directors, our talented staff, and the many dependable partners who helped improve the health of the patients and communities we serve.”
Under Turbiner’s direction, Zufall has grown to 10 clinical sites across Morris, Sussex, Essex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Warren, and Middlesex counties. This region – covering roughly one-third of the state – encompasses the largest service area of any of New Jersey’s 23 other Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Turbiner now oversees a budget that approaches $50 million and a workforce that exceeds 400 professionals and support staff. Recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Zufall has become the medical home to low-income patients who receive industry-leading, quality care and award-winning, innovative services, many of which have become national models of care.
Advances under her leadership include the opening of the Zufall Wellness Center and initiatives to expand health-care access to all underserved patients including rural and public housing residents, farm workers, and people experiencing homelessness. This commitment led to the launch of mobile medical, dental, and nutrition programs and the impending opening of Zufall’s first school-based health center in Franklin Township. Accomplishments also include establishing an AmeriCorps program, providing clinical pharmacy services, developing on-site training programs for new physician assistants, dentists, and dental assistants, and creating the Zufall Health Foundation.
Her tenure also included formidable challenges from storms, floods, complicated renovations, and the nearly catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic, which threatened the health center’s financial survival. But under Turbiner’s stewardship, the health center reinforced its position as a leading community resource by remaining open each day throughout the crisis. Along with maintaining care for its underserved patients, Zufall expanded services to provide testing and vaccination programs for patients and the community at large.
As she continues positioning the 32-year-old health center for successful, long-term growth, Turbiner remains committed to working with her successor to ensure a seamless transition.