Why I Give: Barry Rabner, MPA, finds personal, professional resonance in Zufall’s mission

Asked why he values Zufall Health’s high-quality and affordable services, Barry Rabner, MPA, responds with a story about someone who works in his community. Struggling financially, this individual could not afford proper shoes for her job that requires prolonged standing. She endured severe pain that ended in a toe amputation, a month of lost wages, and significant emotional distress.

“Had medical attention been pursued sooner in a facility like Zufall Health, where care is available to everyone, so much suffering and expense would have been avoided,” Rabner said.

A retired health care executive who most recently served as President and CEO of Penn Medicine Princeton Health (PMPH), Rabner understands the value of addressing health problems before escalation. His leadership led to the expansion of affordable primary care services at PMPH by transitioning their clinic to Zufall to offer services within the hospital building.

“We thoroughly evaluated several community health centers and Zufall stood out for its comprehensive services and stellar management and staff,” Rabner said. Rabner’s work with Zufall at PMPH inspired him to join the health center board, on which he now serves as Chair.

Recognizing the importance of philanthropy to provide affordable care, Rabner later joined the foundation board. Through both roles, he is dedicated to addressing the increasing need for health care among vulnerable people.

“While 31.5 million people nationwide receive care at centers like Zufall, up to 100 million could benefit from them. Over the next decade, we must expand our response to meet this immense need, and philanthropic support will be vital to our efforts.”

A New Jersey native with more than 40 years of health care leadership experience, Rabner also serves as Board Chair of the Center for Health Design and holds positions as Adjunct Faculty and Executive in Residence at Rider University’s College of Business. Rabner and his wife, Amy, are proud parents and grandparents.