First Lady Tammy Murphy Announces Governor’s Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair of the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority Board
Aug 15, 2024
TRENTON – First Lady Tammy Murphy today announced Governor Phil Murphy has appointed Barbara George Johnson, J.D., and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston to serve as the Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, to the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA) Board. The two currently serve as members of the MIHIA Board and will be elevated to their leadership roles effective immediately.
“Beyond her decades-long career and service to the people of our state, Barbara George Johnson has played a crucial role on the ground with the Trenton community for years working to ensure that our Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center is rooted in what the community wants and needs,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Commissioner Baston has spent her career protecting the health of mothers and babies, promoting healthy families, and improving the quality of healthcare for all New Jerseyans. Their collective experiences, both professionally and personally, have prepared them well for these positions and I am eager to continue the work with them.”
“On the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority Board, both Ms. George Johnson and Commissioner Baston are playing instrumental roles in the early stages of building the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in our state’s capital,” said MIHIA President Lisa Asare. “Having witnessed firsthand their dedication to this work... I know NJ will benefit by having them serve in these key posts within the Authority Board."
"I am deeply honored to be appointed Chair," said Barbara George Johnson. "This role offers an invaluable opportunity to improve maternal and infant health outcomes... Together, we will strive to make a significant impact on families throughout our state."
"I am honored to serve as Vice Chair," said New Jersey Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston. "Together, we are working to achieve a collective vision of making New Jersey safest... I look forward to supporting this impactful work ahead."
In 2019, First Lady Tammy Murphy launched Nurture NJ, a statewide initiative addressing New Jersey’s maternal and infant health crisis. In January 2021, she unveiled the Nurture NJ Maternal & Infant Health Strategic Plan which recommended establishing MIHIC.
In July 2023, Governor Murphy signed S3864 creating MIHIA tasked with overseeing MIHIC based in Trenton continuing Nurture NJ's work.
In December 2023 Governor Murphy appointed a 15-member board responsible for employing an appointed President & CEO who hires staff adopting recommendations from NJMCQC reducing maternal mortality & racial disparities.
The MIHIA Board held its inaugural public meeting in March 2023 announcing Lisa Asare as President & CEO officially making her first cabinet-level role supporting maternal/infant health.
Barbara George Johnson serves at Kean University as VP External Affairs Urban Policy Research Exec Director John S Watson Institute Urban Policy Research leading extensive ongoing community engagement project improving outcomes for new expectant mothers children Trenton residents organizational stakeholders.
Johnson has over 30 years experience public policy professional NJ background healthcare public policy spearheading Newark Kids Initiative focusing on services children domestic violence CDC-funded Newark Prevention Marketing Initiative HIV/AIDS task forces public health advisor NYC Dept Health director Family Life Institute Planned Parenthood Metro NJ legislative director ACLU-NJ senior lobbyist MBI-GluckShaw.
Johnson holds BA biology technology Cornell Univ MPH Columbia Univ law degree Rutgers-Newark Law School.
Dr Kaitlan Baston Commissioner NJ Dept Health previously served Division Head Addiction Medicine Medical Director Center Healing Cooper Univ Healthcare founding center integrated pain addiction behavioral care inpatient consult service outpatient specialty clinics perinatal program education research educator consultant Zero Three ensuring strong start life assistant professor medicine Cooper Med School Rowan Univ national committees American Academy Pediatrics Head Start National Expert Working Group Facing Addiction Education Committee National Addiction Curriculum American College Obstetricians Gynecologists Alliance Innovation Maternal Health Opioid Collaborative National Symposium White House Camden County boards committees awards including NJ Healthcare Hero Award listed Top Female Doctors Top Doctors various years dual boarded Family Medicine Addiction Medicine degrees Miami Univ Kings College London Jefferson Med College Thomas Jefferson Univ.
