Judith Persichilli
Judith Persichilli is an American nurse and health care executive who served as the 22nd Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health from July 2019 to August 2023 under Governor Phil Murphy. Before that, she was interim president and CEO of University Hospital in Newark.
Born on March 4, 1949, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Persichilli grew up in Dunellen in a Catholic family. She earned a nursing diploma from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1968, a BS in Nursing from Rutgers University in 1976 (summa cum laude), and an MA in Administration from Rider College in 1980 (summa cum laude).
Her career includes leading Catholic Health East as CEO and President, serving as Interim CEO of CHE Trinity Health, and eight years as President of St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton. She was a founding member of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, Trustee of Rider University, and Director Emeritus of Hopewell Valley Community Bank.
Governor Murphy appointed her to direct University Hospital in Newark in December 2018, and in June 2019 announced she would join the state cabinet as Commissioner of the Department of Health in July 2019. As health commissioner, she oversaw New Jersey’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reported daily on tests and deaths. She also pursued programs to expand gun violence treatment.
Persichilli announced her resignation in July 2023. She was married to Anthony Persichilli, who served as mayor of Pennington for 12 years; he died in 2019 after 49 years of marriage.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:00 (CET).