RWJBarnabas Health has appointed Aaron F. Hajart as the new president and chief executive officer of Community Medical Center in Toms River, effective January 1. Hajart is currently the chief operating officer at the hospital, which has 592 beds and serves as a teaching facility. He will take over from Patrick Ahearn, who is stepping down after more than 25 years with New Jersey’s largest academic health system.
In his upcoming role, Hajart will be responsible for guiding the hospital’s growth and maintaining its focus on patient-centered care for Ocean County residents and those in nearby areas.
Bill Arnold, executive vice president and president of RWJBarnabas Health’s southern region, as well as CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, commented on the appointment: “Aaron is a respected leader with a deep understanding of hospital operations, care delivery, and our commitment to the patients we serve. His proven ability to work collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and care teams to strengthen performance and keep patients at the center of every decision will help CMC continue to transform healthcare in Ocean County.”
Community Medical Center was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a High-Performing Hospital in its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care list. The hospital also received an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group in its Fall 2025 Hospital Safety Grades.
Hajart joined RWJBarnabas Health in 2022 as senior vice president for service line and practice integration for the southern region before becoming COO in 2023. In that position, he worked on improving communications within the hospital, reducing readmission rates, expanding services such as gastroenterology, oncology, and maternal care, and advancing physician recruitment and retention efforts. A search will begin soon to fill the COO position at Community Medical Center.
Before joining RWJBarnabas Health, Hajart was COO at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus. He holds a Master of Science degree from Amberton University and a Bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University. Since 2021, he has been a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
“I am honored to lead Community Medical Center and to work alongside our dedicated physicians, nurses, and staff,” said Hajart. “Together, we will continue to strengthen access to care, enhance the patient experience, and serve our community with excellence.”
