RWJBarnabas Health has appointed Jonathan P. Kyriacou as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Jersey City Medical Center, with his tenure set to begin on January 26, 2026. In this role, Kyriacou will be responsible for guiding the hospital’s strategic direction, overseeing day-to-day operations, and managing its financial performance. His leadership will focus on maintaining high standards in patient care and supporting key initiatives that align with RWJBarnabas Health’s mission and growth objectives in Hudson County.
Kyriacou comes to Jersey City Medical Center from The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where he served as Chief Operating Officer at the 1,134-bed academic medical center. During his time there, he managed a $4 billion operating budget and led a workforce of more than 15,000 employees. Among his notable accomplishments was overseeing a $750 million master capital plan that included designing the new Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Hospital and implementing a five-year strategic plan aimed at expanding clinical services and improving operational metrics.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyriacou directed efforts to quickly increase temporary capacity to 1,600 beds and set up large-scale testing and vaccination centers. He also played a role in creating the Institute for Critical Care Medicine across the Mount Sinai Health System to improve outcomes and expand critical care coverage.
“Jonathan’s track record in operational excellence, strategic planning, and high-quality patient care aligns perfectly with the mission, vision, values, and goals of RWJBarnabas Health and Jersey City Medical Center,” said Thomas A. Biga, Executive Vice President and President Northwest Region at RWJBarnabas Health. “His leadership will be instrumental in our efforts to grow and enhance our services in Hudson County.”
Kyriacou holds a graduate degree in Health Policy and Management from New York Medical College as well as an undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University. He has completed certificate programs at Harvard School of Public Health and University of Michigan. As a faculty member at City University of New York, he taught health care management courses and authored publications on clinical financial incentive models and health care reform strategies.
He has received recognition from Becker’s Hospital Review as an “Academic Medical Center COO to Know” and “Healthcare Leader Under 40,” along with being named one of Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40” leaders.
RWJBarnabas Health is recognized as New Jersey’s largest academic health system. It includes 14 hospitals staffed by about 9,000 affiliated physicians providing care across more than 700 locations throughout the state. The system delivers patient-centered care while addressing broader social determinants of health such as food insecurity, housing instability, and economic opportunity for vulnerable populations. It also maintains a significant partnership with Rutgers University through initiatives like the Rutgers Cancer Institute—New Jersey’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—and supports medical education via Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Jersey City Medical Center is described as a comprehensive acute-care teaching hospital with 352 beds serving Hudson County residents through specialty services including women’s health, orthopedics, heart care—including cardiac surgery—and behavioral health support. It operates one of New Jersey’s busiest EMS systems while offering advanced oncology services in collaboration with Rutgers Cancer Institute.
