HFNJ Invests $1 Million in Advanced Cancer Care, and Continues to Cultivate Our Healthcare Workforce of Tomorrow

Several other grants awarded this quarter continue HFNJ’s longstanding commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare workers. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a nationwide shortfall approaching 700,000 physicians, nurses, and other clinicians by 2037.

The Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center grant will fund a dedicated Short Stay Unit at the Melchiorre Cancer Center. This specialized area is built to deliver efficient, high-quality care for patients receiving brief infusion treatments. By streamlining patient flow and reducing wait times, the unit is designed to give patients access to essential cancer therapies in a comfortable setting that prioritizes both clinical excellence and a humanistic approach to treatment. The state-of-the-art Melchiorre Center will serve as the northern hub for integrated oncology services provided by RWJBarnabas Health.

Three grants provided renewal funding for projects continuing HFNJ’s commitment to building career pathways in healthcare. A $130,000 grant to STRIVE International will fund a second year of its Career Path Program in Newark, growing the initiative from 75 to 125 students as they train for roles such as patient care technician, patient navigator, and certified medical assistant. A $127,924 grant to the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey will support a third year of its Community Doula Learning Collaborative in Essex County, recruiting and training seven new doulas while continuing to mentor those trained in earlier years.  A $115,000 grant to Helen Keller International will expand a vision-screening program that trains Newark youth to deliver vision screenings to their peers and communities. Rounding out the workforce development grants, a new $60,000 award to Three Doctors Foundation will fund a mentorship program run in partnership with Montclair State University’s Health Careers Program, helping students build the persistence and readiness needed to gain admission to health professions and graduate programs.

“This quarter reflects both sides of our deep commitment to quality healthcare for all: investing directly in the facilities that help our hospitals deliver excellent care today, and investing in the people who will deliver that care tomorrow,” said Michael Schmidt, Executive Director/CEO of The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey. “The new Short Stay Unit at Cooperman Barnabas will offer best practice care for patients receiving brief infusions, and our continued support for programs like STRIVE and VNACJ’s doula collaborative reflects how seriously we take the healthcare workforce shortage facing our region.”

Other grants awarded in the third quarter of 2026 address a range of medical and behavioral health needs. The Valerie Fund will receive $148,000 to fund the position of Hematology Nurse Navigator who will work with patients and their families at Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Morristown Medical Center. The NJ Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics will receive $90,557 to launch an innovative pilot program partnering with Family Success Centers in Newark to train their staff to provide culturally responsive, evidence-based immunization education to strengthen families’ confidence in vaccinating their children. A $150,000 grant to Jewish Educational Center will fund a third year of Thrive Together, a social-emotional learning initiative for Jewish adolescents, while a $130,000 grant to Rabbinical College of America will support a third year of its Office of Emotional Wellness, providing in-school clinical guidance for students. Both grants are continuations of an initiative launched by the Foundation in 2024 to improve behavioral health supports for adolescents in the Jewish community of Greater MetroWest, NJ.

The full list of the grants awarded in the third quarter of 2026 is as follows: