Virtua Celebrated its Philanthropic Partners and Honored Geoff Martha and George Lynn at its Annual Black-Tie Event Benefiting Eat Well Food Access Programs
At its annual gala to celebrate its philanthropic partners, Virtua Health presented Geoff Martha, chairman and CEO of Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), with its highest honor: the Humanitarian Award. Martha has led the mission-driven healthcare technology company since 2020 – and has a longstanding personal commitment to several worthwhile causes in his home state of Minnesota and beyond.
“Medtronic is a company that values bold thinking and bolder actions, and the same can be said for its leader, Geoff Martha. His passion for helping others – as individuals and on a global scale – is palpable,” said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health. “To put it simply, Geoff wants to make the world a better place, and he is dedicated to making it happen.”
Medtronic and Virtua Health, South Jersey’s largest health system, launched a five-year partnership to reimagine traditional health care models in December 2021. Medtronic LABS, an independent non-profit supported by Medtronic plc, simultaneously launched a separate pilot collaboration with Virtua Health to address the deeply entrenched health inequity that persists in many communities, including Camden. Medtronic LABS teamed up with Virtua’s health equity team, including community health workers, to establish a new program called Healthy Neighbor. Through Healthy Neighbor, Camden residents will receive tech-enabled clinical and social support to manage chronic conditions like hypertension and type 2 diabetes directly in their communities. The team aims to build a replicable model that moves the needle on health outcomes.
Virtua Health also honored George Lynn with the Distinguished Service Award. Lynn, a longtime health care advocate and Haddonfield resident, serves on the Virtua Health Board of Trustees and previously served as vice chair of the Lourdes Health System board. He was president and CEO of AtlantiCare for two decades and served as trustee and chairman of the New Jersey Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association.
“George dedicated his career to advancing care for the people of New Jersey—and continues to hold tremendous influence as a vital part of the Virtua Health board,” said Pullin. “We are honored to present him with the Distinguished Service Award.”
Proceeds from the gala, held at the Borgata Casino, Hotel & Spa, support Virtua’s Eat Well food access program. The Eat Well initiative includes the Mobile Grocery Store, a Mobile Farmers Market, and two Food Farmacies for patients with chronic disease who may also have trouble accessing the foods they need to be healthy. During the event, Virtua celebrated its wide network of philanthropic partners, who have collectively invested more than $25 million over the last three years in support of Virtua initiatives that address the health care needs of South Jersey residents.
For more information about Virtua Health’s Eat Well programs, visit Virtua.org/EatWell.