Atiya Jaha-Rashidi, RN, MHA is the Chief Equity Officer and Vice President of Community Relations at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey. Atiya has nearly 30 years of experience leading and coordinating community outreach initiatives at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey where she worked in numerous leadership roles, including Director of Clinical Engagement of the Community, Director of Patient Experience, Interim Vice President of Community Relations and Director of Special Projects. In 2021,

 

Atiya was named Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey’s first Chief Equity Officer. As Chief Equity Officer, Atiya oversees the development and implementation of employee and community initiatives that foster equity. In addition, she continues to develop strong community partnerships with the aim of improving population health and reducing health care disparities.

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Atiya is a passionate advocate for the community. She notably, worked with Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka’s Centers of Hope Initiative, and served as the program administrator for the Hire Newark Employment Ready Boot Camp program, which created job opportunities for economic growth and income stability in the City of Newark. Through the development of community partnerships and a steadfast commitment to decrease healthcare disparities and increase health promotion and access to care.

 

Atiya’s contributions have helped to strengthen community-level approaches to improve health and access to care for the residents of Newark and surrounding communities. She currently leads the hospital’s annual signature community health outreach events which include: “Ray Murphy Men’s Health Night”, “Women’s Health Day” and “The Alma Beatty Health and Wellness Fair”. All three events reach hundreds of residents from the Greater Newark area with essential health information, screenings, and access to care.

 

Atiya currently serves as President-Elect of the National Association of Health Services Executives, 2nd Vice President of the Middlesex Regional Black Nurses Association, and is the Board of Commissioner Chair for the Mary Elizabeth Mahoney Health Center. She is also an active board member of the Newark LGBTQ Community Center, The GEM Project, HBCU Scholarship Ride and NAACP Newark Branch, Health Committee, and has served on various non-for-profit boards, community-based organizations.

 

Atiya is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Administration from Rutgers University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from University of Arizona Global Campus. She is a product of Hillside Township’s school system, where attended George Washington Elementary School and Hillside High School. Now a resident of Newark for 25 years, Atiya is committed to galvanize efforts to aggressively Reinvest, Rebuild, and Revitalize Newark. She a proud mother of 3, and an active member of the illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her spare time she fundraises for Newark scholars attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and as the president and founding member of Sisters United Bike Club, she cycles hundreds of miles across the nation to promote women’s health and wellness.