RWJBarnabas Health executive Carolyn Vicenzino spotlights heart and vascular leadership

Influential Women highlighted Carolyn Vicenzino, vice president of operations for the Heart and Vascular Service Line at RWJBarnabas Health, for her work in program development, physician alignment and performance improvement. The profile also points to her mentorship focus, academic ties and long career in hospital operations.

Why it matters: - Carolyn Vicenzino’s role sits at the center of cardiovascular care delivery at RWJBarnabas Health. - Her work affects how heart and vascular programs are organized, how physicians are aligned, and how patients experience care. - The profile also underscores the value of operational leadership in improving specialty care at scale.

What happened: - Influential Women published a profile on Carolyn Vicenzino, vice president of operations for the Heart and Vascular Service Line at RWJBarnabas Health. - The profile was released from Morris Town, New Jersey, on Oct. 22, 2026. - Vicenzino leads strategic and operational initiatives tied to program development, physician collaboration and patient care. - Her current priorities include physician alignment and recruitment, specialty development, performance improvement and marketing.

The details: - Vicenzino has more than 15 years of experience in hospital administration. - Her background spans program organization, alignment and structure, along with operational efficiency and physician performance. - She began her career at Huron Consulting, where she worked in healthcare operations and strategy. - She then spent about 12 years at NewYork-Presbyterian in five progressive leadership roles. - Her work at NewYork-Presbyterian covered finance, revenue cycle management, executive operations and organizational leadership. - Vicenzino worked closely with the CEO and chief of staff, which gave her a broad view of health system leadership. - She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University. - Vicenzino serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia and sits on an advisory board for the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. - She is also a member of the Vizient National Board for Heart and Vascular and the American College of Healthcare Executives. - The profile notes her support system included mentors and women leaders, including a chief of staff, cardiologist Holly Anderson, her mother and a high school teacher. - Vicenzino said her career advice is to be about 80 percent right and move forward rather than chase perfection. - She values work-life balance and says outside interests help sustain her leadership. - Her outside interests include horseback riding, live music, cooking, trying new recipes and Pilates. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile.

Between the lines: - The profile frames Vicenzino as a leader whose financial and operational background translates into patient-care improvements. - It also positions mentorship, teaching and professional networks as major forces behind her leadership style. - The emphasis on balance suggests the piece is meant to present not just career credentials, but also the habits that support long-term leadership.

What's next: - Vicenzino is expected to continue focusing on physician alignment, recruitment and performance improvement in RWJBarnabas Health’s heart and vascular service line. - Her teaching and advisory roles suggest she will keep shaping the next generation of public health and hospital leaders. - The profile indicates her influence will continue through both direct operations work and broader mentorship.