Saint Peter’s Healthcare System celebrated its community partners, physicians and nurses whose dedication to the hospital, its patients, and the community at large was recognized at its annual gala held on Thursday, May 8, at The Palace at Somerset.
Judith T. Caruso, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, president, Caruso Consulting, was recognized with the 2025 Bishop’s Award. This award is bestowed upon the honoree by The Most Reverend James F. Checchio, Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, sponsor of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System.
Judith Caruso is an accomplished nursing professional whose dynamic career spans clinical practice, education, leadership, and consulting. In 1978, she became one of New Jersey’s first perinatal clinical nurse specialists at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, establishing a role that was only emerging in health care at that time. Over the following four decades, Caruso has led transformative initiatives in staffing, quality improvement, and performance enhancement, helping healthcare organizations navigate complex challenges. She practices the principle of being “a constant learner and mentor” by helping others grow.
As a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System’s Board of Governors, specifically as chair of the Board’s Quality and Safety Committee, Caruso has significantly contributed to the organization’s high standards of care to provide individuals with exceptional experience. She has generously supported a wide range of initiatives at Saint Peter’s, including the renovation of the Emergency Department, the Simulation Center for Interprofessional Learning, and the Mary V. O’Shea Birth Center. Her volunteer efforts with the Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey have helped to improve healthy work environments for nurses and share research findings to inform the profession, especially at Saint Peter’s. As an avid golfer, Caruso is also a friendly face on the greens at many Saint Peter’s golf outings.
As the first in her family to attend college, Caruso’s dedication to nursing education is also evident through the scholarship established in her family’s name at Rutgers School of Nursing, where she completed her studies. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Rutgers School of Nursing, a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Nursing in Maternal-Child Health Nursing from Rutgers University, and Bachelor of Science and Associate of Science degrees from Rutgers School of Nursing.
All proceeds from Saint Peter’s Gala will directly benefit Saint Peter’s University Hospital. For more information, please visit https://www.saintpetershcs.com/donate/saint-peter-s-foundation.
