LifeBridge Health Names Jennifer Nickoles as Next President & Chief Executive Officer
Nickoles Joins Health System to Succeed Retiring CEO Neil Meltzer
Baltimore – LifeBridge Health today announced that Jennifer Nickoles will become the health system’s next president and chief executive officer, succeeding Neil Meltzer who will retire after serving 13 years in the position. Nickoles joins LifeBridge Health from Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center where she serves as president following a nearly 30-year career at Johns Hopkins Medicine in a variety of operations and leadership roles.
Nickoles will become president and CEO on March 1. She and Meltzer will work together through an interim period to ensure a smooth and stable transition, with Meltzer retiring in June 2026.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Nickoles as LifeBridge Health’s new president and CEO. Her vast and varied experience in health system operations—including strategic planning, system integration and practice management as well as her vision as a catalyst for progress and patient-centered, community-focused care—made her the outstanding choice to lead LifeBridge Health into the future,” says Lee Coplan, chair of the LifeBridge Health Board of Directors.
“It is an extraordinary honor to join LifeBridge Health as its next CEO. This is a moment of profound transformation in healthcare, and LifeBridge Health is uniquely positioned to lead, not just through clinical excellence, but through a deep and lasting commitment to access, innovation and community. I’m inspired by the strength of this organization and energized by the opportunity to shape its next chapter alongside such talented and mission-driven teams,” says Nickoles.
Nickoles becomes the third CEO in the health system’s 27-year history and its first female CEO. LifeBridge Health was formed in 1998 with the merger of the Sinai Health System and Northwest Hospital. Since then, it has grown into an integrated community-focused healthcare system with five hospitals, hundreds of physician offices, more than 14,000 team members and a wide range of programs and services, from urgent care and hospice to senior living and a fitness center.
“At LifeBridge Health, we know that good health extends beyond just medical care, and we are very proud of our history in addressing complex health challenges through innovative, community-focused initiatives. In meeting with Jennifer, I was impressed with the breadth of her healthcare experience and encouraged by her focus on community health, her embrace of digital solutions and her commitment to supporting and growing our workforce, as our team members are truly the heart of our organization,” says CEO Neil Meltzer.
Before becoming Johns Hopkin’s Bayview president, Nickoles served as vice president of operations, system integrations and affiliations in the office of the president for the Johns Hopkins Health System. During that time, she served as the chief operating officer of the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital (BCCFH) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately transitioned to a governing role as a member of the BCCFH oversight committee.
Her career with Johns Hopkins Medicine has also included variety of leadership roles in clinical operations, strategy, governance, practice management, system integration and business development.
She serves on several community boards and associations such as the Helping Up Mission, the Southeast Community Development Corporation and the Maryland Science Center.
“As we searched for a new CEO, we needed someone who understood LifeBridge Health’s distinct strengths and opportunities. We were impressed by Jennifer’s diverse background, skills and experience, as well as her understanding of Maryland’s unique healthcare landscape and challenges facing all health systems. We are excited to have her on board as we write the next chapter for our health system,” concludes Jeffrey Wothers, vice chair of the LifeBridge Health board of directors and chair of the CEO search committee.
Nickoles earned her Bachelor of Science in business and management from The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science in real estate from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Nickoles also completed the Leading Transformation for Value-based Health Care executive program through the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is a Carol Emmott Fellow.
About LifeBridge Health
LifeBridge Health is one of the largest, most comprehensive providers of health services in Maryland. Anchored by five care centers, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital and Grace Medical Center, LifeBridge Health has broadened its network to meet a full spectrum of healthcare needs, ensuring comprehensive care for individuals at every stage of life. These partner services include ExpressCare Urgent Care Centers, Nation’s Home Care, Pulse Ambulance, LifeBridge Health & Fitness, Springwell Senior Living and BridgingLife, a hospice and palliative care organization. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org
Contact
Sharon Boston, svboston@lifebridgehealth.org, 410-601-4350