Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill has asked Lisa Asare to remain as president and CEO of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, clearing the path for outgoing First Lady Tammy Murphy’s signature initiative to continue without interruption.
“I have asked Lisa Asare to continue her strong leadership at … as New Jersey continues to confront the Black Maternal Health crisis. She is known for her ability to bring state government together with practitioners, community partners, and local advocates to develop solutions that improve affordable access to care and health outcomes for women,” said Sherrill. “Together, we’ll invest in programs that build the midwife and doula workforce, and leverage telehealth and remote monitoring services, both during and after pregnancy, to support postpartum moms and healthy infants.”
Prior to her appointment in March 2024, Asare served as deputy commissioner of family health services at the Department of Human Services.
Asare worked with Murphy and others to write a strategic plan to reduce the number of maternal and infant deaths and narrow the disparity in communities of color.
Sherrill pledged to continue this work during her campaign for governor.
“I am honored to continue to lead the NJ Maternal & Infant Health Innovation Authority. At MIHIA, we are focused not only on delivering physical care, but addressing the social determinants of health, expanding the perinatal workforce, supporting research and data collection, and acting as an incubator for innovation in maternal and infant health,” Asare stated. “I’m looking forward to continuing to advance this work as part of the Sherrill-Caldwell administration because I know the Governor-elect is committed to these same goals and has already demonstrated that community members have a seat at the table as we work to address healthcare disparities for communities of color across the state.”
