New Hire/Promotion
On Jun 15, 2026
The Valley Health System names Deirdre Byrne as chief strategy officer and vice president of marketing, effective July 6.
Byrne will have responsibility for all aspects of Valley Health System’s strategic planning and development, government relations, marketing and communications, and community health and community benefit initiatives. Byrne will also serve as the system’s strategic planning advisor to the Valley Health System Board of Trustees, providing guidance on strategy and operations related to Valley’s goals and future growth.
“I am proud to step into this new role with Valley Health System. In this new chapter, I look forward to contributing to Valley’s future – one of continued growth, innovation, and a shared commitment to caring for our community,” said Byrne.
“We are delighted to welcome Deirdre to Valley,” said Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Valley Health System. “Under her leadership, we look forward to the expansion of our medical programs and services; continued communication with our patients, community, and employees; and ongoing health education initiatives for the community.”
Byrne is a healthcare strategy executive with more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise growth, network development, ambulatory expansion, and service line strategy for major academic and integrated health systems.
Prior to joining Valley, she served as vice president of network strategy at Hackensack Meridian Health, where she led regional and system-wide strategic initiatives across a $9 billion enterprise spanning hospitals, ambulatory care, physician services, and population health.
Previously, Byrne also held senior strategy leadership roles at Montefiore Health System, where she directed large-scale transformation planning, ambulatory growth strategy, partnership development, and regulatory initiatives. Earlier in her career, she served in health policy and advocacy leadership roles with Children’s Health Fund and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Byrne holds a Master of Public Administration in health policy and management from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in New York and a Bachelor of Arts in international political economics from Fordham University in New York. She is a Fellow of Lead New Jersey and is active in community volunteer leadership.
The announcement of Byrne’s arrival was made jointly with the retirement of Megan Fraser, vice president of communications and marketing for Valley Health System.
Fraser joined Valley in 1995 as an associate in Valley’s marketing & public relations department. She was subsequently promoted to manager and then director of communications and marketing, serving in those roles until 2009, when she was appointed vice president of communications and marketing. Since 2009, Fraser has also led Valley’s community health and community benefit department, focused on improving the health of our community through education, programs, and services.
Over the course of her almost 31-year tenure, Fraser has played a central role in shaping communication strategies, initiatives, and materials, supporting virtually all of Valley’s key projects, programs, and services. Her contributions include efforts related to securing Valley’s first Magnet designation, the highest credential a healthcare organization can receive for nursing excellence and patient care; the launch of the Leadership Institute; the establishment of key academic affiliations; the launch of various programs and services; and the comprehensive communications, advertising, and public relations strategies surrounding the opening of The Valley Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey.
Fraser’s leadership of the system’s marketing and advertising campaigns has consistently ranked awareness and preference scores for Valley’s programs and services among the highest in Bergen County. Fraser also oversaw Valley’s Community Health Needs Assessments and the development of vital community health education programs to meet the region’s identified needs.
“On behalf of Valley, we wish Megan all the best in her retirement,” said Dr. Brenner. “Thank you, Megan, for your outstanding leadership and longstanding dedication to all those we care for – our patients, their families, our trustees, physicians, staff, and the broader health system community.”
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