Valley Health System Chief Academic Officer Named to 2026 NJBIZ Education Power List

Valley Health System is pleased to announce that Reham Shaaban, DO, Chief Academic Officer for Valley Health System, has been named to the 2026 NJBIZ Education Power List, recognizing influential leaders shaping education and advancing the public interest throughout New Jersey.

As Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Shaaban leads Valley's academic mission and provides strategic oversight of the Office of Academic Affairs, including the continued growth of graduate medical education, faculty development, and research across the health system. Under her leadership, Valley has continued to expand its academic infrastructure and portfolio of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited programs sponsored by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Valley's growing graduate medical education enterprise includes residency programs in internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery, as well as fellowship programs in cardiovascular disease, hematology/oncology, and hospice and palliative medicine.

In addition to serving as Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Shaaban is the Designated Institutional Official for Valley's graduate medical education programs and Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. In these roles, she oversees the educational environment and institutional infrastructure supporting residents and fellows while advancing a culture focused on academic excellence, clinical quality, patient safety, and professional development.

Dr. Shaaban also serves on academic governance committees at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, contributing to collaborative educational, strategic, and research initiatives between Valley Health System and its sponsoring institution.

"This recognition reflects the tremendous work being done across Valley to build an academic environment where education, clinical excellence, and discovery strengthen one another," said Dr. Shaaban. "Our goal is not simply to grow academic programs, but to create an enduring academic culture that develops exceptional physicians, supports our faculty as educators and scholars, advances meaningful research, and ultimately improves the care we provide to our patients and communities."

According to NJBIZ, its Power Lists are developed by the publication's editorial staff based on reporting throughout the year, input from experts in a variety of fields, and recommendations from readers. The lists recognize individuals whose professional accomplishments and public service are contributing to making New Jersey a better place to live, work, and do business.

Dr. Shaaban earned her medical degree from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri and completed her internal medicine residency at Baystate Medical Center in Massachusetts, now part of UMass Chan Medical School Baystate. She later held progressive leadership roles at Baystate, including Associate Program Director and Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, before joining Valley Health System.

To view the full 2026 NJBIZ Education Power List, please click here.