2026 Healthcare Champions Honored at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System’s Annual Gala

2026 Bishop's Award
Diana DeMarco Battaglia, Anthony DeMarco and Denise DeMarco Crutchley

Physician Appreciation Award
Aijaz Hussain, MD
Chief, Division of Geriatrics, Saint Peter's Healthcare System

Gladibel Medina, MD, CAP
Medical Director, Dorothy B. Hersh Child Protection Center, Saint Peter's Children's Hospital

The Bishop's Award recognizes siblings Diana DeMarco Battaglia, Anthony DeMarco, and Denise DeMarco Crutchley for their philanthropic leadership and continued commitment to Saint Peter's, building upon the remarkable legacy of their late parents, Elizabeth and Joseph DeMarco. That legacy is exemplified through their support of the major transformation of Saint Peter's Adult Intensive Care Unit. Named the Elizabeth and Joseph DeMarco Adult Intensive Care Unit in honor of their parents, the project reflects the family's longstanding dedication to the hospital. The DeMarcos are helping advance the renovation and modernization of the ICU into a state-of-the-art facility spanning approximately 25,000 square feet, featuring expanded space, advanced technology, and enhanced care environments designed to improve critical care delivery.

Aijaz Hussain, MD, is chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Saint Peter's University Hospital and has been a member of Saint Peter's internal medicine faculty for the past 20 years. He is board certified in geriatrics and internal medicine and serves as the medical director of Saint Peter's Physicians Associates (SPPA) in Monroe, New Jersey.

Dr. Hussain has shared that the death of his father at age 73 as the result of cholangiocarcinoma, "changed the trajectory of his life completely" and redefined his attitude towards end-of-life care. The life-altering experience taught him a different perspective towards rendering compassionate care to an especially vulnerable and frail population. He credits his parents, family members, and mentors for influencing his path through their sacrifice, support, and strong moral values.

Another major influence was an experience at age eight, when he watched his grandmother undergo treatment for breast cancer that required multiple, prolonged hospitalizations. While spending time at her bedside, he observed physicians and nurses who delivered compassionate care, which left an impression that stayed with him.

Dr. Hussain completed his bachelor's degree in India and his residency in internal medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in geriatrics, also at UMDNJ.

Gladibel Medina, MD, CAP, FAAP, is the medical director of the Dorothy B. Hersh Child Protection Center at Saint Peter's Family Health Center in New Brunswick. She received her bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), where she also completed her pediatric residency, and is board-certified in pediatrics. Dr. Medina is a recognized child abuse specialist who frequently presents publicly on this topic. She has presented to organizations including the New Jersey Sex Crimes Officers Association and at the Annual Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Symposium. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Ray Helfer Society, an honor society dedicated to providing medical leadership focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research related to child abuse and neglect. The society has become the primary sub-specialty society for physicians devoted to the issue of maltreated children worldwide.

Dr. Medina and her two siblings are first-generation healthcare workers, and her three daughters are all pursuing careers in health care. Their interests include emergent medical care, pre-med studies, and a planned career in neonatology. She says the greatest influence in her life is her mother, who introduced her to her faith, teaching her how to live according to scriptural truths, including honoring the Lord and serving others with love and compassion. Dr. Medina credits her father with consistently modeling perseverance regardless of life's challenges.

As for when she knew she wanted to become a pediatrician, Dr. Medina said she was 10 years old. She attributes this to her admiration for her own pediatrician, a "tall, bald man in a white coat and tie, with a stethoscope around his neck, and a friendly, always-smiling demeanor."

"This year's physician honorees are exemplary models of our Catholic mission, dedicated to serving the underserved in our community," said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO of Saint Peter's Healthcare System. "From the elderly, a population with unique needs that often go unrecognized, to children who have faced unimaginable traumas, Drs. Hussain and Medina are known for delivering extraordinary medical care in combination with a huge dose of heartfelt compassion and sensitivity.
"I am especially pleased that this year's Bishop's Award honors the legacy of Elizabeth and Joseph DeMarco, both of whom were longstanding supporters of Saint Peter's. They would be bursting with pride to see their children carry forward the values they exemplified in their lifetime, which have had a lasting impact on Saint Peter's and the patients we serve," Hirsch said.

All proceeds from Saint Peter's Gala will directly benefit Saint Peter's University Hospital. For more information, please visit saintpetershcs.com/foundation .

About Saint Peter's Healthcare System
Saint Peter's Healthcare System Inc., parent company of the Saint Peter's healthcare delivery system, is comprised of Saint Peter's University Hospital, a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital and state-designated children's hospital and regional perinatal center that includes a nationally renowned Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Saint Peter's Foundation, the fundraising arm of the hospital; Saint Peter's Health and Management Services Corporation; the CARES Surgicenter; and Saint Peter's Physician Associates, a network of primary and specialty care physician practices. Saint Peter's is a regional specialist in cancer care, diabetes, genetics, geriatrics, head and neck surgery, and pediatric surgery, and is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and internal medicine. Saint Peter's is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical Health and Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732-745-8600.