AtlantiCare's Michael Charlton Named to the Nation's 'Great Leaders in Healthcare' List

Becker’s Healthcare, a nationally recognized and widely read healthcare industry publication, has named AtlantiCare President and CEO, Michael Charlton, to its 2026 “Great Leaders in Healthcare” list.  

The Becker’s list recognizes a select group of CEOs whose leadership is shaping the future of healthcare delivery in the United States.  Charlton’s recognition comes at a time when health systems nationwide continue to face workforce shortages, financial pressure, aging infrastructure and rapid technological change. 

“Michael Charlton’s recognition by Becker’s Healthcare reflects the leadership we see every day which is a clear strategy and consistent execution,” David Goddard, Chairman of the AtlantiCare Board of Trustees. “As a Board, we place great responsibility on choosing a CEO who can guide the organization through complexity and position it for long term success. This recognition reinforces that AtlantiCare is being led with purpose and accountability as Vision 2030 advances.”

Since stepping into the role in 2023, Charlton has focused on redefining what sustainability looks like for an integrated healthcare system rooted in community and designed for national relevance. That focus is embodied in Vision 2030, AtlantiCare’s long-term plan to strengthen clinical performance, support and retain its workforce, modernize infrastructure and digital capabilities, and improve health outcomes across the nearly one million residents in the communities it serves.

Under Charlton’s leadership, AtlantiCare has continued to reinvest across the organization, modernizing hospital campuses, expanding rehabilitative and outpatient care and strengthening its physical footprint to support evolving models of care. These capital investments have been paired with sustained focus on nursing retention, workforce development and leadership continuity, priorities critical to stability in today’s healthcare environment.

“This national recognition affirms that AtlantiCare is making the right long term choices at a critical time for healthcare,” said Pacifico Agnellini, Vice Chair of the AtlantiCare Board of Trustees.  “Under Michael’s leadership, the organization has remained focused on execution by investing in people, infrastructure and partnerships that strengthen performance today while preparing for what comes next. It is meaningful validation that Vision 2030 is gaining traction beyond our region.”

Serving southern New Jersey, AtlantiCare also plays a vital role as a major employer and anchor institution, with leadership decisions that have lasting implications for workforce development, access to care and regional economic stability.

Becker’s recognition places AtlantiCare within a broader national conversation about how community rooted health systems can remain resilient and high performing in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.