Sarah Lechner

Lechner (she/her) is senior vice president and chief of external affairs at Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey. Lechner joined HMH in late 2000 as senior vice president and chief of government affairs and advocacy. She was hired to drive the strategic vision of HMH's policy and advocacy platform and oversee the network's government affairs activities at the federal, state, and local levels. In 2023, her role expanded to include external affairs, which includes oversight of the network's unified environmental, social, and governance and federally qualified health center strategies. She serves as board chair for the United Way of Northern New Jersey and is also on the board of the New Jersey Policy Perspective. Lechner received her bachelor's degree from The George Washington University and her law degree from Rutgers University Newark School of Law.