LifeBridge Health has announced the appointment of Jennifer Nickoles as its next president and chief executive officer, marking a historic leadership transition for one of Maryland’s largest health systems. Nickoles will succeed longtime CEO Neil Meltzer, who is retiring after 13 years at the helm. She will officially assume the role on March 1, with an interim transition period alongside Meltzer through June 2026 to ensure continuity and stability.
Nickoles joins LifeBridge Health from Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where she currently serves as president. Her appointment represents a milestone for the organization, as she becomes the third CEO in LifeBridge Health’s 27-year history and its first female chief executive.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Nickoles as LifeBridge Health’s new president and CEO,” said Lee Coplan, chair of the LifeBridge Health Board of Directors. Coplan cited her extensive experience in health system operations, strategic planning, system integration, and patient-centered leadership as key factors in the board’s decision.
For Nickoles, the role represents both an honor and an opportunity at a pivotal moment for healthcare. “This is a moment of profound transformation in healthcare, and LifeBridge Health is uniquely positioned to lead—not just through clinical excellence, but through a deep and lasting commitment to access, innovation and community,” she said. “I’m inspired by the strength of this organization and energized by the opportunity to shape its next chapter.”
LifeBridge Health was formed in 1998 through the merger of Sinai Health System and Northwest Hospital and has since grown into a broad, community-focused healthcare network. Today, the system includes five hospitals, hundreds of physician offices, more than 14,000 team members, and a wide range of services spanning urgent care, hospice, senior living, and wellness programming.
Outgoing CEO Neil Meltzer praised Nickoles’ alignment with the system’s mission and values, particularly its emphasis on community health and workforce development. He noted her focus on addressing health challenges beyond clinical care and her embrace of digital innovation as strengths that position LifeBridge Health well for the future.
Nickoles brings nearly three decades of experience at Johns Hopkins Medicine, where she has held senior leadership roles across operations, strategy, governance, system integration, and business development. Notably, she served as chief operating officer of the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, later transitioning to a governance role on its oversight committee.
Her leadership extends beyond hospital walls. Nickoles currently serves on several community and civic boards, including Helping Up Mission, the Southeast Community Development Corporation, and the Maryland Science Center—reflecting a longstanding commitment to community engagement across Baltimore and the region.
As chair of the CEO search committee, LifeBridge Health vice chair Jeffrey Wothers said the organization sought a leader who understood both the health system’s mission and the unique dynamics of Maryland’s healthcare landscape. “We were impressed by Jennifer’s diverse background, skills and experience, as well as her understanding of the challenges facing all health systems,” he said.
Nickoles holds a Bachelor of Science in business and management from The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science in real estate from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. She also completed the Leading Transformation for Value-based Health Care executive program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is a Carol Emmott Fellow.
With Nickoles stepping into leadership, LifeBridge Health signals both continuity and change—building on a strong legacy while positioning the system to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape with a renewed focus on access, innovation, and community-centered care.