Heather Hays, MHA, OTR is currently Vice President of Development at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway, an affiliate hospital of RWJBarnabas Health System in New Jersey. Previously, Heather was the Executive Director of New Jersey at Autism Speaks, a position that honed her development skills following a twenty-year career as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist specializing in acute rehab following trauma, and as a Director of Rehabilitation in Geriatric Subacute Rehab. Heather is an experienced development professional with a strong clinical background and a passion to address the root causes of inequity and social determinants of health in our communities.
Hays earned a BS in Occupational Therapy in 1992 from the University of Minnesota, and an MHA in 2020 from the George Washington University. In this world of uncertainty and change, the loss of so many in our world, the touchstone for Heather to stay grounded in gratitude has been her four adult children, all making their own paths through this journey.