Frances L. Palm, MPA
President Chief Executive Officer
Since 2023, Frances Palm has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Zufall Health. She works closely with the Board of Directors to set the strategic vision, ensure sound financial operations, oversee program development, and lead a staff of more than 400 in a supportive, inclusive, and engaging culture.
From 2014 to 2023, Palm served as Zufall’s Chief Operating Officer, where she was responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of all services offered at its 12 service locations and on its two mobile units. Her oversight ensured that the necessary processes and systems were solidly in place and effectively deployed to deliver on the organization’s commitments to improve the health of our patients and communities.
Previously, after serving six years as Executive Director of Women’s Health & Counseling Center (WHCC) in Somerville, N.J., she negotiated its successful merger with Zufall Health to increase services to Somerset County’s underserved residents. At WHCC, she managed oversight of the multi-program agency, including the health center, teen prevention programs, and sexual assault support services.
Earlier in her career, she served as Executive Director of 2-1-1 First Call For Help, Inc. in Parsippany for 11 years. There, she successfully expanded the organization’s service coverage from one to six New Jersey counties and provided leadership to build a coordinated statewide network of help line organizations. She also served in different capacities at Fairleigh Dickinson University and United Way of Morris County.
Palm currently serves as President of the Family Planning Association of NJ and is a member of the National Association of Community Health Center’s Committee on Training & Technical Assistance; the Healthier Somerset Steering Committee; and the NJ Cover All Kids State Organizing Committee.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Drew University.
Rina Ramirez Alexander, MD, FACP
Chief Medical Officer
Rina Ramirez, M.D, FACP, is an internal medicine physician and Chief Medical Officer at Zufall Health. She joined Zufall Health in 2007 and has helped the organization adopt a patient-centered, integrated approach to care that focuses on quality, team collaboration, communication, and patient engagement. During that time, she has guided Zufall’s expansion of clinical services through participation in collaboratives, development of interdisciplinary care teams, and implementation of a trauma-informed primary care practice.
During Ramirez’s tenure, Zufall has achieved NCQA PCMH recognition, is a Million Hearts Hypertension Control Champion and a Target BP Gold Member from the AHA. The center has received numerous quality performance and program awards from HRSA and other national and state organizations. Ramirez continues to promote innovative practices and excellence in patient care and health care outcomes by fostering teamwork, supporting a strong QA/PI framework and championing staff wellness. Her passions include teaching, project implementation, data analysis, reading and the fine arts.
Peter M Bebel
Chief Financial Officer
Peter Bebel brings more than 25 years of experience in accounting, finance, and information systems to his responsibilities as Zufall Health’s Chief Financial Officer. He began his career at Zufall in 2011 and his direction of its financial operations played a key role in the organization’s successful expansion over the next five years . Following a brief stint as Chief Business Officer at Rutgers School of Health-Related Professions, he re-joined Zufall’s leadership team in 2017.
Earlier in his career, he held financial positions in the health care industry serving as Director of Budgets and Reimbursement at three major area hospitals — Bayonne Hospital Center, NYU Langone Medical Center, and St. Clare’s Health System. Prior to those posts, he was Assistant Director of Budgets and Decision Support at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and worked at Bayshore Community Health Services as Project Manager of its Information Services Department and as Manager of Budget, Reimbursement and Financial Reporting. He was also Auditor and Audit Supervisor at Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
He holds a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Seton Hall University and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from St. John’s University.
