Deborah Heart and Lung Center Announces New Chair of the Deborah Board of Trustees

Browns Mills, New Jersey - Lem Burnham, Ph.D. was appointed the new Chair of the Deborah Board of Trustees at their fall meeting.

“I am thrilled to work with Dr. Burnham,” said Jim Andrews, President and CEO. “Lem is an accomplished leader and valued member of our Board whose knowledge and experience make him an impeccable fit for the Chair position. We look forward to his Board stewardship as we collectively navigate Deborah’s bright future.”

Burnham’s expansive background includes a career in professional football with teams including the Philadelphia Eagles, military service in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam, where he received numerous citations and service medals. He currently serves as President of ProWorld Athletes, Inc. Burnham served as President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the NFL Alumni Association, and as an associate professor and Assistant Chair of Behavioral Science and Psychology at Wilmington University.

Burnham is a graduate of Temple University and possess a Ph.D. in Psychology, an MS in Counseling Psychology from Bemidji State University; and a BA in Psychology from U.S. International University. He is a diplomate of the American Psychotherapy Association and the American Board of Psychological Specialties and is Board Certified in Psychological Assessment, Evaluation and Testing, and Substance Abuse Psychology.

“It is an absolute honor to Chair the Deborah Board of Trustees. I am committed to leading the Board and look forward to what the future holds for Deborah. Deborah Heart and Lung Center has a long history of providing innovative heart and lung care and is noted for its exceptional patient care and commitment to quality,” said Burnham.

Dr. Burnham holds numerous professional memberships and provides expertise and support for non-profit and for-profit organizations. He served on the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women. Additionally, he is the author of Personality in Groups: Group Relevant Personality and Sociometric Status (Doctoral Dissertation), Beyond X’s and O’s – an NFL Publication for Coaches, and a new book Serial Achiever: Life-Changing Strategies for Personal Growth and Transformation.

Lem Burnham succeeds Barbara George Johnson, J.D. as Chair, Board of Trustees. Johnson will continue to serve on the Board as chair emeritus.

About Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey, is a teaching hospital in the prevention, diagnosis, research and treatment of heart, lung and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has treated more than 2.3 million hearts from every corner of the United States and 87 countries. From performing the first adult and pediatric open-heart surgeries in New Jersey, to one of the highest-volume left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant programs in the nation, Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader overall and in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in North America; and is rated High Performing in five specialties, Heart Attack, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, COPD and TAVR by U.S. News & World Report. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.

###