Shane Froebel

Growing up fascinated with technology, it’s no surprise that University Hospital’s Vice President of Enterprise Infrastructure Shane Froebel has ended up in a role which challenges him to apply it for the greater good.

In college, Shane volunteered with a volunteer ambulance company in his hometown, inspiring him to become a certified EMT. 

“This allowed me to easily leverage my medical expertise and apply to the technology sector,” Shane says. “Since then, my career has exploded and given me opportunities to better serve our doctors and nurses who are relying on technology to deliver high quality medical care.”

As Vice President of Enterprise Infrastructure at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, Shane leads the strategic vision and operational management of the hospital’s entire IT infrastructure — ensuring that technology is a seamless enabler of clinical excellence and operational efficiency.

Shane’s role — and career that got him to this point — uniquely bridges the worlds of healthcare and IT, with his dual perspective shaping his approach to leadership and allowing him to understand both the clinical needs of frontline staff and the technical requirements of a modern hospital environment.

Prior to joining University Hospital, Shane held senior leadership roles at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York, where he served as Director of Technical Services and Acting Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). In these roles, he was responsible for developing long-term technology strategies, modernising legacy systems, and ensuring robust IT security and compliance with healthcare regulations. At University Hospital, he has been a driving force behind the centre’s infrastructure modernisation and digital enablement journey. 

He oversees the planning and implementation of advanced network and data centre solutions, cloud migrations and the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI, automation and advanced analytics. Despite his short tenure thus far, there have been measurable improvements in system uptime, service speed and end-user satisfaction under his leadership, directly contributing to better clinical workflows and patient outcomes.

“I love getting familiar with cutting edge technology to understand,” Shane says. “I feel like a kid in a playground — I get to see which of the big shiny toys are the best ones and which of those make sense to bring home, home being the healthcare environment I’m sitting in.”

Although passionate and driven by his job, Shane’s role is not without its challenges.

“The people I need to help have various degrees of understanding about what the technology is and how it could help them,” he explains. “In healthcare, there is an added layer of fast-moving regulations and other changes, so it’s critical that we stay on top of those. If we can make technology easy and simple to use, while still being state-of-the-art, our patients will receive better care.”

Shane is a champion of collaboration, both internally and externally. He places a strong emphasis on vendor partnerships, working closely with major technology providers like Epic Systems and niche solution specialists such as Zones. 

He believes that building relationships with a diverse range of partners accelerates innovation and ensures that University Hospital remains at the forefront of healthcare technology. 

His approach is grounded in open communication and a commitment to delivering sustainable, high-quality solutions that align with the hospital’s clinical and operational needs. A passionate advocate for professional development, Shane is dedicated to mentoring his team and fostering a culture of continuous learning. 

Shane adds: “A great part of my job is sharing information with my colleagues to ensure they are knowledgeable about our projects and their impact. This allows them to consider different approaches to solving a problem using technology. 

“As an executive leader, it is my privilege to help team members continue their education in this fast-paced industry of technology. Evolution and professional development are especially important in our field of work.”

With a dedicated team behind him, Shane is an ambitious leader with his sights set on the future. 

Over the next two years, he is leading efforts to further evolve the hospital’s infrastructure, including a major overhaul of the data centre network and the implementation of a digital phone system to enhance patient scheduling and communications. He is also focused on responsible adoption of AI, aiming to balance innovation with patient privacy and regulatory compliance.

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