One of Boyer's first tasks will be to cooperate with a U.S. Justice Department investigation into whether the civil rights of patients were violated at the Camden County hospital.
Ancora has been plagued by problems in recent years, including suspicious deaths, assaults, high-profile escapes, and reports that illegal drugs have been smuggled in.
For nine years, Boyer has been director of behavioral health at Christ Hospital in Jersey City. He holds a master's degree in psychology.