The Annual Meeting of the Southern Vermont Health Services Corporation and its subsidiary, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) held on November 8, 2013 featured special guests, key topics, and various recognitions.
Keynote speaker Dr. Kathleen McGraw, the Chief Medical Officer at BMH since January 2013, discussed the many ways that BMH has been focusing on and enhancing safety systems throughout the hospital. McGraw, who most recently worked at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, has earned recognition and awards during her career for improving health safety systems and leading team-based approaches to health care.
BMH President and Chief Executive Officer Steven R. Gordon presented a report highlighting the hospital’s strategic initiatives during fiscal year 2013. Two of the year’s many accomplishments have included opening the state’s first Center for Wound Healing and launching the hospital’s “The Doorway to Exceptional Care” Campaign for BMH’s renovated and expanded Emergency Department.
The Thomas Thompson Trust, a long-time and generous benefactor of BMH, was represented at the meeting by Trustees Susan Tyler, Daniel Fawcett, and Michael O’Connell. Also present was Trustee Emeritus Bill Tyler, who was recognized for his years of devoted support and good work on behalf of BMH. The award and praise were bestowed by Chuck Cummings, a former BMH Trustee and retired partner from the Brattleboro law firm Kristensen Cummings Phillips & Carroll.
Outgoing Chair of the Board of Directors Carl Lynde presided over what was his last annual meeting, as he introduced incoming Board Chair Peter Carvell, a commercial loan officer at Brattleboro Savings and Loan. Lynde, who is a vice president at TD Bank, was recognized by the Board for his decade of service.
Newly elected officers of the Board also include Vice Chair Jill Zachary of R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. and Secretary Patty O’Donnell of Trend Business Solutions. Continuing as Treasurer of the Board is BMH Vice President of Finance Michael Rogers.
Outgoing Secretary John M. Meyer of the Holstein Association USA was re-elected to the Board for a term lasting until 2016. Donna McElligott of Howard Printing, Inc. was newly elected to the Board for a term lasting until 2015.
Continuing on the Board are Deborah Boyle of People’s United Bank; Stephen Phillips of Potter Stewart Jr. Law Offices; Benjamin Taggard of The Richards Group; and Burton D. Tepfer, MD, a cardiologist. Ex Officio Board Members are BMH President/CEO Steven R. Gordon and Elizabeth McLarney, MD, BMH Medical Staff President and orthopedic surgeon.
Active Corporators elected to the Board include Rhonda Calhoun, Jay Clarke, Lisa Hecht, and Norman Wright.
BMH has provided healthcare services for over one hundred years. A licensed, 61-bed, not-for-profit community hospital located in southeastern Vermont, it serves a rural population of about 55,000 people in 22 towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The medical staff includes 137 board-certified physicians, both primary care and many specialists, and its 572 employees enjoy the help of over 110 active volunteers.
For more information, visit the Thomas Thompson Trust online and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital or call 802-257-0341.
