Seasoned hospital leader tapped to take over for retiring Ronald B. Goodspeed, MD
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Joyce Faria Brennan |
| April 2, 2008 | 508-961-5270 |
| brennanj@southcoast.org | |
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Download a hi-res photo (2.2 MB)"Keith Hovan has distinguished himself as a premiere leader in health care with a keen insight, high energy and an unwavering determination to provide the best patient care and the finest patient experience," said John B. Day, President & CEO of Southcoast Health System, which includes Southcoast Hospitals Group and its three hospitals, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
"He really knows how to bring patients, staff, physicians and the community together to deliver the highest-quality patient care."
Hovan was selected after Southcoast conducted a five-month national search that looked at numerous candidates. A committee of trustees, physicians and administrators led the search. Hovan will replace Ronald B. Goodspeed, MD, MPH, FACP, FACPE, who is retiring from the position. Dr. Goodspeed will remain with Southcoast Health System in an executive capacity until October.
Hovan currently is Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Conn., a 371-bed regional medical center and community teaching hospital with specialized programs including emergency and trauma care, surgery, cancer, cardiovascular services and digestive disorders. He joined Danbury Hospital in 2001 as Senior Vice President of Operations before being promoted to COO in 2004.
"I am extremely excited to join Southcoast," Hovan said. "Southcoast is truly an outstanding organization that is squarely focused on what's most important in health care — our patients. I am honored to be given this opportunity to work with such a talented group of physicians and staff and look forward to continuing to bring advanced health services to the South Coast region."
While at Danbury Hospital, Hovan was responsible for leading the development of that health system's center of excellence strategy. In that role he built effective relationships with key community stakeholders, including physicians and community, business and government leaders. Under his leadership Danbury Hospital received numerous national recognitions for quality and excellence, including being named a Solucient Top 100 Hospital for three consecutive years. His achievements include the opening of an open heart surgery and interventional cardiology program, a comprehensive outpatient facility and an ambulatory and imaging center.
A focus on working together
Hovan has been widely praised for his work in developing institutional culture by working with physicians, staff and other stakeholders to create a common, forward-looking vision for the organization and build successful clinical services that meet the community's most pressing health care needs.
"Keith Hovan has shown that he can forge successful and lasting relationships with physicians, staff and the community," said Gilbert Shapiro, MD, a Southcoast physician, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Southcoast Health System and a member of the Search Committee. "He is extremely skilled at helping groups with competing interests see the big picture and build a win-win relationship that ultimately benefits our patients."
Prior to his work at Danbury Hospital he was Vice President of Clinical Services at Montefiore Medical Center in The Bronx section of New York City and served in various clinical leadership positions at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, Conn.
Former colleagues praised Hovan for his breadth of clinical knowledge, his inclusive and collaborative approach and his singular focus on patient care.
"Keith Hovan has been extremely focused on the quality delivery of patient care throughout his career," said Eileen Farley, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Southcoast Hospitals Group and a member of the Search Committee. "His focus on patient care will be a perfect complement to the existing culture of compassionate care at Southcoast Hospitals."
Hovan replaces Dr. Goodspeed, who is retiring
Hovan will replace Dr. Goodspeed, who is retiring after more than 18 years at Southcoast. An admired physician and administrator, Dr. Goodspeed's legacy to Southcoast centers on increasing access to advanced services with an enduring emphasis on quality and safety. To honor a career built upon an unwavering dedication to delivering top-quality, patient-driven care in a community setting, Southcoast has created the Dr. Ronald Goodspeed Endowed Chair in Patient Safety & Quality to assure these standards of practice remain and are enhanced for future generations of patients and caregivers. More than $2.5 million has been raised to date to fund the initiative.
With Hovan taking over as President & CEO, Dr. Goodspeed will remain with Southcoast Health System in an executive capacity until October to ensure a smooth transition.
Hovan is a graduate of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., where he earned both a Masters of Science in Nursing, graduating first in his class with the Award for Academic Excellence, and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. He was a member of the National and International Honor Societies while in college. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Hovan and his wife, Erin, have three grown children and will soon be relocating to the South Coast region.
About Southcoast
Southcoast Health System is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes the three hospitals that make up Southcoast Hospitals Group — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast provides advanced clinical services, such as open heart surgery, angioplasty and heart rhythm services, neurosurgery, weight loss surgery, orthopedic surgery and advanced imaging services. Southcoast is a not-for-profit charitable organization that depends on the support of the community to provide services.
More information is available onlinwww.southcoast.org.
Media Contact
Joyce Faria Brennan
Public Information Officer
Phone: 508-961-5270
Pager: 508-387-9605
Fax: 508-961-5876
brennanj@southcoast.org
