The University of Vermont Medical Center has named interim president Stephen Leffler as its permanent president and chief operating officer.
Leffler, a longtime employee of the hospital, has been serving as the hospital’s interim president since former president Eileen Whalen retired in June 2019.
The appointment was made Monday.
Leffler, 55, has worked at the hospital for 26 years after earning both his undergraduate and medical degrees from UVM. He has served in high-profile roles at the hospital over the last decade, most recently as the Quality Officer of UVM Health Network from 2017 to 2019 and as the Chief Medical Officer from 2011 to 2017.
He previously worked as the President of the Medical Staff and Director of the Emergency Department, and has served on the boards of Vermont Managed Care and OneCare Vermont.
Allie Stickney, chair of the UVM Medical Center Board of Trustees, said in a statement that the search committee chose Leffler with “great enthusiasm.”
“We believe Dr. Leffler is the right person with the right mix of skills, experience and personal qualities to lead UVM Medical Center at this point in our history,” she said. “He has grown up at this organization, and brings a warmth and approachability to his leadership style that helps him connect with employees and build trust at a time when we greatly need that.”
Stickney said that Leffler’s experience as a teacher of medical students and as a longtime practicing physician prepared him well for the role leading the hospital.
The hospital did not conduct a national search for the position, instead deciding to hire Leffler after a series of interviews and open forums with staff.
“The feedback the committee received through this process helped establish Dr. Leffler as the right fit for the position, and influenced the decision not to pursue a national search,” the hospital statement said.
Leffler said he was “honored and humbled” to take the role.
“We have some issues to fix, but the good here is so powerful,” he said in a statement. “This is a great place to work, and I want all of our staff to love working here. My plan is to be visible, to be accessible, to be transparent, and to listen.”
Whalen retired this summer after four years at the hospital and 35 years in health care. The hospital opened a major new facility this summer, the $187 million, 1,800 square foot Miller Building, which increased the number of private beds at the hospital.
The issue of executive pay has seen increased scrutiny in recent years, especially during a contentious labor dispute between the hospital and its nurses union in summer 2018.
Whalen made just under $1.1 million in fiscal year 2018, according to the hospital’s most recent 990 tax form. John Brumsted, the CEO of the health network, made just over $2 million in fiscal year 2018.
