After more than a decade of leading Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Steven Gordon is preparing to retire.
His successor will be Christopher Dougherty, an executive at Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena, California, the hospital announced in a press release last week. Dougherty is scheduled to begin his tenure on May 9.
“I really look forward to working with people at every level of the organization and to continue building and strengthening the hospital’s rich legacy as a hub of hope, health and healing for Brattleboro and the surrounding communities,” Dougherty said in the hospital’s press release.
Gordon led the hospital during the most difficult health care crisis in recent history. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Brattleboro Memorial has been called on to test and vaccinate residents and, like other medical centers in the state, continues to contend with the pandemic’s financial implications, from rising staffing costs to growing demand for services.
During his tenure, Gordon has overseen a series of construction projects at the Brattleboro hospital, including the renovation of the hospital’s emergency department and operating rooms.
Gordon’s announcement comes on the heels of several C-suite changes at UVM Health Network, OneCare Vermont and the Brattleboro Retreat.
Dougherty will become the hospital president as Brattleboro Memorial contends with the financial fallout from the pandemic. The hospital ended fiscal year 2021 with a $1.6 million deficit from operations. Even so, Brattleboro Memorial finished the year with a $4 million surplus overall, according to filings with the Green Mountain Care Board.
Before joining Shriners in California, Dougherty was chief executive officer at Covenant Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Lakeside Campus in Texas. He was also the chief culture and experience officer for the parent company, Covenant Health.
