Dear Colleagues:

As we begin a new calendar year, I want to recognize again the accomplishments achieved during 2019 and the hard work underway to realize our ambitions for FY2020. You play an integral part in this, and I am grateful for the dedication and in awe of the talent and unwavering commitment I see across HHC as we strive to provide more to our communities and those we serve.

More than six months ago, I assumed my new role and announced a series of changes in HHC’s leadership team. In that time, we have successfully integrated St. Vincent’s Medical Center, and improved quality and safety measures as reported by the Leapfrog Group. Both individually and collectively, this entire group has exceeded my expectations. As a leadership team, we continue to evolve to execute on our vision to be most trusted for personalized coordinated care.

It is now my goal to provide role clarity and further strengthen the team for those who have been asked to serve in interim capacities and fill vacant roles. I am pleased to announce the following leadership appointments that will occur February 1. I have had the benefit of time and the opportunity to engage these leaders in new and different ways and have every confidence in their ability to assume these responsibilities.

David Mack will be promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. David joined HHC five years ago as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and has served as interim Chief Legal Officer since Marge Marchak announced her retirement. David brings to this role his sharp legal mind and collaborative approach. He will be responsible for overseeing Legal, Compliance, Risk Management and Board governance, and will serve as Secretary of the HHC Board of Directors. David is a trusted advisor for me and the team and we are fortunate to have his deep knowledge of our system of care and the healthcare legal environment as he assumes his new role.

Jennifer Hamilton will be promoted to Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Jennifer joined HHC in 2017 as Associate General Counsel and is an employment and labor attorney. With David’s promotion, Jennifer brings to this role her strong business acumen, unwavering commitment to providing excellent client services, and focus on establishing and maintaining good business practices that align with our core values. Jennifer is coach and mentor to many, pragmatic in her approach, and a role model for our leadership behaviors.

Wheatley Wentzell will be promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations for the HHC Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI). Wheatley joined HHC in 2015 and has held strategy and planning roles at both the affiliate and system level. She distinguished herself through her interim assignment in the Heart & Vascular Institute, where she quickly established trust and alignment essential to our vision for growth and excellence. Wheatley demonstrates our behaviors and ability to guide the operational details of this complex service line, leveraging her strong people and analytic skills. She will be a terrific dyad partner to the physicians-in-chief for HVI.

Mark Prete, MD, will be promoted to Senior Vice President and President of the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group. Mark started in 2016 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital as Vice President of Medical Affairs and joined HHC Medical Group in 2018, leading the specialty practice physicians. A trained emergency physician, Mark remains active in the Air National Guard and is widely recognized as a strong leader, practice administrator and builder of high-performing teams.

He and Cynthia Heller have impressively led the operations of our growing Medical Group on an interim basis, growing the practice while cultivating its culture of continuous improvement and performance excellence. We are fortunate to have Mark’s expertise as its next President.

Cynthia Heller, MD, will be promoted to Physician-in-Chief and Vice President of the Medical Group. Cynthia has a long and successful tenure with HHC, most recently as co-interim president for the Medical Group. Upon her and Mark’s promotions, I am pleased that the leadership dyad for the Medical Group will both be physicians. Cynthia, a primary care physician, is an established leader and strong advocate for improving quality, access and the systems of healthcare in order to better serve the patient.

Rebecca Stewart will be promoted to Vice President for Content Strategy. Rebecca joined HHC in 2010 and brings to this new role unique skills in strategic communications and media integration. She will build on her work that has elevated HHC’s profile immensely over the past years and direct external and customer-facing multi-media content for internal and external audiences. Rebecca will also partner closely with my Cabinet to employ unique strategies to engage colleagues, practitioners, business leaders and policymakers in understanding and supporting HHC and our work to provide more access and expertise for our communities.

Michaela Donnelly will be promoted to Vice President and Chief of Staff. Michaela has held several roles since joining HHC in 2008 and, as Chief of Staff, will be a true extension of the CEO’s office. Michaela will work with my Cabinet, colleagues and partners on key projects and advancing new initiatives. In her current role as Senior Director for Strategic Planning and Business Development, she helps develop system-wide strategic initiatives with a keen capacity for data-driven decision-making. She will succeed Marie Spadorcia, who announced her decision to leave HHC effective March 1. Marie was instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition in the CEO role and is working closely with Michaela to transition her duties. I am very thankful to Marie for her contributions and selfless service, and wish her all the best.

Lastly, I’m pleased to announce that our search for a Chief Nursing Officer has begun. This will be our first system-wide nursing executive, recognizing the critical role our talented nurses have in advancing world-class care delivery.

As I reflect on our colleagues’ efforts during their interim roles and the others mentioned above, it speaks volumes for the talent and “bench strength” we have at Hartford HealthCare — and the culture of teamwork that leads to success. These promotions reflect well-deserved recognition for both their impact and achievements. Please join me in thanking these colleagues for all they have done, and in looking forward to the work and many successes ahead.

I continue to be delighted by the capabilities of our team and the more than 30,000 colleagues across Hartford HealthCare. Ours is a group of people who show up, step in and make things better. Together, we demonstrate our commitment to innovation, determination and exceptional modeling of our Leadership Behaviors. On behalf of all we serve, thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,

Jeff