NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern New Hampshire Health (SNHH) today announced that after 28 years of service, Thomas E. Wilhelmsen Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, will be retiring on June 30, 2016. Michael S. Rose, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will assume the role of President and CEO, effective July 1, 2016.
“Tom’s vision, dedication and legacy of remarkable contributions to the health and well-being of the greater Nashua community are defined by our system’s strength, breadth and depth of care today,” says Timothy Sullivan, Chairman of SNHH’s Board of Trustees. “He has been magnificent in leading this organization over the last 28 years – navigating innumerable and tumultuous challenges that have confronted the industry, the economy, and the competitive landscape. Tom has cultivated a dedicated and talented leadership team, and after careful consideration of how to best assure the system’s continued strategic momentum, the Board was unanimous in our decision to appoint Mike Rose as Tom’s successor.”
Wilhelmsen joined then-Nashua Memorial Hospital as CEO in 1988. During the course of his tenure, he facilitated the evolution of one of the region’s strongest and most financially stable health systems. His multiple achievements are represented by milestones that transformed a community hospital with only a handful of individual physician partners, into a fully integrated health care delivery system, known today as Southern New Hampshire Health. SNHH is comprised of a multi-specialty physician group made up of more than 300 providers, and a state-of-the-art Medical Center that is distinguished by exceptional clinical programs that provide residents in more than 30 communities across the region, access to the most advanced care available. He also established Southern New Hampshire Health’s clinical affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital – MGH’s first clinical collaboration in the state.
Over the years, Wilhelmsen has overseen campus renovations and facility expansions that have allowed the system to keep up with the rapid pace of technological and clinical innovation, while expanding geographic reach and shifting the delivery of primary and specialty care services to community-based, outpatient settings.
Wilhelmsen attributes his success to a “talented and unflinchingly dedicated leadership team” that has shared his vision and commitment to advancing the organization’s mission of service to meet the health care needs of the community. “When I made the decision to join Southern New Hampshire Health almost 30 years ago, it was because of my respect and admiration for the people here, their friendly nature, open-minded attitude, and their commitment to doing whatever they could to move this organization forward,” Wilhelmsen said. “And for 28 years, we have realized the success that comes with the right people doing the right things, for the right reasons."
Wilhelmsen is proud that the Board of Trustees carefully deliberated the skills and expertise that would be required of his successor, and considered the dynamic forces reshaping the health care landscape to determine if an external search for a new CEO was in order – ultimately deciding that the best candidate was internal. “Mike has been integral to the strategic evolution of Southern New Hampshire Health with insights, leadership and decisions that have helped propel our organization forward,” says Wilhelmsen. Rose’s promotion to the role of CEO is not only representative of the strength of our executive team, but also a testament to the Board’s appreciation for his leadership in maintaining the financial health and stability of our organization, despite turbulent times in our industry.”
“We were unanimous in our decision to select Mike as the new CEO because of his proven ability to define and implement strategies that engage leaders within and beyond the organization, and for his ability to continue momentum without missing a beat,” adds Sullivan. “He will assure our continued commitment of SNHH’s mission to improve, maintain and preserve the health and well-being of our community.”
Rose says that his focus as he transitions into the role of CEO will reflect his intention to advance Wilhelmsen’s legacy. This includes pursuing strategies that allow SNHH to adapt to industry changes, and continuing to build collaborative relationships that improve the health status of residents in greater Nashua.
“The ability to evolve and grow our organization as one that truly serves our community will depend on continuing to strengthen our collaborations with providers throughout the region to better coordinate care, improve health outcomes, and assure our caregivers have the resources they need to provide leading-class, compassionate care,” says Rose.
Rose will also assure Southern New Hampshire Health’s ongoing participation as a founding member of Granite Health, an innovative partnership of five independent health systems in New Hampshire, who work together to improve access and the seamless delivery of high-value care to residents across the state. Wilhelmsen helped establish Granite Health in 2011 with constant leadership and contributions of SNHH executives, including Rose. Since its inception, Granite Health has developed and implemented a comprehensive population health-management program that helps providers care for patients in a proactive and coordinated fashion, thus improving outcomes and lowering health costs. This program has shared consistent, evidence-based practices adopted by more than 150 provider sites to facilitate cost-effective and seamless care management. Wilhelmsen and Rose were also instrumental in Granite Health’s formation of Tufts Health Freedom Plan, a first-of-its-kind insurance company that represents a groundbreaking collaboration between providers and insurers who share a commitment to delivering high-quality care, at more affordable cost.
Prior to joining SNHH as CFO in 2007, Rose was Vice President of Finance and Operations at Cooper Health System in New Jersey. He holds a BS in Accounting from Longwood University, and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University.
