Community Health Programs Names Permanent CEO| 12:14PM / Friday, December 02, 2016 | |
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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The board of Community Health Program has named interim CEO Amelia "Lia" Spiliotes as its permanent CEO, following a national search for a long-term leader.
A federally qualified health center (FQHC), based in Great Barrington, CHP has eight practice sites countywide, and serves more than 22,000 area children and adults with medical care and family support services.
"We had excellent candidates for the permanent position, but Lia was by far the best and brightest to lead CHP," said Jodi Rathbun-Briggs, CHP board chair. "She has brought us stability, strong management and deep knowledge of how FQHCs operate. She has set CHP on a path to the future with excellent leadership."
Spiliotes, who has served as interim CEO for the past year, was among three final candidates considered for the position.
Spiliotes' healthcare administration experience, leadership style and background running federally qualified health centers were key factors in the board’s decision. But her initiatives in forging community connections and strategic partnerships – unusual for an interim leader -- were also standout factors in the board's decision.
David Phelps, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems, commended the CHP Board's appointment.
"Over the past several months we have had the opportunity to work with Lia and her team at Community Health Programs to strengthen important services in our county, and in my view the board should be congratulated on appointing a tested and competent individual to lead the organization," he said. "CHP, and all who depend on CHP for their care, will be well served -- CHP is an important partner to us in meeting the health care needs of the residents of Berkshire County."
As CHP's interim CEO, Spiliotes immersed herself not only in CHP's day-to-day operation but also evaluated the overall organization and guided operational and strategic planning for the long-term health of CHP, said Rathbun-Briggs.
During the past year, Spiliotes guided the assimilation of primary care practices in Adams and North Adams into the CHP organization, and the addition of the CHP Neighborhood Dental Center in Pittsfield. In 2016, the organization added more than 40 employees, for a total staff of 170; CHP expects to care for more than 22,000 patients in the Berkshire region in 2017, with an operating budget of $17 million.
Spiliotes helped expand the board from seven to 12 members, most recently with the addition of Chuck Leach, president of Lee Bank, and Allyson Holmes, a Pittsfield attorney.
"I am so excited, and so honored, to make this permanent commitment to CHP and to the communities we serve," Spiliotes said. "I am honored to work with a talented staff that is so uniformly committed to the CHP mission of providing quality care to everyone in our region. CHP has a strong, visionary board and a rich history, and for the future, I would like CHP to be a model for federally qualified health centers everywhere."
Spiliotes, a native of Long Island, was most recently a partner with Cambridge Management Group. She is a graduate of Smith College and MIT’s Sloan School of Management. She also serves on the board of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.
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