PROVIDENCE – Lifespan Corp. has named John Fernandez, current president of Mass Eye and Ear and Mass General Brigham Integrated Care, its next CEO and president, the health system announced on Friday.
Lifespan’s board of directors voted unanimously to approve Fernandez, who will take on the new role in early 2023.
Seifert Systems Invests in Energy Efficiency to Strengthen Operations
For manufacturers, energy is more than just another operating expense. It plays a critical role…
Learn More
Fernandez is succeeding Timothy J. Babineau, who stepped down from his role as president and CEO in May. Babineau led Lifespan for 10 years. Arthur J. Sampson has been serving as interim CEO and president of Lifespan since June 1.
“These are unprecedented times in healthcare, and we need a transformative leader who has the vision and expertise to guide Lifespan’s future strategic direction,” said Lawrence A. Aubin Sr., chairman of Lifespan’s board of directors. “All the candidates were exceptional and came from major academic medical centers in extremely competitive markets, but John Fernandez stood out as the leader that Lifespan needs during this time.”
Fernandez was chosen after an “extensive national search” led by a committee of board members, physicians, management and Lifespan’s community and academic partners.
“I’m confident that John has what it takes to lead Lifespan through the unprecedented headwinds that all healthcare organizations are experiencing across the country,” Aubin said. “He has demonstrated he is a versatile and engaged leader who can anticipate future possibilities and translate them into breakthrough strategies for Lifespan. John has the ability to mobilize an organization around focused goals and objectives, while also improving employee engagement and the patient experience.”
As president and CEO, Fernandez will guide Lifespan’s strategic direction, build upon its quality and safety program and focus on Lifespan’s “ambulatory footprint,” Lifespan said in its press release.
“He will continue to work toward better alignment with physicians and to create and foster an environment that advances innovation, transformation, and calculated risk-taking,” the press release stated. “He will continue Lifespan’s work to develop relationships focused on embracing unique patient and community needs and continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture at Lifespan to ensure our employee base is representative of our community.”
As president of Mass General Brigham Integrated Care, Fernandez led a series of strategic initiatives that increased access to ambulatory services in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and other states, including designing, planning and opening a multi-specialty care and surgical center in Salem, N.H.
During the 16 years Fernandez spent at Mass Eye and Ear, a specialty vision and hearing hospital and research center, surgical volume increased by more than 70%, research funding went from $18 million to $72 million, and the number of physician office sites grew from four to 22. Fernandez also led a $252 million capital campaign to advance science and fund medical research and led as Mass Eye and Ear became a member of Mass General Brigham in 2018.
Before joining Mass Eye and Ear, Fernandez was at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he served as vice president of surgical services, imaging, cancer, pathology, laboratory and network development. A graduate from the College of Wooster with a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania, Fernandez also serves as the chair of the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals and a member of the Boston Public Health Commission board.
Care New England Health System, Lifespan’s main competitor in the state, is also undergoing some leadership changes. Dr. James E. Fanale is set to retire as president and CEO on Dec. 1, when Dr. Michael Wagner, former president and CEO of Tufts Medical Center, will take on the role.
“I know full-well the joys and challenges of operating a large healthcare system in Rhode Island. As I prepare to hand over the reins to a new president and CEO, here at Care New England, I want to wish John Fernandez, who is about to begin his new role as president and CEO at Lifespan, well,” said James E. Fanale, president and CEO of Care New England Health System. “Working in healthcare has been my life’s passion, and here at CNE, I have enjoyed some of the greatest successes of my career, made memorable friendships, and learned a lot, having weathered a global pandemic alongside my staff. I wish the same unique personal and professional opportunities and successes for Mr. Fernandez.”
