Leaders of three Dartmouth Health members named among the best in rural healthcare nationwide

Three president and chief executive officers of Dartmouth Health member hospitals were named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s annual ranking of rural hospital and health system presidents and CEOs to know. Susan E. Mooney, MD, MS, FACOG, CEO and president of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD), Joseph L. Perras, MD, CEO and president of Cheshire Medical Center, and Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, CEO and president of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), were among the 118 healthcare leaders recognized for driving growth by expanding services, upgrading facilities and building skilled teams.

Mooney, an obstetrician-gynecologist by training, practiced at APD from 2000 to 2005. She left for two years to pursue fellowship training, then rejoined APD as medical director of quality, and later assuming the chief medical officer role. She became president and CEO in 2013. Becker’s noted that Mooney’s leadership has contributed to the hospital seeing the highest employee engagement rating within the Dartmouth Health system for the past two years, and that she created a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging coordinator position in 2022, fostering an environment where everyone feels seen and heard.

Dee has been with SVMC since 2010, overseeing the hospital’s onboarding to Dartmouth Health in 2023, making it the system’s second Vermont-based hospital. Dee provides the strategic leadership necessary to ensure the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective care that meets community needs and responsibly utilizes fiscal, human and physical resources. He oversees the planning, directing and management of current operations, financial sustainability, future growth and program development. Becker’s highlighted his support for physicians, providers, nurses and staff through recruitment, development, compliance education and implementation, and continuing education opportunities.

Perras became CEO and president of Cheshire in 2023 after serving in the same role at Dartmouth Health member Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center for six years. He is an internal medicine physician by training. Becker's noted that, under Perras, Cheshire provides the highest quality care in the safest possible environment for its staff and patients. Cheshire is the largest provider of healthcare in the county and serves as a regional referral center for parts of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. Under Perras’ leadership, Cheshire has committed to its people, patients and community through growth of clinical service lines and long-term financial sustainability.

To view the full list of honorees, visit bit.ly/4niAXqL.