KERRY WATSON NAMED PRESIDENT OF NEWTON-WELLESLEY HOSPITAL

Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Board of Trustees last night voted to approve the search committee’s recommendation to name Kerry Watson as the next President of Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH). Watson will join Newton-Wellesley from the Duke University Health System in Durham, North Carolina where for the past five years he has been president of Duke Regional Hospital.  He will begin his new role as president of Newton-Wellesley on October 1, 2013.

 “This is an important and positive step forward for Newton-Wellesley Hospital,” says Earl M. Collier, Jr., Chairman of the Hospital’s Board of Directors.  “Kerry Watson brings superb leadership abilities, great competence and commitment to ensuring that this hospital will continue to provide the highest quality care to the communities it serves. As we look to the future of Newton-Wellesley, it is imperative that we build on our strong foundation of smart and dedicated men and women who will guide us in support of our mission.”

Watson comes to Newton-Wellesley Hospital with a wealth of diverse experience in hospital management.  In his current position, he is responsible for a 369-bed acute care hospital, which includes a rehabilitation institute, psychiatric and critical care units, an intensive care nursery, ambulatory surgical center, as well as the Watts School of Nursing.  His focus has been on improving clinical quality and building a culture of inclusion and respect; US News and World Report ranks Duke Regional as the third best hospital regionally and among the five best hospitals in North Carolina. 

Prior to his current role, Watson was Senior Associate Chief Operating Officer and Senior Operating Officer for ten years at Duke University Hospital.  He also served as Director and then Assistant Vice-President at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring Maryland, where he was responsible for both clinical and support departments. 

Earlier in his career, he held administrative leadership roles at Howard University Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center  in Washington, DC.  He graduated from George Washington University with a degree in radiological sciences and health administration, and has received an advanced degree in organizational management.

“I look forward to working with Newton-Wellesley’s outstanding administrative and medical staff leadership to continue the tradition of high quality, compassion, and efficiency, while building upon successes and continuing to deliver the Hospital’s mission to care for every patient as a beloved family member,” said Watson.

Patrick Jordan III, Chief Operating Officer, had been acting as interim president of Newton-Wellesley Hospital since last August, when Michael Jellinek, MD, stepped down to take on a new position as Chief of Clinical Affairs at Partners HealthCare System. Jordan will remain in his role as Chief Operating Officer.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital is a full system member of Partners HealthCare System, Inc. (PHCS), a nonprofit organization that includes acute care hospitals Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's/Faulkner Hospitals, The North Shore Medical Center, and specialty hospitals McLean Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, as well as Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, and the community-based doctors and hospitals of Partners Community HealthCare, Inc.

 Newton-Wellesley Hospital provides a wide range of services, including medical, surgical, obstetrical, orthopaedic, neonatal, pediatric and psychiatric care. Newton-Wellesley has been serving its community for over a century. The medical staff of the Hospital includes nearly 1,000 physicians practicing a full range of specialties. NWH is a major teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine and also has established post-graduate training programs for Harvard Medical School residents.