Newton-Wellesley Hospital President to Step Down

announced today that Dr. Michael Jellinek will step down as president of the hospital.

According to a press release from the hospital, Jellinek will leave to focus on his position as chief of clinical affairs at Partners HealthCare System. 

“I have completely enjoyed my work and am grateful to everyone at Newton-Wellesley,” Dr. Jellinek said in a statement. “All of us have worked hard to make this a special place and it will be very difficult for me not to be coming to Newton-Wellesley every day - not to see my many colleagues and friends. I am completely confident that our physicians, nurses and staff will continue our tradition of providing high quality, efficient and compassionate care to our community.” 

Jellinek, who has led the hospital for the last 12 years, will step down as of August 1. Newton-Wellesley's Chief Operating Officer Patrick F. Jordan III will take the helm and serve as interim president until an official replacement is found. 

According to the press release, a search committee will form in the fall to start looking for Jellinek's replacement. 

The hospital noted in its statement that Jellinek helped with a "financial turn-around" at Newton-Wellesley and worked on cutting costs while improving programs. Other notable accomplishments under Jellinek's leadership included:

• Newton-Wellesley’s designation as a Top 100 Hospital six times
• Inclusion in Consumer Report’s 50 Safest Hospitals
• The American Heart Association/Stroke Association Triple Gold Award
• The Leapfrog Group’s “A” Rating for hospital safety.

“Mike’s contributions to Newton-Wellesley have been exceptional,” Newton-Wellesley Hospital Board of Trustees Chair Carol McMullen-Rush said in a statement. "His superb leadership abilities, great competence and genuine commitment have helped secure our reputation as a premier community teaching hospital. Although he will be greatly missed, we know that Newton-Wellesley is in good hands and will continue to deliver on its mission to care for every patient as a beloved family member."

A full press release from Newton-Wellesley Hospital is included below:

Newton-Wellesley Hospital announced today that effective August 1, 2012, Michael Jellinek, MD, will step down as President to fully focus on his additional responsibilities as Chief of Clinical Affairs at Partners HealthCare System. Patrick F. Jordan III, currently the Hospital’s Chief Operating Officer, will serve as interim president. A search committee will begin meeting this fall to evaluate potential candidates.

“Mike’s contributions to Newton-Wellesley have been exceptional,” said Carol McMullen-Rush, Chair, Board of Trustees, Newton-Wellesley Hospital. “His superb leadership abilities, great competence and genuine commitment have helped secure our reputation as a premier community teaching hospital. Although he will be greatly missed, we know that Newton-Wellesley is in good hands and will continue to deliver on its mission to care for every patient as a beloved family member.”

Dr. Jellinek’s accomplishments at Newton-Wellesley over the past 12 years are abundant. When he first came to Newton-Wellesley in 2000, the Hospital’s reputation had been diminished, volume and revenue were down, and competition was on the rise.  Under Dr. Jellinek’s leadership, the Hospital embarked on a program of aggressive cost reduction, new program development, renewed focus on quality, and a wholehearted commitment to the needs of patients and their families. All of this brought to an end a stretch of 54 consecutive months of million dollar losses. Now, the Hospital’s finances are stronger than ever. In addition, he forged relationships that have resulted in important community-based programs and mutually productive clinical collaborations with Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals.

“Thanks to Mike’s tireless efforts and the extraordinary work of our talented teams throughout the hospital, Newton-Wellesley is an entirely different place today than it was over a decade ago,” said McMullen-Rush.

Last November, Dr. Jellinek assumed the additional role of Chief of Clinical Affairs for the Partners HealthCare system. This position was developed as part of an effort to implement population health management and improve information systems across all Partners hospitals.

“In today’s constantly changing healthcare landscape, Dr. Jellinek’s evolving role is demanding more of his time,” said Gary Gottlieb, MD, President & CEO, Partners HealthCare System. “Recognizing both the importance of our system-wide redesign efforts and the needs of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, he has made the difficult decision to step down as President to devote his full attention to the work that lies ahead for Partners and to help prepare our organization for a changing environment.” 

Additional milestones under Dr. Jellinek’s leadership include: Newton-Wellesley’s designation as a Top 100 Hospital six times, inclusion in Consumer Report’s 50 Safest Hospitals, The American Heart Association/Stroke Association Triple Gold Award, and the Leapfrog Group’s “A” Rating for Hospital Safety. Leapfrog also designated Newton-Wellesley in the top 10% for quality and cost of services. These and many others recognitions speak to a culture that focuses on quality and performance, a culture where excellence in patient care is the standard.

Newton-Wellesley’s financial turn-around and continued concentration on quality and efficiency were welcomed by the community which responded by choosing the Hospital for their care as well as generous philanthropic support making possible many of the Hospital’s key initiatives. The much needed state-of-the-art Blum Emergency Pavilion, Vinik Pediatric Emergency Department, Maureen Egan Gastroenterology Unit, Kaplan Center for Joint Reconstruction Surgery, Vernon Cancer Center, Slotnick Surgical Nursing Unit, Shipley Medical Simulation Center, as well as funding domestic violence and pediatric mental health programs that support our most vulnerable patients, all expressions of confidence and optimism in Newton-Wellesley.

“I have completely enjoyed my work and am grateful to every one at Newton-Wellesley,” said Dr. Jellinek. “All of us have worked hard to make this a special place and it will be very difficult for me not to be coming to Newton-Wellesley every day - not to see my many colleagues and friends. I am completely confident that our physicians, nurses and staff will continue our tradition of providing high quality, efficient and compassionate care to our community.”

Jellinek calls the opportunity to lead Newton-Wellesley Hospital a privilege.  “As a long time resident of Newton, I have always known that Newton-Wellesley is an excellent hospital and a vital community resource,” he said.  “In the 12 years that I have been here as president, I have come to see the depth of quality that extends throughout the organization.  The medical staff is outstanding and the nursing staff is committed to the highest standard of patient care.  The hospital is fortunate to have a creative, involved management team as well as a wonderful team of loyal and dedicated employees. There is a warm sense of family at Newton-Wellesley. And I am honored and privileged to have been a part of this team – part of a great tradition.”