CARIBOU, Maine – Kris Doody, RN and CEO of Cary Medical Center and Pines Health Services has announced that Chelsea Reynolds Desrosiers, has been promoted to a new role at Cary which will combine the chief financial officer and chief operating officer into a single position. Desrosiers, who has served as Cary’s CFO over the past five years will add the role of COO to her position. The promotion comes with the departure of current COO, Leslie Anderson. Desrosiers will assume her new role on Aug. 21. In making the announcement, Doody said that she was pleased to promote from within the organization.
“Chelsea has proven herself to be an outstanding professional,” said Doody. “She has been a great asset to the hospital during the pandemic and has become a trusted, and respected member of our senior management team. Reaction of the organization from the board of directors to our department managers and employees has been very positive.”
Growing up in New Sweden, Desrosiers graduated from Caribou High School and attended Thomas College in Waterville where she earned her bachelor’s and MBA in a span of just four years. At age 21, she began working for the accounting firm, Baker Newman Noyes. Starting at the office in Portland and then helping them to set up their new office in Boston. She is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive healthcare experience. Commenting on her promotion, Desrosiers said that she looks forward to the bridging of the fiscal side of health care with clinical areas
“Certainly I am grateful for this opportunity to expand my leadership role here at Cary,” said Desrosiers. “The hybrid nature of the new position will improve the integration of business operations with a better understanding of clinical realities. I will have a lot to learn on the clinical side but my experience in healthcare finance will benefit strategic planning, service growth and future development. I have a great, supportive team to work with, and I am excited to take on this new challenge.”
Desrosiers is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, and is president-elect for the Northern New England Chapter. She is a member of the Caribou Economic Growth Council and the Pines Health Services Board of Directors.
The hospital conducted a National Search for the COO position and received a number of resumes. Doody said that while there were a number of potentially qualified applicants, promoting Desrosiers just felt like the right decision.
“We have discussed this idea for a few weeks, and when we brought our chief medical officer and chief financial officer together, a clear vision developed that this was the way to move forward. We are so fortunate to have such strengths on both the fiscal and clinical side of operations, that we believe this unique model will serve us very well into the future.”
In announcing the promotion of Desrosiers, Doody also commented on the departure of Anderson.
“Leslie has done exceptional work here at Cary,” said Doody. “From her initial work as a physical therapist to managing the rehabilitation department, and in her current role as chief operating officer, she has had a great impact on our organization. She will be missed and we wish Leslie and her husband, Shawn, the very best.”
With the combining of the CFO/COO positions, Doody said that there is a vacancy on the administrative team. The hospital has posted a position for chief of facilities and projects officer. The position will manage hospital facilities, special projects and construction, Environment of Care and other support departments in the hospital.
Cary Medical Center is a 65-bed acute care hospital well known for its patient-centered services. We are a community of providers committed to excellence in healthcare and to improving the lives of those we serve. We are actively engaged in advancing the health and wellness needs of people in Aroostook County, including the unserved and underserved. Cary Medical Center and Pines Health Services are equal opportunity providers and employers.
