Burlington, Mass.-based Wellforce CEO Norm Deschene is retiring at the end of 2018.
Mr. Deschene has served as CEO of the health system since its inception in 2014. He helped spearhead the formation of the organization, which in 2014 included Boston-based Tufts Medical Center, Lowell, Mass.-based Circle Health as well as the physicians of New England Quality Care Alliance and Lowell (Mass.) General Physician Hospital Organization.
During his tenure as the health system's top leader, Wellforce added new members: MelroseWakefield Healthcare in 2017 and Lawrence, Mass.-based Home Health Foundation in 2018. Wellforce today includes four community hospital campuses, one academic medical center, a children's hospital, home health and hospice services.
"Norm's vision was to bring community and academic medicine together in a model that respected both equally," said Ellen Zane, chair of Wellforce's board of trustees. "He knew this type of system would prioritize the patient and offer care when and where the patient needed it, not drive everything into Boston."
Mr. Deschene previously served as CEO of Lowell General Hospital. In 2012, the American College of Healthcare Executives named him Healthcare Executive of the Year. He holds a master's degree in hospital administration from Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota.