U.S. News & World Report named 10 of the top rehabilitation hospitals Aug. 1.
Here are the men and women leading these prestigious hospitals:
Shirley Ryan ABilitylab (Chicago)
Peggy Kirk, BSN, RN, has served as CEO since Sept. 2021. She first joined the hospital in 1981 as a staff nurse for the hospital’s spinal cord injury program. Since then she has held a number of leadership roles including, most recently, senior vice president and COO between 2007-2021
Spaulding Rehab Hospital (Charlestown, Mass.)
Ross Zafonte, DO, is president of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and the Earle P. and Ida S. Charlton Professor and Chairman of the Harvard Medical School Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He also serves as chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, as well as senior vice president of medical affairs research and education at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. In his role at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, he oversees the medical and research staff.
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (West Orange, N.J.)
Sue Kida was named president of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in 2015 and has operational oversight of its four hospital campuses. Ms. Kida previously served in a dual role as Kessler's vice president and chief operating officer and CEO of the Chester campus. She joined Kessler in 1982 as a staff physical therapist. She implemented new programs, improved patient outcomes and helped ensure the hospital's success in tri-annual Commision on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and Joint Commission accreditation surveys.
TIRR Memorial Hermann (Houston)
Rhonda Abbott is CEO and senior vice president of TIRR Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital-Katy and Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network. She started her career in 2001 as a staff therapist in the spinal cord injury and specialty rehabilitation program. Ms. Abbott now oversees TIRR Memorial Hermann's efforts in rehabilitative care, research, advocacy and education across the Memorial Hermann Health System. She has led clinical care redesign initiatives, translational research efforts, quality care improvements, expansion of therapy education programs and efficiency improvements. She also led TIRR expansion efforts and clinical practice leveling across the system, helped secure accreditation at three of the Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network locations from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, provided therapy direction at TIRR Memorial Hermann and for the Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network, and expanded the rehabilitation education program.
Rusk Rehab at NYU Langone Hospital (New York City)
Steven Flanagan, MD, was drawn to NYU Langone in 2008 because of the culture of teamwork. As a rehabilitation medicine physician, or physiatrist, Dr. Flanagan cares for people with physical and cognitive disabilities and specializes in treating those who are recuperating from a stroke or brain injury. He loves to connect with patients in order to work together toward successful treatment.
MossRehab (Elkins Park, Pa.)
Joseph Cacchione, MD, is the CEO of Philadelphia-based Jefferson, which includes Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Health, and Jefferson Health Plans (formerly known as Health Partners Plans). He joined Jefferson from St. Louis-based Ascension, where he served as executive vice president of clinical and network services. Throughout his more than 30-year career, Dr. Cacchione has held leadership roles nationally and in Pennsylvania for the American College of Cardiology, and has served on several national and community-based administrative health committees. He has authored and co-authored scholarly papers and presented at national conferences and meetings on healthcare systems and cardiology.
UPMC Mercy (Pittsburgh)
John Innocenti has been in the healthcare industry for 51 years, 48 of them at UPMC. He has progressed through the ranks from his beginnings at Montefiore Hospital and currently holds the position of senior vice president, health services division and president of UPMC Mercy. He has both an industrial engineering degree and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Innocenti serves on several boards, including Family House, Quest Joint Ventures and Veteran Health Foundation, and as chair of the Center for Emergency Medicine/ STAT Medevac.
University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle)
Tim Dellit, MD, began serving as interim CEO of UW Medicine, interim executive vice president for medical affairs and interim dean of the UW School of Medicine on July 1, 2022. He previously served as chief medical officer for UW Medicine, executive vice dean for clinical affairs for the University of Washington School of Medicine, vice president for medical affairs, and president of UW Physicians. An infectious disease physician, Dr. Dellit helped UW Medicine lead the nation in developing protocols to treat COVID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Atrium Health Carolina Rehabilitation (Charlotte, N.C.)
Robert Larrison Jr., is president of Atrium Health's network of eight rehabilitation hospitals and units, 45 therapy clinics, and three physical medicine and rehabilitation practices throughout North Carolina and Georgia. In addition, he serves on the board of Atrium Health's long-term acute care hospital partner, Carolinas ContinueCare. Since joining Atrium Health in 2004, he has held various leadership positions and serves on several volunteer advisory boards. In 2020, he concluded a three-year term as a member of the American Hospital Association's Long-Term Care & Rehabilitation Governance Council.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Kent Riddle, president and CEO, has a background in real estate and construction management. Mr. Kent first came to know Mary Free Bed in 2002 after his wife sustained a serious brain injury in a car accident. Her treatment at Mary Free bed inspired Mr. Kent to leave his business career and devote himself to helping others receive the benefits of rehabilitation. He was appointed CEO of the hospital in 2011.