After seven plus years of leadership and a long record of accomplishments, Anne Diamond announced this week she will be stepping down in August as CEO of UConn John Dempsey Hospital to become president and CEO of Day Kimball Healthcare, a new community partner of Yale New Haven Health. In her new role she will lead Day Kimball’s integration into the Yale New Haven Health community partnership.
“Personally and professionally, it is time for something different,” said Diamond. “What we have done on so many fronts, especially patient safety, is the work of a team and I have no doubt that will continue at the award winning level it is today.”
Diamond was named CEO of John Dempsey Hospital in 2014. She first joined the team in 2010 as associate vice president of clinical operations, then chief operating officer a year later. Prior to arriving at UConn Health, Diamond worked for Salem Health in Salem, Ore., where she served as vice president for service lines and operations, and at the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., where she served in multiple roles including leading the international health care research division. She began her career in health care at the University Hospitals of Cleveland as a nuclear medicine and research technologist.
“Anne’s determination and dedication to our patients has made our hospital strong in so many ways,” said UConn Health CEO Dr. Andy Agwunobi. “Moving an entire hospital, building a team to make us better, leading the way internally and externally on countless initiatives and improving quality to a top of class level are among the contributions she made to make us better.”
Diamond will long be remembered for a long list of accomplishments, and for her starring role in the “Jonathan Tours the Hospital” video which recently received an award from the New England Society for Healthcare Marketing.
“I cannot offer high enough praise for Anne and what she has accomplished,” said Cheryl Chase, a member of the UConn Health Board of Directors and chair of its Clinical Affairs Subcommittee. “She raised us to best practices. Her genuine care for patients and the quality of their care was not just her job, it was her passion and our growth only happened because of her guidance and ability to motivate others to that vision. I appreciate how she dealt with issues, was open to discussions and solutions. Anne set the bar high and we reached it …. I am a big fan.”
Physicians from many parts of the organization added their praise for Diamond’s work.
“She is unique in that she can paint the picture at 30,000 feet and then get into the weeds and solve a problem with you,” said Dr. Scott Allen, medical director of clinical effectiveness and patient safety at UConn John Dempsey. “She proved that improving quality and profitability are not mutually exclusive.”
“Anne was incredibly approachable, collegial and open to new ideas. Despite the considerable fiscal constraints she faced during her time as CEO, it was always clear that UConn Health’s mission to delivery efficient, high quality patient care drove all of her decisions,” added Dr. Mark Metersky, associate chief of service in the Department of Medicine at UConn Health.
“I have valued Anne’s collegiality and support for our department,” added Chair of Psychiatry Dr. David Steffens. “She encourages a collaborative working environment based on mutual respect. I will greatly miss working with her, and I wish her all the best.”
“Anne has made transformative changes,” added Dr. Suzi Rose, senior associate dean for academic affairs at UConn School of Medicine. “I look up to her and her incredible leadership skills. Our medical students will miss her participation in our healthcare systems course.”
“Anne’s commitment to nursing has been tremendous,” said Chief Nursing Officer Ann Marie Capo. “From caring about our work, to challenging us to deliver quality care, along with her firm support for our Magnet journey, Anne has been our advocate and our champion.”
Upon Diamonds’ departure, Agwunobi will assume responsibility for leadership of the hospital working with its senior executive team to ensure a seamless transition.
“I hate saying goodbye, there is never anything easy about it when you love your work and the people you do it with,” Diamond concluded. “When I go, it will be with an immense sense of accomplishment and pride in the people who I have worked with while at UConn Health and what we accomplished, together.”
