Noble names Bryant president and CEO

Date: 3/14/2011

WESTFIELD — On March 9, Robert J. Bacon, chair of the Noble Hospital Board of Trustees, announced the appointment of Ron Bryant, currently executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) at Noble Hospital, as president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective April 3. Robert P. Perry, FACHE, Noble's current president and CEO, has announced his return to retirement.

Bryant, of Kennebunkport, Maine, was named COO in August 2010. He has an extensive health care management background, and prior to his position at Noble, served as vice president and chief financial officer at H.D. Goodall Hospital in Sanford, Maine. In addition to his financial leadership, he was responsible for many operational departments while at H.D. Goodall.

As COO at Noble, Bryant has had primary responsibility for the daily operations of the hospital. In his new capacity as president and CEO, he will be the senior executive responsible for leadership of the hospital and will report directly to the Board of Trustees.

Bryant received a bachelor's degree from Assumption College in Worcester, and is completing his master's degree in Health Administration at St. Joseph's College in Standish, Maine. He is also a certified public accountant.

"Ron Bryant has the expertise, experience, judgment, work ethic, and commitment to continuing Noble's renaissance," Bacon said. "We look forward to welcoming Ron and his family to Westfield, and wish him every success in his new role and responsibilities."

Perry formerly served as CEO of St. Clare's Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., and as CEO of Northeastern Hospital in Philadelphia, Penn. He has served as Noble's president and CEO since September 2009. His original contract had him serving on an interim basis for a term of nine months. That contract was extended during the hospital's search for a permanent hospital administrator.

Under Perry's leadership, Noble Hospital achieved several notable recognitions, including the Gold Seal of Approval by The Joint Commission, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award, and the American Heart Association's Lifeline Bronze Performance Achievement (Code STEMI) Award.

Other accomplishments include the completed renovation of the Emergency Department; ranking as first among regional peers for overall patient satisfaction by Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems; and, the establishment of several new partnerships designed to enhance patient services, among them: New England Pathology Associates; Jefferson Radiology; and, Pioneer Valley Cardiology.

"We are very grateful to Bob Perry for his energy, enthusiasm, and strong, realistic leadership that have brought us countless positive changes," Bacon said. "We wish him and his family well as he resumes his retirement."