BENNINGTON, Vt. — Thomas A. Dee is retiring this year after 16 years at the helm of Southwestern Vermont Health Care.

 

Dee has had a significant impact on the Southern Vermont medical center, overseeing its affiliation with Dartmouth Health, expanding access to care services through telehealth and offices in outlying communities, and steering the new $31 million emergency room expansion to fruition last year. 

 

The CEO and president of the health care system said he plans to retire at the end of 2025 and a search committee has been formed to seek his replacement.

 

"It is with mixed emotions that I take this next step in my life," Dee said. "After 45 years in healthcare leadership, I can honestly say that my time at Southwestern Vermont Health Care has been some of the most formative, fulfilling and, at times, humbling work in my career. SVHC has an amazing team of individuals, who care deeply about the patients and families we serve."

 

Tom Green, chair of the Board of Trustees will co-chair the executive search committee, along with other key leaders at SVHC and Dartmouth Health.

 

"Tom Dee's extraordinary leadership has been transformative and has catapulted our community hospital into one with a statewide and national spotlight that has five consecutive recognitions as a Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence and the American Hospital Association's Rural Hospital Leadership Award," said Green. "He has always taken a hands-on approach to enhancing patient care and experience, while consistently supporting the superb providers, nurses and staff that make it all possible. While Tom leaves big shoes to fill, he has built a highly talented leadership team and is leaving SVHC in a strong position for our next leader."

 

Dee led SVHC through its initial affiliation with what was then known as Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health in 2012, and the integration with the Dartmouth Health system in 2023. He also guided Southwestern Vermont Medical Center through massive transformations, including the building of the new emergency department and front entrance, as well as impending plans for a new cancer center and an inpatient adolescent mental health unit. He has also played a key role in economic development in Bennington, specifically with the redevelopment plans for the former Southern Vermont College campus and the downtown Putnam project.