TAMC welcomes Getman
By Kathy McCarty
SYLVIA GETMAN
PRESQUE ISLE — TAMC officials have a new leader, with the recent arrival of Sylvia Getman, who was hired earlier this year to replace retiring president and CEO, Dave Peterson.
Hospital officials call Getman “a dynamic healthcare leader” with lots of experience leading rural hospitals — skills she will use to continue the work her predecessor has been doing for many years. Peterson’s retirement comes after an accomplished career at TAMC that spanned several decades.
The new hospital president comes to Maine from Massachusetts, where she served as president and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital, a 19-bed hospital on the island of Nantucket and member of Partners Health Care. She will now oversee operations at the 89-bed facility in Presque Isle, with an additional 72 beds at the Mars Hill nursing home — a TAMC division.
She has also served as chief executive officer of Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa, and vice president of network systems for Mercy Medical Center — North Iowa in Mason City, Iowa.
Hospital officials are thrilled to have such a knowledgeable individual as Getman join their staff.
“We are excited to welcome Sylvia to TAMC and to Aroostook County,” said Peter St. John, chair of the Board of Trustees. “The TAMC Board believes she has the leadership skills and vision needed to help the organization face the challenges that lie ahead in health care.”
St. John said he’s looking forward to working with Getman as the hospital positions itself for the future and how it can better serve patients.
“The past couple of decades have been characterized by growth as TAMC became the pre-eminent health care organization in the area. Now it’s time to begin a new chapter in our history, and we are happy that Sylvia is here to lead us into it,” said St. John.
A team led by members of the TAMC Board and EMHS President and CEO Michelle Hood began the search process last fall. After a nationwide search, it was announced in June that Getman would be TAMC’s next president and CEO.
Getman is looking forward to her new duties.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with the excellent TAMC team to serve Presque Isle and surrounding communities,” said Getman. “My family and I have fallen in love with this beautiful area and look forward to getting settled and getting to know everyone.”
Getman hopes to have the opportunity to meet as many of the members of the community as she can so she can hear their thoughts and ideas about how best to build upon the successes TAMC has achieved and how to strengthen and improve the hospital’s health care resources.
“While times are challenging everywhere in this economic downturn,” continued Getman, “I look forward to building upon the great work Dave and the TAMC team have done to find ways to continue to meet the needs of Aroostook County citizens for exceptional health care.”
