CMHVI - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice - Chair of the Board of Directors
- Board Chair, Central Maine Healthcare / LPL Financial Advisor, Twin City Financial
- Central Maine Healthcare Board Vice Chair
Austin Albert is a very highly regarded and influential leader in the Lewiston business community, who is frequently called upon for his knowledge to make informed decisions and build sound investment strategies. Austin takes a personal approach to financial services beginning with educating his clients about the many aspects of wealth management and preservation, and building long lasting relationships.
A graduate from Union College, Austin is respected across the Finance Industry and brings over 15 years of financial and economic leadership experience. Austin resides in Lewiston with his family and in his spare time he enjoys skiing, fishing, biking, snowmobiling and traveling. Austin has served on the Central Maine Healthcare Board since 2018 and is the Chair of the Finance Committee and the Investment and Retirement Sub-Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Community Credit Union. Fun Fact: Austin has never broken a bone!
As the newly appointed Central Maine Healthcare Board Vice Chair, Austin has strong essential competencies including: financial/accounting expertise, knowledge of consumerism and customer service, with a strategic thinking/business development track record.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- CMH in 2020 As Senior Associate General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
Ms. Shew joined CMH in 2020 as senior associate general counsel and chief compliance officer before her promotion to vice president.
Ms. Shew previously worked as system director of risk and legal services at Tewksbury, Mass.-based Covenant Health and as director of performance improvement at both St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston and Inland Hospital in Waterville.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President
- Is the Chief Financial Officer for Central Maine Healthcare
David is a very accomplished and seasoned CFO, having served most of his career in the for-profit health system sector.
He is very operationally focused and accustomed to driving performance to meet best practice metrics. Before joining Central Maine Healthcare, he was with Conemaugh Health System, a 550 bed, four hospital system in Johnstown, Pennsylvania as Duke LifePoint Market Chief Financial Officer.
David has a B.A. of Accounting from King's College and a Master's in Business Administration, Finance from Philadelphia University. David and his wife Jennifer- who is originally from Portland-have a home in Lincolnville, Maine and two grown daughters. David said, "Maine is like coming home to us after sharing so much family time in Lincolnville. We are excited to be returning permanently."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare
David Salko, MD is known for his compassionate approach by the patients he serves at Topsham Family Medicine. He focuses on motivating patients toward better lifestyles and employs both traditional and holistic approaches to treating patients.
A graduate from Franklin and Marshall College, Dr. Salko attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College and graduated in 2001. He completed the Family Medicine Internship and Residency at Maine Medical Center in 2004 followed by Medical Acupuncture at the Helms Medical Institute in 2006. He has also completed leadership training with Maine's Physician Executive Leadership Institute as a McAfee fellow in 2018. He is a respected physician leader in the Central and Mid Coast communities and has been awarded the Bernard L. Albert Memorial Award - For the Promise of Becoming a Humane Physician (1997), Arthur Krieger Memorial Prize in Family Medicine (2001) and HEROES Award - Healthcare Employees Reaching Out for Excellent Service (2012). Dr. Salko enjoys teaching and precepts medical students and nurse practitioners.
Fun Facts: David is passionate about the growth and development of his family and children. He enjoys living in and exploring Maine as well as running/fitness, reading, cooking, and travel. David plays the drums, supports extended family in their farming adventures, and practices living life to the fullest within the beauty of art, science, and philosophy.
Favorite quote: "If I could wish for my life to be perfect, it would be tempting but I would decline, for life would no longer teach me anything." - Allyson Jones
As the newly appointed Central Maine Healthcare Board Director, David brings a direct voice of physicians.
Dev Culver is an innovative leader and mentor that is quality focused, who is a very highly regarded and influential community leader that is frequently called upon for his knowledge to develop comprehensive patient care coordination and enable enhanced patient safety through improvement of patient clinical data. While easygoing by nature, no one doubts his authority and direction of the Board.
A graduate from Northwestern University, Dev is respected across the Healthcare IT Industry and brings over 30 years of executive leadership experience. He has published six peer reviewed publications. Dev has received numerous honors from New England Health Information and Management Systems Society, IT Innovator Award, MaineBiz, Modern Healthcare and PowerChart Award. Community service is important to Dev and he has sat on the Governor's Task Force on Y2K Readiness, State of Maine (1999-2000), the State of Maine Information Systems Advisory Board (2000-2002), Co-Chairman of the Governor's Task Force on Telemedicine (2002-2003) and the Central Maine Healthcare Board of Directors (2018 - present). Dev retired from full-time employment in 2018. This change enabled Dev to indulge other passions that include being the volunteer coordinator for the Thomas Settlemire Community Garden Common Good Garden (CGG). Dev and the CGG volunteer teams grow vegetables for distribution to Brunswick area residents in need through the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. During the 2020 growing season, the CGG produced over 4,000 pounds of fresh produce despite the challenges of bringing groups together to work during a pandemic.
As the newly appointed Central Maine Healthcare Board Chair, Dev has strong essential competencies including: "C-Suite" corporate leadership experience, experience governing or leading an organization through financially challenging environment/industry in transition, knowledge of consumerism and customer service, leadership experience in larger not-for-profit or public sector entity, legal or corporate compliance expertise, marketing and branding expertise with a strategic thinking/business development track record.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Board Chair, Central Maine Healthcare
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare
Dr. Kip Webb has been successful in leading healthcare reform as a pediatrician, professor and business leader. He is a highly sought-after public speaker who has been asked to present on myriad topics, including healthcare reform, consumerism, digital innovation, social determinants of health and clinician burnout.
Kip became an assistant professor at Stanford University Medical School while still in his twenties and was named "Teacher of the Year". He later joined the faculty of Tufts University Medical School and his academic work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Pediatrics.
Kip was recruited to be managing director at Accenture, an IT services company, where he was selected one of the firm's "Top 30 Leaders."
He earned a bachelor's degree in English and Biology at Amherst College, his Doctor of Medicine at Cornell University and his Master of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts. Kip lives in San Francisco with his family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / VP, Finance & Administration and Treasurer, Bates College - Strategy - Higher Education - Nonprofits
Geoff Swift joined the Bates staff in 2014 to oversee the finance, facilities, dining and human resource functions at the college, including oversight of the annual budget process and the production of annual audited financial reports. He came to Bates after 10 years at Harvard University where he spent five years as the budget director at the Harvard Business School before moving to Harvard Law School for more than five years as the associate dean for finance and the chief financial officer. In roles outside of higher education, Geoff worked in economic consulting and merchant banking. He earned his B.A. from Amherst College and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
In addition to time with the CMH board, Geoff is also on the investment committee of a local foundation improving the lives of people in Maine. Several of Geoff's family members work in healthcare, and he has developed a deep appreciation for caregivers throughout any healthcare organization from his father's 30-year experience with a traumatic brain injury.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / Chief, CMH Oncology Institute - Joint Commission International - Quality & Patient Safety - Philanthropy
Hector Tarraza, MD is a strategic and respected physician leader, who is frequently called upon for his knowledge and expertise in obstetrics, gynecology and oncology. He has extensive experience in worldwide cancer prevention, education, surgery and medical leadership.
A graduate from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Tarraza completed his residency training in the Combined Harvard OB/GYN at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham Women's followed by Harvard Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship in 1987. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work over his career including the Tufts University Medical Student Excellence in Teaching Award, Operational Excellence Physician Champion Award, named Honorary Visiting Professor of OBGYN, Singapore, and received the Distinguished Service to Healthcare Philanthropy Award. Dr. Tarraza has over 30 publications, 40 abstracts, 3 Chapters and 1 book. He has Co-Chaired two capital campaigns and served as committee member on three other campaigns. Over the past 25 years, Dr. Tarraza has led over 100 medical missions throughout the world caring for some of the poorest communities on the planet.
As the newly appointed Central Maine Healthcare Board Director, Hector brings a direct voice of physicians and has strong essential competencies including: leadership experience in larger not-for-profit or public sector entities, reliability science/quality expertise, and strategic thinking/business development track record.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / Human Resources - Succession Planning - HRIS - Benefits - Recruiting - Staffing - Employee Relations
- Director of Human Resources and Communications at ND Paper
Janet currently serves as the Director of Human Resources and Communications at ND Paper mill in Rumford. She is a strategic and innovative leader with experience in unionized manufacturing including labor, employee relations, occupational safety and health, and worker's compensation.
Janet received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Vermont and her Masters of Science in Nursing from Simmons University. A graduate from University of Phoenix, Janet received her MBA/HRM in Human Resource Management and is a respected leader in labor relations, workforce planning, change management, process improvement and compensation. Janet lives in Weld, Maine with her husband of 3-years.
As a Central Maine Healthcare Board Director, Janet has strong essential competencies including: Experience governing or leading an organization through financially challenging environment/industry in transition, knowledge of consumerism and customer service, reliability science/quality expertise, and strategic thinking/business development track record.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Social Worker
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / CEO, Community Concepts, Inc., ( CCI ) Lewiston
Jim Martin is a well-versed social services leader in Maine, having executive leadership experience in both nonprofit and state government sectors. Jim has a broad professional background providing clinical services to children and families and has dedicated his career to helping marginalized individuals become stable and independent.
Jim is a licensed clinical social worker and received his Master of Social Work from the University of New England. Prior to assuming his role at CCI, Jim served as chief program officer at Sweetser and as director of the Office of Child and Family Services at the Maine DHHS where he was responsible for ensuring the safety, permanency and well-being of children and families. He also worked as director of the Office of Aging and Disability Services at DHHS, overseeing a suite of Medicaid home and community-based programs for individuals with disabilities
Jim and his family reside in Raymond and enjoy spending time outside boating and skiing as much as possible.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- MHCM
John Alexander, MD, MHCM, FACEP, joined Central Maine Healthcare in 2018 and is the system's chief medical officer. He is responsible for the system's quality, regulatory compliance, research and medical affairs, community health, pharmacy, behavioral health, case management operations and the Central Maine Accountable Care Organization.
Dr. Alexander has also served as CMH's chief quality officer and the medical director of CMH's Maine Urgent Care. As president of the Central Maine ACO, he oversees a local network of hospitals and providers that coordinate care for Medicare patients.
He was previously the chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs, quality and safety for Dallas-based Steward Health Care's Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and Haverhill, Mass. Prior to those roles, Dr. Alexander was leader of integrated medicine, chief of emergency services and medical director of wound care services at York Hospital in Maine and emergency services director at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
A native of York County, Dr. Alexander returned to Maine after earning his bachelor's degree in economics and finance from Boston College, his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and his master's degree in health care management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / CFO & Treasurer, Spurwink - Strategic Planning - Compliance - Pension Plans
John McAnuff is a strategic and experienced leader with strong financial and operational skills. He has expansive experience in internal controls, Not-For-Profit Management, GAAP, risk management and financial reporting including analysis.
A graduate of Boston University and University of Southern Maine, John is a respected leader and enjoys working with clinicians and educators. He is a thought leader that has identified unique business opportunities in the behavioral health industry while adapting to constant change. John enjoys helping people grow and develop their talents. He is a realist and uses data as evidence to gauge if something worked and to make recommendations for process improvement. John is optimistic about the human race and uses perspective and uses creativity to identify solutions. Fun Fact: John is a runner, history lover - especially Roman history and cooking. Family time and hanging out with his kids is a priority.
As a Central Maine Healthcare Board Director, John has strong essential competencies including: "C-Suite" corporate leadership background, experience governing or leading an organization through financially challenging environment/industry in transition, financial/accounting expertise, leadership experience in larger not-for-profit or public sector entity, and strategic thinking/business development track record.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Vice President of Business and Community Development
Kara Aleixo Johnson, JD joined Central Maine Healthcare in 2020 and is the health system's vice president of business and community development, responsible for business development, corporate communications, marketing, philanthropy, community outreach, and political advocacy. A healthcare leader for over ten years, Ms. Johnson held previous roles in business development and philanthropy and was senior director of development at Mid-Coast Parkview Health in Brunswick. She has also owned a business development consulting firm, held leadership roles in other business enterprises, and practiced law primarily in real estate and litigation.
Johnson earned her bachelor's degree in English literature and political science from Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., and her law degree from Suffolk University School of Law in Boston.
She has served on the boards of local organizations, including The Gathering Place and Maine Paws for Veterans. Johnson is a corporator of Mid Coast Hospital and has served on the board of trustees for Mid Coast-Parkview Health.
A native of the Boston area, Johnson has resided in the Brunswick, Maine, region for about 25 years with her husband and four grown children, where she is an active community member.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services, Central Maine Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer
Kris Chaisson, BSN, MS, RN, CCRN, is vice president of nursing and patient care services at Central Maine Medical Center. In this role, she is responsible for the hospital's nursing operations in acute care, emergency and perioperative services as well as for laboratory services and LifeFlight.
Ms. Chaisson joined Central Maine Healthcare in 2016. She has served as CMMC's director of perioperative and invasive cardiovascular services and as the health system's associate chief nursing officer.
She was previously executive director of heart and vascular services at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., part of the Trinity Health system, and administrative director of cardiac surgery and cardiovascular services and the clinical decision unit at Concord Hospital in New Hampshire.
Ms. Chaisson has also been a nurse clinician in Concord Hospital's cardiac care and intensive care unit and a staff nurse in the intensive care unit of Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H., and in the oncology/medical-surgical unit of Salem Hospital in Massachusetts. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at the Maine College of Health Professions in Lewiston, Maine, and the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, N.H.
She earned her master's degree in healthcare administration from New England College in Henniker, N.H., and her bachelor's degree in nursing from St. Joseph's College in Windham, Maine.
Ms. Chaisson's community involvement includes service on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association in Maine and New Hampshire and on the American Heart Association Founders Affiliate Volunteer Leadership Board. She has been an active member and volunteer with the American Association of Critical Care nurses since 1994. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the Organization of Maine Nurse Executives.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / Retired Healthcare Executive
Larry Merlis joins the Central Maine Healthcare Board with 45 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Most recently, he was executive vice president for Strategic Partnerships, Ventures and Innovation at Thomas Jefferson University. Larry was also chief operating officer at Jefferson Health, a multi-state nonprofit health system.
Prior to working at Jefferson Health, Larry was president and CEO of Abington Health in Pennsylvania and president and CEO of Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Maryland.
Larry received a Master of Business Administration at George Washington University. He has served on the boards of several hospitals, as well as the Workforce Investment Board of Montgomery County, Pa.
While Larry and his wife, Ryder Wood, currently live in Pennsylvania, Ryder's family is originally from Maine so they have a strong affinity to the Pine Tree State. They both enjoy spending time during the summer boating on the Chesapeake Bay.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Chair, Central Maine Healthcare / Public Relations Leader
Linda is a detail-oriented strategic communicator with a calling to serve. She has more than 25 years of experience as a public relations practitioner and leader-stateside and overseas-as a U.S. Air Force officer. She earned an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering and a master's degree in communication. Linda is also a graduate of Air War College and completed Advance Joint Professional Military Education in Norfolk, Virginia.
Since retiring from the Air Force, Linda has worked as a corporate communication contractor, dabbled in sales and marketing, and enjoys part-time employment at a local church.
Linda serves on the board of Beautify Rumford, fills in as a substitute teacher, and volunteers where needed in the community. She enjoys hiking and loves getting her hands dirty, literally, donating fresh produce from her garden to the food pantry to compensate for a heavy hand at planting time.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / Chairman and CEO, Hicuity Health - Telemedicine - High - Acuity - Healthcare
- Health Care Executive
Lou Silverman is an experienced health care executive who grew up in Lewiston, ME and joined the CMHC Board out of a strong desire to give back to the community where he was raised. He has expansive experience in leading healthcare technology and healthcare services organizations serving hospital systems, hospitals and provider groups.
A graduate of Amherst College and The Harvard Business School, Lou's current company is a respected leader in the rapidly growing technology-enabled remote patient monitoring space. Previously he served as the CEO of a leading publicly traded EMR company as well as a specialty healthcare RCM organization.
Lou also serves as a Board member for a variety of public and private health care organizations.
As a newly appointed Central Maine Healthcare Board Director, Lou brings to the system "C-Suite" leadership experience as well as specific expertise in areas including finance, customer service, corporate compliance, strategy development, and business development.
Outside of work, Lou was a Founding Director of Community Roots Academy (a K-8 charter school) and has been honored as a nominee for several awards including the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2011, 2012) and Entrepreneur of the Year, Orange County Business Journal (2016, 2017).
Keeping additionally busy with a variety of "part time" jobs, Lou served as Head Coach for Sage Hill School Girls Varsity Basketball (2007-11). During his tenure, the team was Academy League Champions (2007, 2009), made the CIF playoffs during the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons, and Lou was named Academy League Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2009.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare / Vice President of Sales & Marketing
- Strategic Business Leader
Marney Chalmers, a strategic business leader, is a highly regarded and influential community member in the Lakes Region. Marney is known for her marketing strategies, business acumen and building strong partner relationships.
A graduate from Parsons School of Design in New York, Marney is respected in her industry for bringing innovation and creative solutions together to drive efficiencies and produce results.
Prior to working at NAHGA Claim Services, Marney had a successful career in New York City working within a leadership role at William Sonoma Inc. With over ten years of experience, Marney specialized in strategic branding, merchandising, partner relationships, cost negotiations, and the responsible sourcing within the global supply chain. Marney is a two-time recipient of the Williams Sonoma, Inc. "Catch the Spirit" award.
As the newly appointed Central Maine Healthcare Board Director, Marney has strong essential competencies including: experience governing or leading an organization through financially challenging environment/industry in transition, relationship building, knowledge of consumerism and customer service, marketing and branding expertise with a strategic thinking/business development track record. Marney's experience will allow her to bring fresh ideas to the table and skillfully advance the mission of the organization.
Marney spends her time between Portland and Bridgton, Maine, and resides with her husband and English Setter dog named: Fluffernutter. In her spare time Marney enjoys playing tennis, running, and designing jewelry.
Job Titles:
- Residency and Accreditation Program Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President of Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Board Director, Central Maine Healthcare
- Chief Integration and Operating Officer for Lancaster General Health in Pennsylvania
- DBA
- President & CEO Central Maine Healthcare, President, Central Maine Medical Center
Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, is Central Maine Healthcare's president and CEO, President of Central Maine Medical Center and President Interim of Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital. In these roles, he advances the integration of CMH as a high-quality delivery system and has executive responsibility for CMMC.
Dr. Littleson joined CMH in 2020 after serving as chief integration and operating officer for Lancaster General Health in Pennsylvania. Prior to that position, he was regional president of Jefferson Health in Philadelphia and served as president, hospitals division and chief operation officer for Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. Additionally, he has held senior roles at Meridian Health, Southern Ocean County Hospital, both in New Jersey, and Sentara Healthcare in Virginia.
A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Dr. Littleson served as an officer and chairman of the boards of the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals. He was on the boards of numerous community service organizations including Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Rotary International, the American Red Cross and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member of New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and he has been a regular guest lecturer for the Peking University Executive MBA program in Beijing, China.
Dr. Littleson earned his bachelor of arts in business administration from Gettysburg College, his master of health administration from Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University and his doctorate in business administration from Walden University.