Denise Needham, PharmD, will replace Mark Fourre, MD, who announced his retirement from his executive role last year.
Needham is currently the chief operating officer for PBMC-WCGH, and she succeeds Mark Fourre, MD, who last year announced his decision to step away from his role as president.
Needham’s appointment is effective May 8, giving her several weeks to work alongside Fourre prior to his departure June 2.
“We conducted a broad, national search for the next president for the organization. That search led us back to PBMC and WGCH and the good work Denise has been doing, most recently as our chief operating officer,” said Andrea Patstone, regional president of MaineHealth’s Coastal Region, which includes PBMC, WCGH, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Booth Bay Harbor and Mid Coast Parkview Health in Brunswick.
Patstone said Needham rose to the top of an extremely competitive candidate pool, impressing the search committee with her outstanding communication and people leadership skills, operational acumen and clear dedication to the vision, mission and values of MaineHealth. “Her unique combination of infectious energy, positivity and relentless focus on accountability and results will propel Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital forward,” she said.
Needham has more than 15 years of experience in health care leadership roles and has been an integral part of MaineHealth for many years. She began her career as a pharmacist and pharmacy supervisor with Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Then, after five years as a pharmacist supervisor/team lead at Cardinal Health in Houston, Texas, she joined PBMC-WCGH in 2015 as Director of Pharmacy. Since that time she has assumed roles of increasing responsibility, culminating with her appointment as chief operating officer in March of 2021.
Needham holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a doctor of pharmacy from Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2024 she is expected to complete her master’s degree in business administration from Boston University.
“It has been a terrific experience over the past eight years to work with the amazing care team at Pen Bay and Waldo, and to be in a position to serve as president is a real honor and opportunity,” said Needham. “Knox and Waldo counties are such special, warm and welcoming places, and I look forward to working to provide these communities with excellent patient care as we work toward our vision making our communities among the healthiest in America.”
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About Pen Bay Medical Center
Pen Bay Medical Center is a not-for-profit, Top Rural, Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score Graded and the largest community hospital in Midcoast Maine. Pen Bay Medical Center operates as a family of services that also includes Pen Bay Physicians & Associates, Quarry Hill Retirement Community, the Knox Center and the Sussman House. Through these organizations, and with a staff of more than 100 outstanding physicians and more than 1,500 healthcare professionals, we are able to provide the people of Midcoast Maine with a continuum of both routine and specialty patient-centered medical services. Pen Bay Medical Center is part of the Coastal Healthcare Alliance and the MaineHealth system.
About Waldo County General Hospital
Waldo County General Hospital is a 2017 Becker’s Hospital Review Critical Access Hospital to Know that operates as a family of services with Waldo County Medical Partners and Penobscot Shores Retirement Community. Through these organizations, we are committed to providing excellent care for patients and their families in a friendly, caring atmosphere. Services are provided as efficiently as possible with an eye on the future and in collaboration with other community-minded agencies. Waldo County General Hospital is part of the Coastal Healthcare Alliance and the MaineHealth system.
About MaineHealth
MaineHealth is a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.” It consists of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,500 employed and independent physicians working together through the MaineHealth Medical Group. With approximately 22,000 employees, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, NorDx in Scarborough, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. MaineHealth Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland.