Medical Mutual taps Shawn Anderson as next Company CEO
The longtime hospital exec will succeed Frank Lavoie, MD, MBA December 2, 2023
After a broad-scale search that attracted numerous candidates, Medical Mutual recently named Shawn D. Anderson, MSB, a current Company Board member, to succeed Frank W. Lavoie, MD, MBA as President and CEO of the Company. Anderson is currently the CEO of Houlton Regional Hospital in Houlton, Maine and will begin with Medical Mutual as President-elect on October 16, 2023.
Company Board Chair Bob Stevens, MD, who led the search committee, said Anderson stood out in what was an exceptional field of high-quality applicants.
"Not only does Shawn have a proven track record of success, but like every Medical Mutual President before him, he has been a highly-respected and accomplished member of the healthcare community for many years, giving him unique insight into the challenges the medical community faces,” said Stevens. “That’s important both to the Company and to our member-policyholders."
Checking All The Boxes
Stevens said Anderson brings a strong background of operational and CEO experience, as well as experience addressing healthcare issues both nationally and, in our core Northern New England territory. That experience, which Stevens said "checks all the boxes" the search committee sought, includes serving on numerous related boards and committees, such as the Maine Hospital Association Board, the American Hospital Association's Region 1 (New England) Policy Board and Medical Mutual's own Board of Directors, as well as the Company's Maine Advisory Committee.
In announcing Anderson's appointment, Lavoie, the current President and CEO, said Anderson's mid-October start date allows for "roughly a six-week period in which I will assist in his integration into our Company and culture, thereby ensuring a smooth transition for our member- insureds, employees, regulators and business partners."
A lifelong Mainer who grew up in Aroostook County, Anderson graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle before earning his MSB at Husson University in Bangor. He then served as Director of the University's Continuing Education Division and as an Adjunct Faculty Member for 10 years, teaching courses in Ethical Theory in Business and Human Resources Management.
Progressive Leadership in Healthcare
Starting with an appointment to Director of Human Resources at Visiting Nurses of Aroostook, Anderson's healthcare career has been marked by 25 years of progressive leadership in the industry. During his three years with Visiting Nurses, he added the title of Director of Business Development before taking a position as Senior Operations Officer at Horizons Health Services, The Aroostook Medical Center.
He returned to his hometown of Caribou, Maine in 2004, where he served as Chief Operating Officer of Cary Medical Center for 14 years before taking the same position at Houlton Regional Hospital. Less than two years later he was named Chief Executive Officer, a position he has served with distinction, successfully guiding the critical access hospital through the challenges of the pandemic. Notably, during this same time he led the facility to three consecutive years of positive operating margins, a rare accomplishment for a rural independent hospital in Maine.
"Eager to get going"
For his part, Anderson says the Medical Mutual name has, in his mind, always been synonymous with quality, so he was excited to be selected as the new CEO. And emails of congratulations he has received since the announcement have even increased his excitement level.
"I kid you not, I received emails from at least three or four people within the organization welcoming me, and this is a quote, 'to the best company on the planet.' As I thought about it, it made complete sense because this is the truth that I know from my role as the CEO of a member-policyholder myself. So, I’m eager to get going and lead the Company into the future."
The search process, from recruitment to initial applicant screening through to the final offer sheet, was managed by Medical Mutual Director of HR, Kelly Tirabassi. Dr. Stevens also noted that Tirabassi provided invaluable interview guidance in support of the larger committee. In addition to Stevens, the search committee included Board Members Al Swallow, CPA and CFO of MaineHealth in Portland, Maine , Lois Skillings, retired CEO of Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, Maine, Adam Kunin, MD, a cardiologist in Morrisville, Vermont, and Cynthia DeSoi, MD, a nephrologist in Lewistown, Maine.
Following his six weeks as President-elect, Anderson will assume his new position as President and CEO effective December 2, 2023.