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Key Executive At Partners HealthCare Steps Down, Heads To Harvard

Tom Glynn is stepping down as Partners COO
Tom Glynn is stepping down as Partners COO

Here's the letter from Dr. Gottlieb, announcing the departure:

Dear Colleagues,

Last year at this time when Partners HealthCare was preparing for the CEO transition, Tom Glynn, our Chief Operating Officer, shared with me his aspiration to return to his greatest passions, public service and higher education. Given the tumultuous environment we faced, I prevailed upon him to stay and help our leadership team through the organizational change ahead.

Now as we move forward with our strategic plans, and as we enter a new fiscal year, Tom has informed me that he is ready to step into the next phase of his career; he will leave his fulltime responsibilities at the end of the year, using the time until then to help with the transition. Tom will be teaching at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and serving as a Senior Fellow for Health Care Delivery Reform at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC.

Over the last nearly fifteen years, Tom has been a remarkable leader and partner to all four Partners’ CEOs as well as the leaders of all of our member organizations.

His values, commitment and determination have catalyzed the successful growth of our community programs, the skillful implementation of our real estate strategy and the important achievements of our work in communications and government relations. Moreover, much of the successful reorganization and centralization of key business and operational functions that have improved services across the Partners system while saving tens of millions of dollars can be attributed directly to Tom’s talents.

I have worked closely with Tom for more than twelve years. He is a brilliant man whose knowledge and instincts are laser sharp and always focused on finding the best course to enable us to nurture our precious mission.

Over the course of the coming weeks, we will outline a plan for a smooth transition. So much of what we have achieved together has been connected in some way to ideas that Tom has helped to guide and implement. We are in his debt and will always treasure his friendship.

And here's the official news release:

Glynn to Step Down as Partners HealthCare Chief Operating Officer

Thomas P. Glynn, Ph.D., who has served as Chief Operating Officer of Partners HealthCare since 1996, announced today that he is stepping down by the end of the year. Glynn said he would begin the transition over the next few weeks.

Glynn announced that he would be teaching a course in the spring semester at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and serving as a Senior Fellow for Health Care Delivery Reform at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC.

Glynn said, “After 14 years at Partners, this may seem like a sudden announcement, but it is not a sudden decision. Dr. Gottlieb and I first discussed this transition over a year ago. It has been an honor to serve in the same organization as so many world class physicians, nurses, clinicians and staff.”

Dr. Gottlieb said in remarking on Glynn’s tenure, “Over the last nearly fifteen years, Tom has been a remarkable leader and partner to all four of Partners’ CEOs and the leaders of all of our member organizations. He is a brilliant man whose knowledge and instincts are laser sharp and always focused on finding the best course to enable us to nurture our mission.”

In a final comment, Glynn said, “I have had the benefit of working with a top team of Partners Vice Presidents. And in addition to what I have learned from our four CEOs, Drs. H. Richard Nesson, Samuel Thier, James Mongan and Gary Gottlieb, I have also had the benefit of the wise counsel of our board chair, Jack Connors, and Drs. Eugene Braunwald and W. Gerald Austen. I wish all of my colleagues the best in tackling the opportunities that lie ahead.”

This program aired on October 12, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Rachel Zimmerman

Rachel Zimmerman Reporter
Rachel Zimmerman previously reported on health and the intersection of health and business for WBUR. She is working on a memoir about rebuilding her family after her husband’s suicide. 

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