Press releases

Yale-New Haven Hospital news release
Release date: May 26, 2005
Media contact: Vin Petrini, (203) 688-2612

Joseph A. Zaccagnino, president and chief executive officer of Yale-New Haven Hospital, announces his decision to retire

Joseph A. Zaccagnino, president and chief executive officer of Yale-New Haven Hospital, publicly announced on Wednesday his decision to retire after more than 35 years of service to Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS), including 14 years as executive vice president and chief operating officer and the past 14 years as president and chief executive officer. At the beginning of the year, Zaccagnino advised the board leadership that his decision to retire from both positions will be effective at the end of the current fiscal year on September 30, 2005.

"Joe Zaccagnino is a truly remarkable, dedicated and effective leader," said Marvin K. Lender, chairman of the Yale-New Haven Hospital Board of Trustees. "One cannot overstate Joe's passion, warmth and strength of character. I consider him a great friend and colleague and it is with genuine regret that the board has accepted his decision to retire. We are grateful for Joe's unfailing commitment to a vision of excellence for our hospital and health system, the results of which are evident every day in our hospitals."

"Joe has long discussed with the leadership of both boards his future plans and his interest in supporting a smooth leadership transition for both organizations. That transition will reinforce the critical priorities established through Joe's leadership and direction," added Lender.

During Zaccagnino's tenure, the hospital has been consistently named among the best in the nation by sources such as U.S. News and World Report. The hospital has received the prestigious EVE Award from the United States Department of Labor for its exemplary and voluntary diversity efforts and recently has been named by Working Mother and Essence magazines as among the best places to work in the United States.

The hospital also pioneered many critical patient care breakthroughs during this period of time. Yale-New Haven Hospital announced the first in vitro fertilization in New England, the first heart-lung transplant in Connecticut and the state's first bone marrow transplant. In 2003, it was the first hospital in New England to implant the Jarvik2000 ventricular assist heart device. The hospital led the industry in implementing state-of-the-art clinical information systems and performance management technology to track and improve patient safety and has been consistently ranked among the "most wired" hospitals in the nation.

"Joe Zaccagnino has had a profound impact on the direction of health care in Connecticut and throughout the nation," said Julia M. McNamara, chair, Yale New Haven Health System. "He has served more than 35 years at Yale-New Haven Hospital and was the driving force behind the creation of the Yale New Haven Health System, which, through its three hospitals, Yale-New Haven, Bridgeport and Greenwich and their related health care affiliates, serves approximately one out of every five patients hospitalized in Connecticut.

"Joe's good humor, coupled with steadfast determination, has produced a legacy of strong, consistent performance at one of the nation's premiere hospitals and health care systems. His ability to attract and develop an impressive executive and clinical team has allowed the boards to undertake a thoughtful process to determine his successor with the confidence that the institution's key initiatives will continue to be pursued," added McNamara.

Zaccagnino joined Yale-New Haven in 1970 following graduation from the Yale University School of Medicine with a Master's of Public Health in healthcare administration. He was appointed Yale-New Haven Hospital's executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1978 at the age of 32. In 1991, he went on to become president and chief executive officer of both the hospital and its parent, the Yale New Haven Health Services Corporation.

During his tenure, Zaccagnino led the development of such critical initiatives as the formation of the Yale New Haven Health System in 1995 with responsibility for Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital and Greenwich Hospital, as well as an affiliation with Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island. Today, the Yale New Haven Health System has revenue of nearly $1.3 billion and nearly 12,000 employees, making it one of the largest non governmental employers in the state of Connecticut. The hospital also completed three major building and renovation projects; opened the Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital; and acquired Temple Medical surgical center and radiology services. Most recently, the hospital opened an ambulatory satellite emergency and diagnostic treatment facility in Guilford, Connecticut.

The hospital's role in the community was greatly enhanced during Zaccagnino's tenure. The hospital currently provides more than $7 million annually to support community health programs and has recently announced a multi million dollar, multi year community investment program in association with its proposed 497,000-square-foot, $430 million proposed clinical cancer center. In addition to service on numerous national health care boards, Zaccagnino has served on a number of community boards, including the Regional Leadership Council, the United Way of Greater New Haven and, for the last two years, he has chaired the United Way Day of Caring.

Despite a challenging national health care environment, under Zaccagnino's leadership Yale-New Haven Hospital has seen record-setting growth in inpatient and outpatient demand and has consistently achieved positive financial performance, enabling the organization to invest in maintaining state-of-the-art facilities and patient care technologies. Under his direction, critical relationships between Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) have been strengthened, and a new Yale New Haven Health System affiliation agreement was established with Yale University, Yale School of Medicine and Yale-New Haven Hospital.

"I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to take on significant responsibilities at an early point in my career and to work with extraordinarily talented and dedicated colleagues who helped shape a great, patient-focused organization and produce consistently strong performance," said Zaccagnino. "In doing so, I have been able to also fulfill my professional goals and gain experience that I hope will allow me to continue to impact health care delivery even more broadly as an advisor to the senior management and governing bodies of health care organizations."

"As someone who has dedicated more than 35 years of my life to Yale-New Haven Hospital, it is my professional home and part of my extended family. This change for me will be both profound and exhilarating. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have served this great hospital and health system," he concluded.

Prior to the public announcement, the Yale-New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health System boards launched a joint search process for Zaccagnino's successor supported by a professional search firm. Members of the Search Committee have been actively at work and expect a successor to be named by September 1, 2005. Zaccagnino will continue to serve as president and CEO of the hospital and health system until September 30, 2005 with the continued strong support of the senior executive and clinical teams as he works directly with the boards to ensure a smooth transition.

Organizational Leadership

Mr. Zaccagnino joins Yale-New Haven Hospital in 1970. He is named executive vice president and chief operating officer in 1978 and president and chief executive officer in 1991 of the hospital and the Yale New Haven Health System.

In 1992, Yale-New Haven Hospital names Julia McNamara as the first woman to chair the hospital Board of Trustees and then the first woman to chair the Yale New Haven Health System Board. In 1993, Zaccagnino appoints Marna P. Borgstrom as the first woman to serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The hospital has been recognized for its diversity efforts through the receipt of the United States Department of Labor's Eve Award for exemplary and voluntary diversity efforts. It has been consistently recognized as one of the best places to work in the United States by Working Mother and Essence magazines.

Facilities and Technology

In 1978 construction began on the South Pavilion (known at the time as the "New Facility"). The South Pavilion officially opens in 1982, along with the Air Rights Garage, a project that is built with strong support from Yale-New Haven Hospital.

In 1984, the hospital pioneered a new computerized information system to handle the clerical and management functions of radiology. The first computerized networking system that tracks patient care from admissions to discharged, known as Clinical Care Support System, is launched in 1992.

Yale-New Haven Hospital, in collaboration with Gaylord Hospital, opens a new medical outpatient facility in the Long Wharf area of New Haven in 1986.

In 1990, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University and the Veteran's Administration Medical Center open the most advanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging center in the nation.

The Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital opens in 1993 along with a new main entrance to all inpatient buildings at 20 York Street.

In 1994, Yale-New Haven Hospital purchases the Temple Surgi-center and Diagnostic Radiology Center in New Haven.

The doors of the new Shoreline Medical Center, an emergency, diagnostic and treatment facility in Guilford, Connecticut, are opened in 2004.

Yale-New Haven Hospital announces plans to build a new 497,000-square-foot, $430 million clinical cancer center to provide state-of-the-art cancer services to patients in New Haven, Connecticut and beyond.

Clinical Program Development and Enhancement

In 1982, Yale-New Haven Hospital opens the Maternal Special Care Unit for high-risk pregnancies. The following year, Yale-New Haven Hospital announces the first in vitro fertilization in New England.

In 1983, the hospital is chosen by the federal Centers for Disease Control as the state center for the treatment of AIDS.

The hospital opens the Northeast's first skin bank for the treatment of patients with severe burns in 1984.

In 1985, the hospital opens Connecticut's first fetal cardiovascular center and the first inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric unit.

Yale-New Haven becomes the first hospital in Connecticut to implant an internal cardiac defibrillator in 1985 and performs the first heart-lung transplant in the state in 1988. Also, in 1988, the hospital opens the state's first bone marrow transplantation unit.

To enhance and fund new clinical initiatives, Yale New Haven Health System establishes with the Yale University School of Medicine a New Clinical Program Development Fund in 1999.

In 2000, Yale-New Haven Hospital acquires the assets of the Yale Psychiatric Institute and opens the Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital.

In 2001, the hospital is the first in New England to transplant a Jarvik2000 ventricular assist device into a failing heart.

Yale New Haven Health System

In 1995, the Yale New Haven Health System expanded as Bridgeport Hospital joined the system, followed by Greenwich Hospital in 1998. In 1999, Yale New Haven Health System signs an historic affiliation agreement with the Yale School of Medicine.

Today, the Yale New Haven Health System treats nearly one out of every five hospitalized patients in the state of Connecticut. The system includes 1,543 licensed beds, nearly 79,000 discharges and 1.2 million outpatient visits. The system has a combined medical staff of nearly 3,500 physicians and nearly 12,000 employees. It is the home of patient safety and clinical quality initiatives, the Performance Management Initiative, the Office of Emergency Preparedness, among other administrative and information services.

Reporters: For more information on this release, contact Vin Petrini, (203) 688-2612.

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Last revised: May 26, 2005 (mv)

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