Description of Hospital Governance
The Fletcher Allen Health Care Board of Trustees has 18 members. Under its bylaws, Fletcher Allen's four parent organizations - Fanny Allen Corporation, Vermont Health Foundation (VHF), University Health Center and the University of Vermont (UVM) - each have authority to appoint four trustees to the board. Three of the parent organizations, VHF, UVM and Fanny Allen, have granted proxies authorizing the Fletcher Allen board to exercise these appointive powers. In addition to the 16 appointed members, the chief executive officer is an ex officio board member, and the chair of the board is elected by the other trustees. The president of the Medical Staff of Fletcher Allen is invited to attend all board meetings and participate in discussions as a non-voting member of the board.
The Fletcher Allen bylaws specify that the Board of Trustees must be "broadly representative of the community interest." In addition, at least one of the four trustees appointed by each of the parent organizations must be "independent," which means that the trustee cannot have served on the board of any of the parent organizations or served in a senior management position at Fletcher Allen or any of the parent organizations for one full year prior to the appointment.
The board’s Nominating and Governance Committee, which coordinates the nominations process, has adopted a policy indicating that potential candidates should display the following characteristics and competencies:
• Passionate about patient care
• Embrace the mission and values of the organization
• Capable of understanding the unique academic health center environment
• High integrity
• Knowledge of health care issues
• Ability to understand large, complex organizations
• Financial acumen
• Strong decision-making skills
• Commitment to the community
• Familiarity or experience with the state regulatory and political process
• Knowledge of non-profit organizations
The members of the Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees include the following:
- Christopher Dutton, chairman, Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees; president and chief executive officer, Green Mountain Power Corp.
- Jan Carney, M.D., M.P.H., vice-chair, Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees; research professor of Medicine and associate dean for public health, University of Vermont College of Medicine.
- Marc H. Monheimer, secretary, Fletcher Allen Board of Trustees; adjunct professor, University of Vermont School of Business Administration.
- Melinda L. Estes, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Fletcher Allen.
- Sarah Carpenter, executive director, Vermont Housing Finance Agency.
- Alan Charron, former epidemiology programs administrator, Vermont Department of Health.
- Elizabeth (Betsy) Davis, R.N., M.P.H., LLD (Honorary), immediate past president and chief executive officer, Visiting Nurse Alliance of Vermont and New Hampshire, Inc.
- John P. Fogarty, M.D., interim dean, University of Vermont College of Medicine.
- A. Donald Gilbert, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Vermont Gas Systems, Inc.
- Joseph Haddock, M.D., primary care physician, Thomas Chittenden Health Center, Williston.
- Rita Markley, executive director, Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS).
- Stephen P. Marsh, president, Community National Bank in Derby Line, Vermont.
- Philip Mead, M.D., former physician leader of Fletcher Allen's Women's Health Care Service and chair of OB/GYN at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
- Mitchell Norotsky, M.D., president, Fletcher Allen Medical Staff; Fletcher Allen cardiothoracic surgeon.
- Rodney Parsons, Ph.D., chair, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
- John Powell, director of housing development, Lake Champlain Housing Development Corporation.
- Betty Rambur, DNSc, R.N., dean, University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
- Roger Stone, president, Stone Investment Advisory, Inc.
- Dennis Vane, M.D., M.B.A., pediatric surgeon and chief of Pediatric Surgery, Fletcher Allen.
For more information about board members, go to Fletcher Allen's Web site: http://www.FletcherAllen.org click on “About Fletcher Allen” in the upper right corner, and then on “Board of Trustees.”
Fletcher Allen's Board of Trustees is committed to ensuring that Fletcher Allen conducts business in an open, transparent and inclusive manner. During 2004, the board approved a Plan for Improving Institutional Communication and Openness. To support the plan, the meetings of the board include a public session for discussion of matters that are not confidential. This session also provides an opportunity for members of the public to comment on matters relating to Fletcher Allen's operations.
The board has regular business meetings every other month. During alternate months, the board holds educational sessions that provide trustees with in-depth education on health care issues. All board meetings are publicly warned and allow opportunity for public comment, although the public comment session is more abbreviated during educational meetings.
To view the schedule of board meetings, including the dates and locations, and board meeting agendas, go to http://www.FletcherAllen.org and click on "Fletcher Allen Board of Trustee Meetings" under "What's New."
For more information about board meetings, including schedules and agendas, contact the board coordinator. The board coordinator can be reached at the following address and phone number:
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Charles LaPierre
Board of Trustees Coordinator
111 Colchester Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 847-1124
