Three Dartmouth Health system leaders have been named to Becker’s Hospital Review in its 2026 list of “Rural Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs to Know.”
Estevan Garcia, MD, DrPH, president and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Health Care; Michael Lynch, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital; and Joseph Perras, MD, president and CEO of Cheshire Medical Center, received the nod. Becker’s recognized 146 rural hospital and health system leaders nationwide for their roles in expanding services, recruiting talented caregivers and investing in community health through thoughtful facility improvements and strategic growth. The list was developed through editorial research and nominations, and organizations cannot pay for inclusion.
Garcia became president and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Heath Care, a rural $220 million integrated delivery system, in January 2026. He draws on nearly 30 years of clinical practice and leadership across public health, higher education, and health system settings. A board-certified pediatrician and pediatric emergency medicine specialist, he previously served as chief medical officer for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and wellness officer for Dartmouth College. Garcia has held senior leadership roles in community, academic and integrated delivery systems and has served on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national commission to transform public health data systems and on the boards of the Child Advocacy Center of Northampton, Mass., and GLMA, the nation’s oldest and largest association of LGBTQ+ and allied health professionals.
Lynch was appointed president and CEO of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD) in September of 2025, having joined the organization in 2019 as chief medical officer. In that role, he led the implementation of Epic as the hospital’s electronic health record, integrated Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center’s (DHMC) hospital medicine team into APD’s patient services and transitioned DHMC’s emergency providers into the emergency department staffing. He also helped grow surgical services, guided the hospital through the Covid-19 pandemic and reinforced primary care as a cornerstone of community health. Prior to his tenure at APD, he served as executive medical director of same day services at Reliant Medical Group in Worcester, Mass. Lynch also practiced as an emergency physician at Concord Hospital, where he served as medical director of urgent care, president of Concord Emergency Medical Associates, chair of emergency medicine and chair of the Concord Hospital Charitable Trust. Lynch continues to practice clinically in emergency services and is a clinical instructor at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine.
Perras serves as president and CEO of Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) in Keene, N.H., where he oversees efforts to deliver the highest quality of care in the safest possible environment. Cheshire is the largest provider of healthcare in Cheshire County and serves as a regional referral center for parts of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. Under Perras’ leadership, Cheshire has strengthened its commitment to patients, employees, and the community through growth of clinical service lines and a focus on long-term financial sustainability. He previously served as a chairperson of the American Hospital Association’s Small or Rural Hospital Council and was appointed to the AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. Perras is a graduate of the Academy of GE Fellows Program and is focused on building successful value-based care programs in rural environments.
Dartmouth Health extends its congratulations to Garcia, Lynch, and Perras for this national honor and reaffirms its commitment to leadership excellence, clinical innovation and community-centered care across the system.
About Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital
Known for personalized, high-quality care, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD) has been a community-based healthcare organization in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont since its founding in 1932. A member of Dartmouth Health, APD has been recognized nationally for quality care. Its areas of clinical excellence include surgical services, primary care, geriatric care, sleep health, and emergency services in partnership with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. The APD campus is also home to a senior living community with assisted and independent living facilities. Learn more at alicepeckday.org.
About Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
For more than a century, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) has delivered world-class care and comfort to every patient. Today, SVMC encompasses eight locations across Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts, including a 99-bed hospital and 23 primary and specialty care services. SVMC’s exceptional health teams possess expertise in everything from oncology to orthopedics. Our clinical strength has earned national attention, including six consecutive designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. Since joining Dartmouth Health in 2023, SVMC has expanded treatment options and services to keep patients closer to home for world-class care. As the largest employer in southwestern Vermont, SVMC is deeply invested in the region, engaging with the community through wellness initiatives, support of local nonprofit organizations and involvement in economic development. SVMC has robust volunteer leadership, at many levels, that help guide and govern the organization, ensuring SVMC continues to serve the patient and staff needs of today, and tomorrow.
About Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire) advances the health and wellness of individuals across New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region through outstanding care and exceptional service. Cheshire teams deliver an impressive range of clinical services that support the community's needs. As a member of Dartmouth Health, Cheshire is able to provide services far exceeding those of a typical rural hospital, including extensive programs in primary care, cancer care, cardiology, orthopaedics, and public health. Cheshire patients are also able to access hundreds of highly trained specialists and a depth of clinical and technical resources through its collaboration with Dartmouth Health. Cheshire’s clinical practice is distinguished by an exceptional staff, a strong commitment to safety and quality, and a culture that values the contribution of every staff member and volunteer. Cheshire is the area's largest healthcare provider and leading employer. Along with the services delivered on their Keene campus and satellite locations, the Medical Center partners with local organizations to provide vital services and programs throughout the region. To learn more, call 603-354-5400 or visit cheshiremed.org.