I’m humbled by this honor and grateful for the attention it brings to SVMC and the community of Bennington, which I call home.
Thomas A. Dee, President and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) has been recognized as the Vermont Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Citizen of the Year. Dee was selected for the award for his outstanding contributions to southern Vermont, particularly his impactful efforts in health care and community development.
“I’m humbled by this honor and grateful for the attention it brings to SVMC and the community of Bennington, which I call home,” said Dee. “I have always strived to be a good steward of this health care system and, while I consider myself a small part of its more than 100-year history, I understand the crucial role we have in the communities we serve and in the State of Vermont. This has always motivated me to move SVMC forward and support our community, where I can.”
The award is presented annually by the Vermont Chamber to honor an outstanding Vermonter who has made major contributions to the betterment of Vermont; has been distinguished through outstanding service to their community and region; and typifies the true spirit of service and self-sacrifice in representing the finest ideals of Vermont citizenship.
“Tom has put heart and soul into improving the quality of health care – and the quality of life - in southern Vermont, while also taking visionary steps to ensure that excellent health care will be sustainable in the decades to come,” stated Kathy Fisher, Chair, SVMC Board of Directors. “And, given Tom’s understanding of the impact of socioeconomic factors on population health, he has also played a vital role in the redevelopment of downtown Bennington.”
“In his 14-year tenure, Tom Dee’s dedication to SVMC and southwestern Vermont has been pivotal to improving the local economy, and raising the bar for what it means to be a community leader,” stated Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber. “We are proud to award this recognition to Tom Dee and look forward to bringing Vermonters together to celebrate in Bennington.”
The award dates back to 1964 and previous recipients include Senator Patrick Leahy, Barbara Snelling, Antonio Pomerleau, and Ken Squier. The award will be presented at a celebratory event on Thursday, August 1, at the Everett Mansion at Southern Vermont College in Bennington. For more information, visit the Citizen of the Year event website.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and largest private employer, serves patients across New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,300 providers in nearly every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH. Its network of hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics and home care facilities, spans a broad geographical area. Year after year, DHMC is named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is consistently recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, northern New England’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of less than than 60 total nationally; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital at DHMC/CHaD) and more than 20 locations around the region; eight member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont, Hampstead, and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Dartmouth Health Home Care; Dartmouth Health Connected Care Center for Telehealth, serving patients as far away as Texas; and more than 30 primary and multi-specialty clinics across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its partnership with Dartmouth College, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and the White River Junction VA Medical Center, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials with international impact. Dartmouth Health and its more than 16,000 employees are committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in the communities it serves and to providing every patient with exceptional, state-of-the-art, personalized care. Learn more at dartmouth-health.org.