Dr. Laird brings a deep commitment to patient care and nursing excellence.
Matthew R. Foster, MD, MMMDartmouth Health member Valley Regional Hospital (VRH) has appointed Christopher J. Laird, DNP, MBA, FACHE, CENP, CCRN-K, as the hospital’s next chief nursing officer (CNO). Laird began his new role on January 5.
Laird joined VRH from Northern Light Health’s Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) in Bangor, where he served most recently as associate vice president for nursing operations and patient care services. Previously, he was EMMC’s associate vice president for critical care, education and dialysis. Before coming to New England, Laird held a variety of nursing leadership roles in California and started his career in bedside nursing.
Laird earned a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Alaska in 2002. He went on to receive two master’s degrees, in nursing and business administration, from Grand Canyon University in Arizona in 2017. Last year, he graduated from a doctoral program in nursing practice at the University of North Georgia.
“Dr. Laird brings a deep commitment to patient care and nursing excellence,” said Matthew R. Foster, MD, MMM, CEO and president of VRH. “It is clear he is patient advocate and committed to always putting our patients first, uplifting the nursing profession and leading with a compassion, thoughtfulness and emphasis on collaboration. He will make a strong addition to the VRH team, helping us deliver high quality care for the residents of Claremont and other communities we serve.”
“Nurses are the backbone of any hospital. Having a CNO who has worked at multiple levels of nursing is important because it shows nurses that their leader understands the demands of their job, what they bring to the table, and how critical they are to the hospital’s overall success,” said Susan A. Reeves, EdD, RN, CENP, Dartmouth Health’s chief nursing executive. “It was clear through our vetting process that Dr. Laird possesses these qualities and would be ready to lead Day 1. I am thrilled he has joined Dartmouth Health and for the VRH nurses who will benefit from his leadership.”
About Valley Regional Hospital
Founded in 1893, Valley Regional Hospital (VRH) is a nonprofit, critical access hospital located in Claremont, New Hampshire. As a proud member of the Dartmouth Health system, VRH offers a broad range of services, including primary care and specialized care through the Kane Center. The hospital features 21 private patient suites, with 4 bed progressive care capacity to accommodate patients who require continuous, higher-level care. Other offerings include a state-of-the-art emergency department, urgent care services, cancer care delivered in a dedicated infusion suite, comprehensive rehabilitation services, advanced imaging technologies, on-site laboratory, and much more. In collaboration with community partners, VRH works to address service gaps and enhance population health. The hospital fosters a culture rooted in integrity, excellence, accountability, and compassion, which guides both our workplace environment and the care we provide. These core values empower us to continually improve the health of the community and strengthen our team, ensuring that we deliver exceptional care at every step of our patients’ journey. In 2021, VRH was honored as Nonprofit Organization of the Year by the Claremont Chamber of Commerce. The hospital has also earned prestigious accolades, including the CMS 5-Star Rating and the IPRO Award for excellence in healthcare quality, care coordination, and safety initiatives.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and the state’s largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital and multiple locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory and specialty services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.