COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network will change leadership in the new year as President/CEO Tommy Ibrahim leaves the health-care system at the end of December.
Executive VP/COO Staci Thompson will assume the role of interim CEO on Jan. 1.
“Since joining Bassett Healthcare Network in 2020, Tommy has put his visionary leadership to work for Bassett by continuing the transformation of Bassett’s hospitals and other facilities into a more integrated delivery system, forging strong partnerships with forward-thinking organizations, and reimagining the possibilities for how and where care can be delivered,” Bassett Board of Directors Chair Doug Hastings said in a press release announcing the news. “The board is supportive of Tommy’s decision to leave the organization to pursue new leadership opportunities in health care. We wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter.”
Under Ibrahim’s leadership, Bassett transformed its operating model while navigating the pandemic and industry-related headwinds. It partnered with organizations including Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Optum, and Andreessen Horowitz to enhance how Bassett operates and prepares its next generation of providers.
The release did not include information on Ibrahim’s next steps. He joined Bassett in July 2020, coming from Integris Health. In July 2022, Ibrahim and Bassett signed an early contract extension, which extended his contract originally scheduled to expire in December 2024 through the end of 2029.
“It has been an honor and privilege to lead this amazing organization and to work alongside Dough Hastings, the Bassett Healthcare Network board, and multitudes of wonderful people,” Ibrahim said in the release. “Without question, the accomplishment I am most proud of is building a strong executive-leadership team to guide the organization forward in this next chapter. I have the utmost confidence that Staci’s operational expertise and rigor is exactly what the organization needs to ensure Bassett is functioning at its best today while continuing to plan for the future.”
Thompson joined Bassett in 2023 from The Guthrie Clinic. In her current role as COO, she has made strides in several areas including operational performance, quality, and patient experience.
“Staci is a respected, experienced leader with a real heart for rural healthcare,” Hastings said. “Her passion for Bassett and the people we serve, along with her demonstrated operational expertise, makes Staci the right person to lead the organization forward. In her role as interim CEO, Staci will focus on continuing to improve our core operations while upholding our commitment to being a national model for rural healthcare delivery.”
Over the coming weeks, Ibrahim and Thompson will work with the board and executive-leadership team to ensure a smooth transition.
“I am honored that the rich legacy of Bassett has been entrusted to me,” Thompson said. “Surrounded by the capable team of leaders at Bassett, I have confidence in our ability to never miss a beat in providing the care that our patients expect. My immediate focus is the Bassett team. Bassett’s physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, other clinical professionals, and administrative and support staff ensure that Bassett can provide the care that our communities deserve. Recruitment and engagement of the Bassett team is at the core of operational excellence and a top priority for me in this role.”
Bassett’s integrated health system includes five corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based health centers, 22 school-based health centers, and two skilled-nursing facilities.