Bassett Healthcare Network appoints additional members of executive leadership group

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network has appointed three additional members of its executive leadership team.

Bassett on Nov. 3 announced the appointments of Dr. Reginald Knight as chief physician executive and Denise Robinson as chief nurse executive. Bassett also announced the appointment of Corey Heller as its senior VP and chief people and diversity officer in an Oct. 20 news release.

Dr. Tommy Ibrahim, who took over as president and CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network in July of this year, has been undertaking a “systematic restructuring of the organization as he works toward the implementation of a new network operating model and system-wide transformation,” Bassett said.

Reginald Knight

Dr. Knight began his new role on Nov. 2. In his role, and in close partnership with the chief nurse executive, Dr. Knight will “drive physician engagement, performance and alignment” with the network as well as service-line development to ensure quality care, reduction in clinical variation, improved access, and an optimal patient experience. Additionally, Knight has been a “driving force” behind Bassett’s current diversity efforts and will be partnering with Heller to “continue to enhance Bassett’s culture around diversity, equity and inclusion,” the organization said.

Knight has served as VP of medical affairs at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta for more than five years and is the director of Bassett’s Spine Care Institute. He holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta, a master’s in health-care administration from Capella University, and received his medical doctorate from SUNY Upstate Medical Center. 

Denise Robinson

In her role, Robinson will oversee delivery of nursing and clinical care across the Bassett system, establish a strategy and vision for patient care, advise on all aspects of nursing policy and practice, and pursue Magnet designation, a recognition program operated by the Silver Spring, Maryland–based American Nurses Credentialing Center. 

She will work closely with network and physician leaders to drive clinical transformation and develop and implement new patient-care models and best practices, Bassett said.

Most recently, Robinson served as chief nursing officer at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. She has more than 20 years of experience in nursing management focusing on quality and patient safety initiatives, staff engagement, and patient satisfaction. 

Robinson holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University, and is a graduate of the doctor-of-nursing program at Case Western University. She begins her tenure at Bassett on Nov. 16.

Corey Heller 

Heller is a human resources (HR) executive with “diverse and extensive leadership experience” within and outside of health care, Bassett said. He began his new role with the organization on Oct.19. 

In this newly created role, Heller will have leadership responsibility for the strategic planning and execution of HR activities and initiatives across the Bassett network. 

He will lead the development of an integrated HR service-delivery model to drive system-wide efficiency and consistency. Heller will also develop a formal structure for “cultivating a culture” of diversity, health equity and inclusion, and “embedding these principles” in the day-to-day work of caring for each other and the patients and communities served by Bassett Healthcare Network, the organization said.

Prior to joining Bassett, Heller most recently served as senior director of human resources and shared services for United Health Services in Binghamton. He previously held executive-level HR positions as chief human resources officer with Uniform Advantage Brands in Florida; Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah; Florida Blue (BCBS); and Baptist Health South Florida, among others. Heller earned a master’s degree in industrial labor relations from Cornell University and bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in Clinton.