Rome Memorial CEO Ariglio resigns, hospital appoints former CEO as interim leader

ROME, N.Y. — Basil Ariglio, president and CEO of Rome Memorial Hospital (RMH), has resigned due to “personal reasons.”

Ariglio resigned on Tuesday after 23 years of service, Dr. Chester Patrick, chairman of the RMH board of trustees, said in a news release the hospital issued on Thursday.

The board has named former RMH president and CEO Darlene Burns as interim CEO as it develops a plan for a permanent successor, according to the news release.

“We’re fortunate to have a talented and dedicated leadership team, who will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the hospital,” Patrick said in the RMH news release. “Because the senior-management team has always been responsible for the development and oversight of the hospital’s strategic plan, the board is confident in their ability to move that strategic vision forward.”

Ariglio joined the hospital as its CFO in 1992. The facility later promoted Ariglio to senior vice president and COO in 2005.

He succeeded Burns as CEO when she retired in 2011.

During Ariglio’s tenure, RMH has undergone “rapid transformation” with the addition of new services and “significant investments to modernize its infrastructure andadvance quality of care,” according to the news release.

Burns retired from the hospital in 2011 after nearly 40 years of service, the hospital said.

She started her career at the hospital in January 1972 as an evening charge nurse.

As she advanced through the nursing and administration ranks, she earned her master’s degree in health-care administration from the New York City–based New School for Social Research in 1991.

Burns briefly served as interim hospital administrator in 1992, the hospital said.

RMH later promoted Burns from senior vice president of clinical services to senior vice president and COO in 2001.

She began her tenure as president and CEO in 2002, according to the news release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com