Robert J. Haffey, MBA, MSN, RN
Robert J. Haffey, MBA, MSN, RN, is president and chief operating officer of Kent Hospital. Haffey comes to Kent after serving as the president of Springfield, PA-based Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Taylor Hospital, and Crozer Keystone Health System Ambulatory Care Services since 2014. His efforts during his tenure resulted in financial stability, recruitment of key specialty physicians, and an increased referral base. Haffey’s five years of bedside nursing experience also give him an important understanding of hospital operations.
Paari Gopalakrishnan, MD, MBA
Paari Gopalakrishnan, MD, MBA, chief medical officer for Kent Hospital most recently served as chief, Division of Hospitalist Medicine at Greenville Health System in Greenville, SC. He also served as clinical assistant professor, University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville. There, he championed a rapidly growing division encompassing acute-care hospitalist medicine, post-acute care medicine, section of inpatient psychiatry, and point of care ultrasound.
Prior to his time at Greenville Health System, Dr. Gopalakrishnan served as the director of the inpatient medical group (hospitalists) at Kent Hospital from 2009 to 2015. Dr. Gopalakrishnan received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed his internal medicine residency at Brown University. He received his MBA with honors from Bryant University.
Judith Ann Thorpe, MSN, RN
Judith Ann Thorpe, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer for Kent Hospital, most recently served as the chief nursing officer for Health Alliance Clinton Hospital in Leominster, MA. Judith brings extensive experience developing quality patient care initiatives, leading clinical teams, and delivering care supported by evidence-based practices, all based on the Magnet model of nursing.
Judith’s experience managing operational structures within a hospital system will serve both Kent and Care New England well. Her ability to successfully lead divergent teams towards a common goal, whether related to quality, patient handoffs, or the implementation of EPIC, will be of significant value to her colleagues as well as the patients and families we serve. Prior to Health Alliance Clinton Hospital, Judith served as vice president of patient care services at Clinton Hospital, in Clinton, MA, and as associate chief nursing officer at Hallmark Health System in Melrose, MA. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the Boston College Graduate School of Nursing and a Bachelor of Science from Duke University.
James Burke, CPA
James M. Burke, CPA, is vice president of finance of Kent Hospital. With more than 25 years of health care finance experience, Jim has served in various leadership positions in finance for Kent Hospital and Care New England since 2001, including vice president of accounting.
Jim has been a certified public accountant since 1991, which he earned during his tenure at KPMG, culminating as senior audit manager in its Health Care and Life Sciences division. Jim earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Providence College.
Dean Carlson, MS, SHRM-SCP
Dean R. Carlson is senior human resources director for Kent Hospital and also manages the workforce development and organizational development & learning functions for Care New England.
Since joining Care New England in 2002, Dean has successfully led organizational efforts to improve workplace accountability and drive cultural transformation. Dean is MBTI qualified, certified in Just Culture, Crucial Conversations and Cultural Transformation, and has extensive experience building competency-based talent management solutions to improve performance and employee experience.
Dean graduated from Rhode Island College with bachelor degrees in sociology and justice studies. He earned a master’s degree in management with a focus on organizational development from Lesley University. Dean is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
