Praised for his vision, departing CEO saw big growth at hospital over 24 years

When Greg Walker retires from his position after 24 years as CEO and president of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, he’ll leave a job he deeply loves and big shoes to fill.

“I will miss the challenges of this job,” Walker said. “I never know what my day will look like, even though much is scheduled. I work with a remarkably diverse group of people to blend all needs and to meet the needs of our community. I think this has been the greatest career I could ever hope for.

Twenty-four years has gone by so fast.”

Walker will retire from his position Oct. 31. Walker became president of WDH in January 1997 after a nationwide search to replace outgoing CEO Ralph Gabarro. During his presidency, he led many successful and long-lasting strategic initiatives, including multiple hospital expansion projects — most notably, the four-story Garrison Wing addition in 2013 and the three-building campus expansion at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth.

Initiatives also included countless clinical program additions and combining hospital services and community-based physician practices under a single corporate umbrella and into an integrated healthcare system. His leadership led to an early collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital in telestroke services in 2006, which later expanded to several other joint clinical programs throughout the years.

In 2017, WDH becoming a fully integrated and official member of the Mass General organization.

Seacoast Cancer Center

“When I interviewed for this position in 1996, I was so impressed by the employees,” Walker said. “I knew I wanted to work with this strong, positive group. When I came here, there were 900 employees, and now we are 2,700. We added many services like CHaD (Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth) at Wentworth-Douglass, giving us exemplary pediatric services. We have grown our birth services from 500 a year, to 1,500 average.”

Walker said a large focus during his tenure was on creating the Seacoast Cancer Center.

“We have made it one of the premier centers in the Seacoast,” he said. “We are involved in clinical trials and have forged strong collaborations with the medical staff of Mass General.”

“Greg brought me on board in 1999 as the chief nursing officer for the hospital,” said Sheila Wooley, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services.

“It has been an incredible journey and we have enjoyed a fabulous working relationship. Greg has supported and empowered me to complement and grow many of the services which help make Wentworth-Douglass the organization it is today.”

Longtime hospital staff talked about the growth they’ve seen in Walker’s leadership and the role Wentworth-Douglass plays in the Seacoast community.

“I remember back in the mid-’90s when our board search committee decided to hire Greg, this relatively young, somewhat untested hospital executive, as the new Wentworth-Douglass CEO,” said Dr. Roger Evans, chair of the department of surgery. “There was some angst at the time. But time has shown it was an excellent choice as he has demonstrated the leadership needed to make the correct — and not always easy — decision in his service to Wentworth-Douglass and the entire Seacoast community. It has been a pleasure and honor to work with him.”

Colleagues noted Walker’s vision and his ability to challenge the organizaion and its employees to reach for that vision.

“Greg has transformed the care delivery system on the Seacoast by being a visionary leader early upon his arrival to ensure both primary and specialty care services were secured and enhanced for our community,” said Ellen L. Caille, executive vice president of Wentworth-Douglass.

Retiring will give Walker time to pursue his passions — hiking, biking, fishing and skiing.

“I will serve on a couple of boards to keep my hand in,” Walker said. “I will spend quality time with family.”

Walker’s wife Becky is a retired registered nurse.

His daughter Kirby is wrapping up a five-year residency as a general surgeon and is about to begin a two-year fellowship in surgical oncology. Son Colin works in wealth management in Portsmouth.

Jeffrey Hughes, chief operating officer of WDH, will serve as interim president beginning in October. Hughes began his tenure at WDH in 2012, and has held the roles of chief strategy officer and vice president of operations before being promoted to chief operating officer this past January.

“Greg is an inspiring leader,” Hughes said. “He has keen and shrewd understanding of the business of healthcare. He believes in the true value of nonprofit healthcare. He is a visionary and bold leader. He is, by far, the best CEO I have known and had the pleasure of working with throughout my career.”

Walker said he is looking forward to passing the torch.

“I loved it here. I think I will enjoy having some time to myself, to having time. I leave an outstanding staff, volunteers and Board of Trustees. I know they are in good hands.”

— KAREN DANDURANT/SEACOAST ONLINE

Greg Walker will be retiring at the end of October after 24 years as CEO of Wentworth- Douglass Hospital.

(Courtesy photo by Perry Smith)