Al Gobeille to step down as UVM Health Network Chief Operating Officer after leadership through pandemic, cyberattack

Network will launch national search for successor

Burlington, Vt. – After nearly four years as the Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Vermont Health Network, Al Gobeille has announced that he will step down from the position in late May.

“When Al took on the inaugural role as Chief Operating Officer, no one could have foreseen the once in a lifetime challenges we would face. Through it all, Al has done an outstanding job responding to and leading during the pandemic, a cyberattack, and the resulting financial and workforce challenges,” said UVM Health Network President and Chief Executive Officer Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA. “When I was chosen as the successor to Dr. Brumsted, Al graciously offered to stay on for the transition. We both feel that the transition is well underway and this is the right time for Al to move on to pursue his other business interests. I know Al will always be available to me for advice and counsel as we continue the work ahead,” Eappen said.

“While this was certainly the challenge of a lifetime, it was the amazing team of people, who work hard to provide care every day, that made our work possible. The work of the UVM Health Network is truly inspirational and I know Sunny and the team will be successful,” Gobeille said.

During his tenure, Gobeille played a key role in guiding the Network’s response to the pandemic – including coordination among government, community, and external health care partners, supported the recovery from a significant cyberattack in fall 2020, facilitated the expansion and refinement of the Network’s pharmacy operations, built a partnership with developers to create the first employee housing buildings in South Burlington, and has been a central leader in the Network’s Path Forward financial stabilization plan.

“Although we’ve only had the opportunity to work together for a relatively short period of time, I learned a great deal from Al and immediately felt the tremendous positive impact he had on our Network and health care in the region,” Eappen said. “He leaves behind big shoes to fill, and I am thankful for everything he has done to support the recovery and stabilization of our health system to the benefit of our patients, our people, and our community.”

Eappen said the Network would launch a national search for Gobeille’s replacement.

About The University of Vermont Health Network

The University of Vermont Health Network is an integrated system serving the residents of Vermont and northern New York with a shared mission: working together, we improve people’s lives. The partners are:

• The University of Vermont Medical Center  
• The University of Vermont Health Network Medical Group
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Central Vermont Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Porter Medical Center
• The University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice

Our 15,000 employees are driven to provide high-quality, cost-efficient care as close to home as possible. Strengthened by our academic connection to the University of Vermont, each of our affiliates remains committed to its local community by providing compassionate, personal care shaped by the latest medical advances and delivered by highly skilled experts.