UMass Memorial Health system promotes interim leader to president of two hospitals

Photo | Courtesy of UMass Memorial Health Dr. Charles Cavagnaro, president of UMass Memorial Health's Marlborough Hospital and HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital

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By Mica Kanner-Mascolo

Dr. Charles Cavagnaro has dropped his interim tag and assumed his presidential roles at two UMass Memorial Health hospitals.

Cavagnaro took on his interim leading roles of the Worcester-based system's Marlborough Hospital and HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, based in Leominster, in June of 2024 following the resignation of Steve Roach. Roach had served as president and CEO of Marlborough Hospital since 2013 and of HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital since 2019.

Cavagnaro became permanent president of both hospitals in May, John Looney, vice president, marketing and communications at UMass Memorial, wrote in an email to WBJ.

His title change comes as Marlborough Hospital is set to merge with the UMass Memorial system’s flagship UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

During his tenure as interim president, Cavagnaro has been heavily involved in Marlborough Hospital’s planned emergency room expansion and the Determination of Need application processes for the merger, Cynthia Barginere, chief operating officer of UMass Memorial Health, wrote in a June 30 letter to the system’s community.

Furthermore, he has led HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital as it has seen a 20% increase in emergency department volume following the August closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, she said.

Once the merger is complete, Cavagnaro will transfer to being the president solely of HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, said Looney.

The hospitals’ decision to merge was made due to Marlborough Hospital’s size limiting its ability to to see enough patients in order to continue offering its full range of hospital and specialty services. With the merger’s announcement came the news the hospital had been forced to reduce or cut weekend anesthesia, general surgery, and urology services.

“UMass Memorial Health is steadfast in its commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate, and affordable care to patients across Central Massachusetts and beyond. Part of this commitment includes ensuring that all communities can receive the comprehensive preventative and specialized health care they need and deserve,” UMass Memorial wrote in an email to WBJ.

The site of Marlborough Hospital will become UMMC’s fourth campus, joining the Worcester locations of the center’s University campus on Lake Avenue, the Memorial campus on Belmont Street, and the Hahnemann campus on Lincoln Street.

With 79 licensed beds, UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital is the 14th largest hospital in Central Massachusetts when ranked by total licensed beds, according to data provided to the WBJ’s Research Department.

The system’s HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital is the fifth largest with 138 beds, while UMMC is by far the largest in the region with 826 licensed beds.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.