Great Barrington — One week after six Community Health Programs (CHP) doctors came forward with complaints about CHP CEO Bryan Ayars and the Board of Directors – read Edge article here — Ayars has resigned, citing a decision already in the works and not related to “recent employee complaints,” he wrote in a resignation letter forwarded to all 140 CHP employees.
Ayars said he will officially leave CHP this Friday, November 13, but will help with transitions throughout the month.
Four physicians wrote the organization’s federal funding entity HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) about alleged failures by Ayars and the board that physicians say could hinder their ability to deliver quality care. And pediatrician John Horan resigned several weeks ago saying he has “completely lost trust in the administration and confidence in the board.” Horan also had accused CHP leadership of attempting to whitewash fallout from sexual harassment allegations made by the former Human Resources Director after she was fired when the administration learned she was about to speak out over allegations of sexual harassment. She has since filed a lawsuit with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination against Ayars and CHP.
Neither Ayars, who joined CHP in 2009, nor board President Jodi Rathbun-Briggs would comment on the lawsuit.
Ayars wrote that he considered resigning months earlier: “This decision comes after extensive consideration about the future direction and best interests of CHP.” He added that he hoped the decision would “alleviate certain internal discord, help to clear the air, and allow CHP to continue its excellent work on patient care and family services.”
In his letter Ayars referred to last week’s story in The Edge. “This has been an unsettling week or so for many of us,” he wrote. “…I recognize the confusion, concern and hurt of last week’s media attention. Sadly, certain internal differences could not be resolved in a mutually satisfactory manner for the benefit of the patients, employees, and organization. However, I am confident in CHP’s future under your dedication, professionalism and desire to improve the lives of those around us.”
Ayars also noted the fast growth of the organization, founded in the 1970s by a pediatrician who was passionate about delivering health care to poor rural children, and is still a critical medical and social resource in the Berkshires, a region with a high poverty rate.
In a prepared statement, CHP Board President Jodi Rathbun-Briggs acknowledged the time had come to refresh the organization’s leadership structure: “We are grateful for Bryan’s important contributions to CHP during his tenure, during which he has guided the organization onto strong financial footing, ensured CHP’s regulatory compliance, expanded our medical practice management services, updated CHP technology and other essential work. The Board and Bryan are in agreement that, after giving substantial attention to management and leadership needs, it’s time for a new direction at the CHP helm. We appreciate Bryan’s participation during this transition period.”
But she insisted that the CHP board had been “evaluating management and leadership structure for the past 18 months and anticipating Bryan’s possible departure for the past year. The Board has engaged an interim management team to bring administrative leadership to CHP in the coming months.”
Ruth Dinerman, former CHP grant writer who resigned over many of same issues doctors wrote to HRSA about, noted that “now CHP can turn toward the future and its vital mission — to provide health care to Berkshire County residents. The organization will only become stronger and stronger as it values its medical staff.”
