Chief Medical Officer Named At Greenwich Hospital

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Hospital announced this week Karen Santucci has been named the hospital's senior vice president and chief medical officer. She is scheduled to begin the position Sept. 1.

In an announcement, the hospital noted Santucci will also continue serving as a professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at the Yale School of Medicine. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"We are so proud and excited that Dr. Santucci will be joining our team as the Chief Medical Officer," CEO Norman Roth said in a statement. "Karen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position. She will be working closely with the leadership team on the Clinical Growth Plan and the expansion of medical subspecialties, led by COO Diane Kelly, DNP, RN."

Santucci has served as a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Yale New Haven Hospital for over 20 years. She has also served as the section chief of pediatric emergency medicine at Yale since 2006 and the pediatric vice chair of clinical affairs at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital since 2017.

She has served in a dual role since that year, working at both YNHCH in New Haven and the emergency department at Greenwich Hospital.

"I am excited to serve in this new role," Santucci said in a statement, "and continue to nurture the culture of caring at Greenwich Hospital while expanding our scope of services."

Santucci will report to Roth and Yale New Haven Health chief clinical officer Thomas Balcezak. Officials said she will provide "strategic direction for all Greenwich Hospital clinical and medical staff programs and services." Spike Lipschutz will assume the role of VP of Medical Affairs and report to Santucci.

In collaboration with the medical director of the Greenwich Emergency Department, YNHCH and the Department of Pediatrics at Yale, Santucci brought 24/7 pediatric emergency medicine specialists to the hospital. She also played an active role in developing this program, as well as the Pediatric Hospitalist program, which provides pediatric provider coverage to the pediatric inpatient floor.

A Norwalk resident, Santucci is regularly out in the community interacting with and teaching school nurses and students about the effects of drugs and alcohol on the developing brain. She also meets regularly with community pediatric, emergency medicine and family medicine providers discussing pediatric-specific issues.