Jeffrey L. Brickman, FACHE, President and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare (CMH), has informed the CMH Board of his desire to retire from full-time health system
leadership in September 2021. Mr. Brickman has had a successful 41-year career defined by leading successful change efforts in multiple markets, including the last 5 years with CMH.
“The Board deeply appreciates Jeff’s service to CMH and celebrates this decision with him,” said Dev Culver, Chair of the CMH Board of Directors.
As part of a best-practice, disciplined succession planning process, the Board announced that on July 19, Steven G. Littleson, DBA, FACHE, current CMH Senior Vice President of Operations and President of Central Maine Medical Center, will be named CMH interim President and CEO. Mr. Littleson will serve as interim President and CEO until the Board announces permanent leadership for the system.
“Jeff has built a strong team of leaders during his tenure at CMH. The Board has confidence in Steve and the leadership team’s ability to guide CMH through this period of change and to ensure the sustainability of CMH’s mission to our community,” Culver said.
Between now and July 19, under Mr. Brickman’s continuing leadership, CMH will focus on closing out many of the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic and finalizing strategic plans that provide both short- and long-term direction and continuity for the future. Mr. Brickman will also serve as an ongoing advisor to Board leadership and Mr. Littleson.
“Jeff has positioned the CMH organization well for the future and has guided us through some extraordinary times. He leaves a foundation of excellence that will pay dividends for years to come,” said Deborah Dunlap Avasthi, the immediate past Board Chair who served nearly 20 years in governance roles with Central Maine Healthcare.
JEFFREY L. BRICKMAN, FACHE
Position: President and CEO, Central Maine Healthcare since September 2016
Age: 65
Hometown: Malden, Mass.
Early experience in his field: Accompanying his grandfather, a doctor, on house calls
Fun Family Fact: For at least 100 years, only boys were born into the Brickman family. That ended four years ago with his granddaughter’s birth.
Highlights from tenure at Central Maine Healthcare:
- Opening Maine Urgent Care in Lewiston and Topsham
- Opening the Topsham Care Center
- Launching construction of the $32 million state-of-the art Cancer Care Center (opening in 2022)
- Expanding the footprint of orthopedic services through the acquisition of Spectrum Orthopaedics-Auburn, formerly Central Maine Orthopaedics, the largest practice acquisition in the system’s history
- Successfully recruiting nurses and providers, including leading surgeons in their fields
- Building partnerships, including with Massachusetts General Hospital, Spectrum Healthcare, New England Cancer Specialists, Quest Diagnostics, Shields Healthcare, and Sodexo
- Receiving national safety and quality accreditations in orthopaedics, advanced primary stroke, rehabilitation medicine and bariatric surgery
- Earning five “A” grades in a row for safety at Central Maine Medical Center from The Leapfrog Group
- Gaining recognition of Bridgton and Rumford Hospitals for performance in outcomes and patient perspective from The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health
- Achieving a ranking for Bridgton Hospital as one of the nation’s top rural hospitals from The Leapfrog Group
- Attaining recognition for the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, which IBM/Watson named one of the nation’s 50 top heart hospitals
