GBMC HealthCare names new president and CEO

Greater Baltimore Medical Center HealthCare has appointed Paari Gopalakrishnan as its newest president and CEO, the company announced Tuesday.

Gopalakrishnan, esteemed for his “commitment to transparency, accountability and compassion,” brings two decades of clinical and executive leadership experience to GBMC, according to a company statement. He is expected to begin the new role in September. 

GBMC officials said Gopalakrishnan is prepared to build on the medical center’s history by guiding the next phase of its strategic growth. 

The transition comes about nine months after GBMC HealthCare’s former CEO, Dr. John B. Chessare, said he would be stepping down. He will remain in the role until Gopalakrishnan begins, according to a company spokesperson.

“What Dr. Chessare and the GBMC team have built is truly exceptional,” Dr. Gopalakrishnan said. “There is a palpable sense of community, purpose, and dedication to excellence that drew me here. I’m honored to join the organization at such a pivotal moment, and I’m eager to listen, learn, and build upon GBMC’s legacy as we shape the future of healthcare together.”

Gopalakrishnan comes to the Baltimore area from Warwick, Rhode Island, where he was president and chief operating officer of Kent Hospital, a 359-bed community teaching hospital within the Care New England Health System.

He launched Rhode Island’s first and only Hospital-at-Home program and directed the state’s COVID-19 field hospital during the pandemic, a GBMC release says.

Gopalakrishnan’s selection follows a national search conducted by an internal committee in conjunction with WittKieffer, who initially identified more than 1,400 potential candidates, according to GBMC.

“We had the opportunity to meet many outstanding candidates, but Dr. Gopalakrishnan rose to the top,” said Bonnie B. Stein, head of the Executive Search Committee. “He brings a deep understanding of both the science and the operations of healthcare, along with a strong alignment to GBMC’s mission of health, healing, and hope.”

This article has been updated to reflect a correction to a previous version saying John Chessare’s last day as GBMC HealthCare’s president and CEO was June 30. Instead, he will remain in the role until September, when Gopalakrishnan officially begins.