Greater Baltimore Medical Center has named Dr. Paari Gopalakrishnan as the next president and chief executive officer of GBMC HealthCare.
Gopalakrishnan most recently served as president and chief operating officer of the 359-bed Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island, a teaching hospital that is part of the Care New England Health System.
GBMC’s CEO Search Committee unanimously selected Gopalakrishnan after a national search that yielded a pool of more than 1,400 potential candidates. He will succeed Dr. John B. Chessare, who is retiring after 15 years as GBMC’s president and CEO.
Chessare, who was set to retire June 30, will continue to lead the organization in the interim until Gopalakrishnan starts in his new role in September.
“What Dr. Chessare and the GBMC team have built is truly exceptional,” Gopalakrishnan said in a statement. “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.”
The selection of Gopalakrishnan to lead GBMC comes as the medical center prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
“Dr. Gopalakrishnan is uniquely prepared to build on our proud history and guide our next phase of strategic growth. We look forward to welcoming our new leader and providing opportunities for him to connect directly with team members across GBMC, GBMC Health Partners, and Gilchrist (including its affiliates),” a news release reads.
At Kent Hospital, Gopalakrishnan oversaw staff across three hospitals, moved the hospital from a deficit in FY22 to a surplus in FY24, and directed Rhode Island’s COVID-19 field hospital during the pandemic.
He has also held positions at Greenville Health System in South Carolina, as well as earlier positions at Kent Hospital and The Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island.
Gopalakrishnan earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He completed his internal medicine residency at Brown University and received his Master of Business Administration degree with honors from Bryant University.
