GBMC HealthCare Names President and CEO

Bringing two decades of clinical and executive leadership experience to Baltimore’s only independent community hospital
 

GBMC HealthCare announces the appointment of Paari Gopalakrishnan, MD, MBA, as the newest President and CEO of GBMC HealthCare. He is known for his commitment to transparency, accountability, and compassion, and is uniquely prepared to build on GBMC’s history to guide the next phase of the community health system’s strategic growth. Dr. Gopalakrishnan will assume the role in September. 

This transition comes at a defining moment for GBMC—during its 60th anniversary year and amid a continued focus on expanding access, advancing innovation, and improving the health of the Greater Baltimore region. 

“We had the opportunity to meet many outstanding candidates, but Dr. Gopalakrishnan rose to the top,” said Bonnie B. Stein, former Chair of the GBMC HealthCare Board of Directors and 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. I look forward to seeing his leadership guide us forward.” 

Dr. Gopalakrishnan comes to GBMC after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of Kent Hospital, a 359-bed community teaching hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island, within the Care New England Health System. 

In his various leadership roles, he launched Rhode Island’s first and only Hospital-at-Home program, expanded access to geriatric and specialty care, and directed the state’s COVID-19 field hospital during a critical phase of the pandemic. Dr. Gopalakrishnan also led a dramatic financial turnaround, moving the hospital from a deficit in FY22 to a surplus in FY24. 

As a system executive, Dr. Gopalakrishnan was also responsible for several system-wide functions that mirror GBMC HealthCare’s own integrated structure. He has overseen the centralization of the medical staff office across three hospitals; led Care New England’s Visiting Nurse Association, a $20M Medicare- and Medicaid-certified home health and hospice agency with more than 160 employees; and has driven significant growth across retail, contract, and specialty pharmacy services. His ability to think and act at a system level while maintaining a strong connection to frontline care will serve GBMC HealthCare well. 

“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.” 

Dr. Gopalakrishnan succeeds John B. Chessare, MD, MPH, who retires after 15 years of visionary leadership at GBMC. Dr. Chessare has agreed to remain in the role to assist with the transition. 

The selection of the President and CEO role follows a rigorous national search conducted in partnership with WittKieffer, who initially identified more than 1,400 potential candidates. Among an internal search committee comprised of GBMC’s Board of Directors, medical staff, employees, and community stakeholders, Dr. Gopalakrishnan was the unanimous choice to lead GBMC HealthCare into its next chapter.



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About GBMC HealthCare

Since its founding in 1965, GBMC has been known as an outstanding, independent community hospital, validating the vision of our founders to combine the best of community and university-level medicine. Our 275-bed, acute and sub-acute care hospital in Towson handles more than 23,000 admissions and more than 52,000 emergency room visits annually. With GBMC Health Partners, we have established 11 advanced primary practices throughout the region, working to keep people well by coordinating preventive care and the management of chronic disease. We are also committed, in every specialty, to provide culturally competent care and service of the highest quality to every patient, every time with the goal of health equity for all.