WORCESTER — Saint Vincent Hospital has installed new interim executive leadership as Tenet Healthcare continues restructuring at the Worcester medical center.
Adam Bracks is listed as interim chief executive officer, replacing Denten Park, who was named CEO in February 2025 and is no longer employed by Tenet.
Tenet Healthcare Director of Public Relations Shelly Weiss Friedberg confirmed that “Adam has been the interim CEO of Saint Vincent Hospital since December, but he is not interim CEO of the Massachusetts market.”
Michelle Kap has been appointed chief nursing officer, replacing Denise Kvapil, who resigned, according to Tenet.
Saint Vincent has experienced multiple leadership changes in recent years, including the departure of former CEO Carolyn Jackson, who led the hospital and Tenet’s Massachusetts operations beginning in 2019.
New senior leaders welcomed
Hospital staff said the arrival of new senior leaders has been welcomed.
Marlena Pellegrino, a Saint Vincent Hospital nurse and co-chair of the local bargaining unit with the MNA, said staff responded positively to the arrival of new senior leaders.
“We were actually really, really pleased to have someone new—a new face,” Pellegrino said. “There’s a whole changing with the senior level.
“Obviously it’s been very trying times for all kinds of reasons, but that’s all in the past,” she said. “We hope that the new CEO and new CNO have an opportunity just start fresh and really honor Saint Vincent Hospital and bring it back.”
Contract negotiations between nurses and hospital leadership are underway, Pellegrino said.
“We just entered negotiations at the beginning of December, so we’ve had maybe three or four sessions,” she said. “We’re putting forth something that we think is very competitive to attract nurses into the hospital.
“We have fallen behind as far as in our wages,” she said. “We’re hoping that with the proposals we’ve made, the hospital will see the benefit of getting an expedited contract, not something long drawn out.”
Continuity in clinical care
Physician leaders described the executive changes as familiar territory and emphasized continuity in clinical care.
“I was not overly shocked to hear about the changes in leadership here,” said Dr. Anthony Izzo, medical director of the Saint Vincent Sleep Center. “During my tenure, I’ve worked with five CEOs, and each has brought their own unique insights and talents to St. Vincent Hospital.”
While Izzo acknowledged the stability of past leadership, he said he welcomed new perspectives.
“There was certainly psychological comfort in having that consistency,” Izzo said. “But I personally don’t shy away from change and welcomed the fresh perspectives of new leaders.”
Izzo said recent oversight reviews led to internal improvements.
“We did have two significant joint commission findings last year,” Izzo said. “Those were addressed swiftly with robust, innovative new processes put into place.”
Strengthened patient care
He said the process strengthened patient care practices and reinforced accountability.
“As a physician, if there’s anything I could be doing better for my patients, I want to know,” he said. “The hospital leadership certainly feels the same way.”
Despite leadership turnover and public attention in recent years, Izzo said clinical staffing has remained steady.
“There has been a huge media focus on nursing and hospital leadership since the strike,” Izzo said. “What I hoped more people would pause to notice is that the medical staff — the doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — at St. Vincent Hospital has largely remained stable.”
Nurses said they hope the leadership transition will help rebuild confidence and momentum.
“If we can work with the new senior management team in an open and respectful way, I think nurses will see that Saint Vincent is the place to come again,” Pellegrino said.
Matt Olszewski can be reached at mattoskier@gmail.com
