St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Enoch W. Gaskin will retire on September 30 after eight years at the helm, the hospital announced Thursday, with Chief Operating Officer Jerri Dias appointed to succeed him effective October 1.
The hospital said Gaskin’s tenure was marked by significant growth and organisational change, including the institution’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gaskin joined St. Joseph Mercy as CEO in 2018. During his tenure, he oversaw implementation of the Hospital Information Management System and cybersecurity measures and guided the organisation through certification to the ISO 9001:2015 standard.
The hospital said Gaskin’s professional experience was particularly important during the pandemic, helping the institution maintain safety, stability and continuity of services to the community.
Board Chair Carlton Joao expressed appreciation for Gaskin’s leadership and contribution.
“We appreciate the steady leadership of Mr. Gaskin these past eight years. He embraced our Mercy heritage and served our community with strategic skill, generosity, and an unwavering focus on quality.”
The hospital also expressed its gratitude to the outgoing CEO.
“We are sincerely grateful to Mr. Gaskin.”
Dias will assume the CEO position after eight years with St. Joseph Mercy, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer.
In that role, he led strategic initiatives aimed at improving efficiency, cost-effectiveness and organisational performance. He also oversaw diverse departments, strengthened collaboration among managers and supported the organisation’s strategic objectives.
Dias spearheaded the creation of a new team at Mercy Resident Care focused on improving quality of care, enhancing facilities and increasing resident satisfaction.
At the St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing, he worked to expand educational offerings while supporting the institution’s tradition of strong student performance in qualification examinations.
Dias holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Business Administration.
The hospital said Dias will build on existing progress while advancing its plans to provide modern, high-quality services in response to Guyana’s growing healthcare needs.
He will also be responsible for fostering an environment in which staff continue to advance the institution’s mission of serving patients, residents and students with compassion, commitment and excellence.
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital operates three campuses: the full-service hospital on Parade Street, Mercy Resident Care Demerara and the School of Nursing on Pere Street.
The institution provides healthcare and nursing education services and says its operations are guided by a commitment to quality, compassion and professionalism.
