The person most credited with salvaging Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and Haverhill following Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy has resigned at Lawrence General Hospital.
Lawrence General Hospital President and CEO Abha Agrawal stepped down after a year on the job and just under five months after buying the Haverhill and Methuen campuses of Holy Family. Robin Hynds, a registered nurse who served as chief operating officer, is now listed as acting CEO on Lawrence General’s website.
Agrawal and Lawrence General Hospital Board Chair Rosemarie Day confirmed the abrupt leadership change today in a joint statement.
“With mixed emotions, the board has accepted Dr. Abha Agrawal’s resignation from her position as President and CEO,” Day said.
Agrawal said in the statement, “It has been the greatest privilege of my professional life to lead the transformation of Lawrence General Hospital and plant the seeds for the creation of a first ever, regional health system in the Merrimack Valley over the last year.”
Last Oct. 1, the day Lawrence General Hospital took over Holy Family Hospital, Sen. Pavel M. Payano said it was Agrawal’s longshot vision that led to the purchase.
“She brought up this plan of ‘Hey, what about if we have a regional approach and Lawrence General is managing these other two hospitals.’ I’m like, ‘Woah, that sounds like a lot. You’re laying it on hard.’ She says ‘We’re going to do the research,’ and I’m like that sounds like an incredible idea. How am I going to pitch that to other people?”
Day added Thursday, “This has been a transformative year for our hospital, and we are grateful to Dr. Agrawal for her leadership throughout.”
There is much more to follow on this story. Stay with WHAV on-air, online, everywhere for further developments.