<p>Trustees defended their decision to fire Joe Woodin, saying it was made in the best interest of the Island community and reiterating that they intend to stay mum about the details.</p>
In a statement issued Saturday, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital trustees defended their decision to fire Joe Woodin, saying it was made in the best interest of the Island community and reiterating that they intend to stay mum about the details.
The statement was issued Saturday afternoon just before 4 p.m. following a special board meeting. The meeting was closed to the press and public.
There have been weeks of turbulence on the Island following June 5 ouster of Mr. Woodin, the president and chief executive officer who had been on the job for just 13 months. The firing remains largely unexplained.
“The board unanimously stands by its decision . . . We know that our silence has caused the community great distress, but we believe, in the case of an individual’s employment, there is a courtesy of privacy,” the statement said in part.
The complete text of the statement follows:
•
The board of trustees of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital met today (Saturday, June 24) to discuss the termination of Joseph Woodin as president and CEO.
The board unanimously stands by its decision. It was based first and foremost on what the board deemed to be in the best interest of the greater hospital community.
To respect Mr. Woodin, we have opted not to speak publicly about the details. We know that our silence has caused the community great distress, but we believe, in the case of an individual’s employment, there is a courtesy of privacy.
We are able to say that based on information from members of the hospital community, the board was concerned about ensuring stability, and avoiding the loss of individuals who are essential to the operations of the hospital and the delivery of care to our patients.
We are pleased that our employees, who have dedicated their careers to Martha Vineyard’s Hospital, remain in place and continue to deliver the best care to our residents and our visitors.
We acknowledge that the process caused confusion and distress. We could have done better and we will going forward. We owe that to everyone.
We now need to turn our attention to the future and finding the right leader for MVH. We will fully evaluate the person’s leadership skills and style, fit for the hospital and the community, and will seek input from the community in the selection process.
Comments
"To respect Mr. Woodin, we
quiet voice Vineyard Haven"To respect Mr. Woodin, we have opted not to speak publicly about the details." I have said before and say again: I strongly doubt that the details you are withholding would make Mr. Woodin look bad in our eyes. Unless I hear him ask you to continue to refuse to explain to the community why you thought this termination was necessary to protect the Hospital, you still owe us an explanation. Until you provide a convincing, verifiable explanation, we HAVE found "the right leader for MVH". His name is Joe Woodin, and his leadership skills and style, fit for the Hospital and the community is just fine, thank you.
"We are able to say that
Enployee 13"We are able to say that based on information from members of the hospital community, the board was concerned about ensuring stability, and avoiding the loss of individuals who are essential to the operations of the hospital and the delivery of care to our patients."says it all. He was arroagant and condescending to many big players at the hospital.
Who do you think they were
Always here Vineyard HavenWho do you think they were worried about losing? Certainly not board members!
Quiet voice, time to MoveOn,
Time to move on OBQuiet voice, time to MoveOn, respect Mr. Woodin's privacy .
The board has many experts on it.
In their judgment he was not a good fit and that's all that needs to be said by them.
Leave it to Mr. Woodin to get more answers if he want's to go down that street, that's what lawyers are for.
Help the island by moving on and being part of the solution not the problem.
This is a great hospital staffed by wonderful people, let's not drag them through the dirt any longer.
The board has learned that's not the way to terminate a professional and Mr. Woodin has learned that he should not have draged this out into the public forum resulting in personal attacks on good peoples lives and damaged careers.
Let's move on.
"Mr. Woodin has learned that
Islander Too"Mr. Woodin has learned that he should not have draged this out into the public forum resulting in personal attacks on good peoples lives and damaged careers. Let's move on. "
That meme really has to be couintered whenever it pops up its head.
Woodin hasn't dragged this into the public forum.
An unorthodox firing such as t his should be in the public forum, actually . . .
I think this is called "circling the wagons."
Well, this "update" from the
Alan NYC/ChilmarkWell, this "update" from the board certainly doesn't make the community feel any better. How can we possibly believe that Mr. Woodin's sudden termination wasn't a personal vendetta from Tim Sweet. Regardless of the process that went down, Tim needs to step down NOW.
The community has lost all faith in Tim's ability to lead a competent board, and with his wife being the development director of the hospital, you would think this conflict of interest alone would be enough for him to remove himself. Enough is enough!
This is just more of the same
Gam West TisburyThis is just more of the same rhetoric that we've been reading for the past 2 weeks. Why don't we have a true investigation? I'm a newcomer to MV( only been here 25 years), and island politics has not changed.I would tell any one from the mainland seeking an executive position here to run the other way! So very sad.
I hardly think you speak for
Lucky EDGI hardly think you speak for the whole community. The board president and the Development director are professional people not Donald and Ivanka. This is not a conspiracy.
Speaks for most of the
Really? WTSpeaks for most of the community, or at least in the same vein, for sure...
If, let's say, 100 people in
Lucky EDGIf, let's say, 100 people in a community of 20,000 want TS to resign. That means 0.5% of the people is what you would define as "most". Even 500 people out of a community of 20,000 is a mere 2.5% of the people. Still "most"? Let's be real, REAL generous and say 5000 people out of a community of 20,000 want TS to resign. That's only 25% which STILL does not constitute "most". Not at any learning institution in the world does that constitute as "most" which Webster defines as 'nearly all'. You can show compassion, have a "demonstration" or even a rally to show your support for JW but you can't fudge math. Ok?
If you look at all the things
Connect the dots...If you look at all the things said from both sides.... it actually does look like a conspiracy... ironic you claim it's not... Sweet needs to go.
What do they have to do with
Ian West tis.What do they have to do with this?
Step down Mr. Sweet.
Michael OBStep down Mr. Sweet.
Your actions have begun to smell.
Not another dime will be donated to this Hospital from me.
So someone on the staff said
Michael Anthony Auburn, MASo someone on the staff said to the booard, get rid of him or I'll quit? And that someone is more important to the hospital than the CEO? Boy, I wish I could have used that line in the corporate jobs I had. The hospital today is radically different than the one I and my siblings were born in.
The stars are aligned
Fish CrowThe stars are aligned perfectly this season for all sorts of comparisons:
(1) The MV Ianough pulls a full-speed rammer on the rocks in Hyanis. The public learned a lot about the event (captain and pilot cleared) because people were rescued first and then the lawyers arrived.
(2) Joe Woodin gets an ultimatum to quit, and then a note saying he was fired, for unspecified reasons. To his credit he kicked away the cup of hemlock offered by Tim Sweet. Now that he probably has a good lawyer, and the board has probably been given legal advice (here, and from Partners in Boston), we may never know what caused the rupture. With Socrates, it was "impious" thoughts against the state. I am feeling some "impious" thoughts about how the board handled this one. Maybe they should take a break.
(3) The advert for a new CEO should stress the need to kowtow. IF there are any new recruits. Anyone reading the commentary over the past few weeks would find it instructional, rather than "corrosive," and opt for some nice hospital in Maine.
Just who was threatening to
Always here Vineyard HavenJust who was threatening to leave? Probably Mr. Sweet. This still smells like old fish.
Tim Sweet needs to go. The
Fred EdgartownTim Sweet needs to go. The community built the hospital with its donations---the Board owes the community an explaination as to why the CEO was terminated. Until that happens no financial support from me. We need transparency, not a cover up.
When will you people get it??
Lucky EdgWhen will you people get it?? The Board is keeping it confidential for Woodin's sake and benefit. And, they are quite possibly being legally barred from revealing the details you are all crying like babies and demanding to know. Can't and won't are different. They CANNOT tell you. Get over it and move on. Keep your dimes and dollars or find some whales to save or SOMETHING. Give it to the church. Donate to help build a homeless shelter. Give it to your nephew in Maine. Whatever. MVH will still be there on the ready if your life needs saved.
"Crying like babies?" When
Really? WT"Crying like babies?" When will YOU get it? Who do you think you are to discount what is clearly a significantly large and diverse part of this island community? And speaking of dimes and dollars, let's consider what this "expert" board has wasted on installing art all over the hospital when there are clearly so many more important and crucial needs. Even though they report not having had to buy any of the pieces, they wasted valuable time and energy building a whole "museum quality" scene that is distracting and ridiculous, especially when artists also report being bullied to give up their work at no cost. Who cares if there is a Picasso on the wall if your loved one is not getting proper care? This board is so out of touch with the basic and clear needs of this particular community. Why are none of the doctors - none - taking new Primary Care patients? Because they can't handle the volume of care needed even for the year-round population. There are serious issues that need to be addressed about a board that has no term limits and does not disclose important information to the community. If the community wants to know why, exactly, a new leader whom many admired was fired, they have the right to know, and if the board claims that they cannot do so for legal reasons, than they should explain why they behaved in a manner that would need legal intervention to the detriment of transparency.
Well said, clearly "Lucky" is
Alan NYC/ChilmarkWell said, clearly "Lucky" is either a board member, or very close to one of them, and decided to jump all over the comment section of this article to try and discredit the community's concerns. We demand answers and that board members are held accountable for firing someone as qualified and hard working as Mr. Woodin. Even if letting Mr. Woodin go was the best choice for the hospital, then shouldn't the board be held accountable for such a poor decision in hiring him? Either way it shakes out, the board MUST be changed NOW.
Who's discounting views?
Lucky EDGWho's discounting views? (Please see previous math comment). Why don't you go ask Mr. Woodin why the board terminated him and see if HE'LL tell ya. And, in the same vein, ask the Doctors what they thought of him.
In other news, it is my hope that the impeachment of Trump will go just as expeditiously.
I like the art. It makes the
Po' Boy Oak BluffsI like the art. It makes the place less scary. Also, the only way I can find my way around it by remembering what piece I turned at.
"To respect Mr. Woodin, we
Hospital Contributor Oak Bluffs"To respect Mr. Woodin, we have opted not to speak publicly about the details." - PERFECT. Joe Woodin "the ball is in your court". Here is your opportunity to waive any privacy issues you have and instruct the Trustees to "speak publicly" about the issues that caused them to fire you. I assure you Mr. Woodin that if the Trustees can't "walk the walk", this Island will not let this matter die until you are returned to your CEO position and they are replaced. Also, if this course of action is taken, this matter will no longer, as the Gazette states, "remain largely unexplained".
100% agree. While this has a
RF OB100% agree. While this has a dramatic impact on Mr. Woodin's future here on MV, and while he doesn't owe the community anything, I think this is the only way to determine if the Board acted in less than an ethical way, and thus we should then be looking at replacing the members responsible for this action. That is of course if it is determined that Mr. Woodin is without fault other than going against the grain of aa long standing board member. The MV community of patients, and contributors deserve answers - and closed door meetings are not an answer to deserve or will stand for.
The trustees will stonewall
Down IslanderThe trustees will stonewall for as long as they can---forever, if possible.
While other issues start to absorb the community's attention.
I would lay bets that that is their plan.
The only way the community will find out what happened here
will come from legal action of some kind (from Woodin,
or from a community group that decides to keep up the pressure to get answers),
with subpoenas of internal documents and communications.
I think it highly unlikely that the two Sweets, and others, didn't
discuss the plans for Woodin's future.
But, I don't expect this comment to be allowed by the Gazette's moderators.
WOW, they defend CEO'S ouster
charlie callahan so boston/edgartownWOW, they defend CEO'S ouster. Maybe cause THEY THREW THE GUY OUT.I doubt that they are sorry, they did what they were told by whoever pulls their strings. Too bad they don't know how, or are AFRAID to do what's right.
"Cannot speak publicly about
Resident Edgartown"Cannot speak publicly about the details?" What details? Sounds like this whole charade was about power struggles, vendettas, secrecy, or worse. How can this board, in all decency, act like a closed society? How can Tim Sweet have so much power after twenty, yes, twenty years of heading a board that now is so reviled on the island? This is draconian in all ways. And, for the hospital, that was moving so well into the 21st century, was getting great doctors, establishing a good reputation, is now looked at and talked about with disdain and disgust. The people on this island who are caring, loving, supportive, hard working, dedicated to their professions deserve better. They dont deserve secrecy and dirty politics. People like Tim Sweet just muddy the waters. He is an embarrassment to our basic tenets of kindness and goodness. One doesn't treat people like he did Joe Wooden and then take on the roll of dictator over the whole island. Silence, closed doors, no information?? It's untenable and shocking.
I assume the Hospital has
Jan C EdgartownI assume the Hospital has written policies & procedures for disciplinary action. It does not seem as if the policies came in to play at all with regard to the Board and Mr. Woodin. Mr. Sweet has not indicated that the Board sat down with Mr Woodin during the last year to talk about establishing a common vision and direction for the Hospital. He's given no indication that "performance" issues were discussed with Mr Woodin before he was abruptly fired. Mr Sweet took it upon himself to fire Mr. Woodin before the Board took a vote! That to me is a BIG deal. The Board appears to have serious performance issues and it should be fired. I feel like we're in Trump-land. The Board chair fires the CEO because he doesn't like him or whatever the real cause was, and then he's totally surprised by the blow-back! Time for a new board and chairperson.
How can the Board send out
Eve West TisburyHow can the Board send out fundraising requests after this event?
Why should a donor feel confident that the Board has acted properly in this situation, and will act properly in the future?
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