🔒Amid challenges running an independent hospital, Barwis finds solace in finish carpentry hobby

Bristol Health President and CEO Kurt Barwis’ home is a testament to his patience, dedication and diligence for his long-time hobby of finish carpentry.

Barwis – who originally wanted to be an artist and went to an art college in his native Philadelphia – always had an interest in making something from nothing and working with his hands, he said.

He was influenced at a young age by his father, Harold, who urged him to learn about tools. His very first project as a child was fixing a sloping wall next to a driveway.

“We got to mix the cement, bring the rocks over and carry and handle the tools,” Barwis recalled. “It was amazing and profound. I was hooked.”

Fast-forward more than five decades and the 64-year-old Barwis – who has led Bristol Health since 2006 with every intention of finishing his contract, which goes another four years – has taken his hobby to another level.

Finish carpenters work on moldings found around windows, doors, baseboards, mantels and along walls. They cut, fit and then install the wooden materials, according to specific measurements. Quality work is reflected in crisp corners, tight joints and level moldings.

Barwis has painted and did the mechanical and carpentry work in most of the rooms in his Bristol-based house, which is less than four miles from Bristol Hospital.

His pride and joy is the sitting room, seen when you first enter the 3,977-square-foot single-family home, where Barwis lives with his wife Jean Ann and their two dogs. He has two grown children — a son, Sean Barwis and a daughter, Kimberly Moczula.

The sitting room features a 10-foot-high ceiling, which Barwis painted white. He also added architectural details, including triple crown molding crafted by hand using three separate pieces of wood and a coping saw. He also put the finishing touches on a chair railing and brought a wall out in the room. He had a contractor install the fireplace in the mantelpiece.

“When I first came here, the sitting room was just a plain room,” Barwis said. “I like to have a project that I can look back on and feel good about. I get my plan, get my materials and I get to work.”

Managing amid challenging times

In his day job, Barwis oversees Bristol Health, one of the few remaining independent hospital systems in Connecticut. The system includes the 164-bed Bristol Hospital in addition to a medical group, long-term care facility and home and hospice care services.

It employs more than 1,700 people.

The past few years haven’t been easy for the hospital, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. It recorded a nearly $14 million loss in fiscal 2021, largely from declines in admissions, emergency room visits and surgeries.

That led the hospital to make layoffs in June. About 10 employees – primarily management and all non-medical staff – were let go. The hospital has also not filled about 20 open positions.

Meantime, Bristol Health’s executive team, including Barwis, all took 8% salary reductions. Barwis said the moves led to $4 million in immediate savings.

The financial pressures have forced the hospital to think more seriously about potential partnerships or mergers, Barwis said.

“How hard was it to let those people go? Brutally hard,” Barwis said. “It’s not easy to do and it’s gut-wrenching. But, the reality is, as the leader of the organization, I have to make decisions for the overall mission of the hospital. It’s a hard loss as we (let go) some people who had a tremendous history with the organization. But, there is going to be another day and we are going to go forward.”

Finish carpentry inspiration

Outside the office, Barwis said he gets his finish carpentry inspiration from YouTube, as well as some inspiring mentors along the way, including his father who worked for the city of Philadelphia as an engineer.

Barwis said the biggest trick to getting finish carpentry right is learning to be patient.

“You learn patience when you make a mistake. I’ve made many mistakes,” he said. “You might cut a piece of wood and then realize it’s too short. That happens a lot.”

Barwis usually plies his trade after dinner during the weekday or on weekends. And, music is always blasting in the background.

“I have to have music in the background,” he said. “I love music. My choice in what I listen to changes all the time. It could be rock ‘n’ roll or, dare I say, disco. Disco was big in the day in Philadelphia.”

In the end, the hospital chief said the serenity of his hobby makes it all worth it. And it’s something he said he plans to continue long after he completes his run at the hospital.

“I love it because it’s peaceful and I feel like I’m focused on doing something,” Barwis said. “I can look and say, ‘Yeah, I did that,’ no matter how impossible it was or how complicated it was.’’