New president to helm Yale New Haven Health system

A longtime local hospital administrator has been picked to lead the Yale New Haven Health system.

Christopher O’Connor has been promoted to president, and he will start in his new role on Oct. 5, the health system announced Tuesday.

O’Connor is currently the system’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, a role he has had since 2012. Previously, he served as president and CEO of the Hospital of Saint Raphael prior to its integration with Yale New Haven Hospital that same year.

The health system includes not only Yale New Haven Hospital, but Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, and Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island.

“It really is an honor, and there is an incredible amount of work to be done,” O’Connor said of his new role. 

The decision comes shortly after the system’s leadership named a new president for Yale New Haven Hospital. 

Richard D’Aquila has served as president of both Yale New Haven Hospital and the health system, and he is retiring.

In his new role, O’Connor will work in direct partnership with system CEO Marna Borgstrom.

Borgstrom cited O’Connor’s accomplishments on behalf of the health system, noting how he played a key role in bringing Yale New Haven Hospital and the Hospital of Saint Raphael together.

“Chris truly is a courageous leader who effectively worked himself out of a job at Saint Raphael’s doing what was right for that organization, its staff and its patients,” Borgstrom said. “It was a privilege to be able to attract him to Yale New Haven when the acquisition was complete.”

According to O’Connor, when he was leading the Hospital of Saint Raphael, he had to face its “economic realities.”

“It was a privilege to work with Marna and ultimately come to an agreement which brought these two organizations together,” O’Connor said. 

O’Connor grew up in New Haven, and in addition to leading the Hospital of Saint Raphael, he previously served as president of Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston. Before that, he was the vice president of clinical operations for Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, where he helped guide that organization during Hurricane Katrina.

Now, O’Connor said he is focused on leading the Yale health system through the economic challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In his new position, O’Connor will work with all of the system’s hospitals and also with the Yale School of Medicine.

In addition to the Hospital of Saint Raphael deal, O’Connor has led other growth initiatives, including the system’s affiliation with Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in 2016 and the acquisition of Milford Hospital by Bridgeport Hospital in 2019. 

Vincent Calarco, chair of the system’s board of trustees, said they worked closely with Borgstrom to find the best candidate.

“I have worked with Chris for many years and know how talented he is and how much his leadership will mean to the continued success of the health system,” Calarco said. “He is the right person at the right time for Yale New Haven Health.”