Yale New Haven president Richard D’Aquila to step down
Richard D’Aquila
After nearly 15 years of service, Richard D’Aquila has announced his decision to transition out of his role as president of Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health System, effective Oct. 5.
Ensuring a smooth and seamless leadership transition, YNHH’s Board of Trustees has named Keith B. Churchwell, MD, president of Yale New Haven Hospital.
“I am so proud and grateful to have had the experience of leading one of the nation’s most respected healthcare organizations,” D’Aquila said. “Over the last 14 years, we have accomplished so much and really put Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health in an incredibly strong position nationally. It has been the greatest privilege of my career to work with some of the most extraordinary and caring leaders anywhere in the country.”
D’Aquila’s legacy is extensive. He was recruited from New York Presbyterian Hospital in 2006 to serve as Yale New Haven Hospital chief operating officer. He is widely credited for establishing a robust relationship with Yale Medicine and Yale School of Medicine and building the clinical depth that has come to characterize Yale New Haven Health System today.
“Rick has been a true partner in growing Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health,” said YNHHS CEO Marna Borgstrom. “He developed service lines, first at Yale New Haven Hospital, and saw them expand across the system, to support a single signature of care for our patients, wherever they access our services. He was instrumental in leading the integration of the Hospital of Saint Raphael into Yale New Haven Hospital, making Yale New Haven Hospital one of the top 10 largest hospitals in the country.”
D’Aquila led an approach to build expertise and access by developing key service lines, from Smilow Cancer Hospital to Heart and Vascular to Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Through his efforts, Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale School of Medicine recruited national leaders in their fields and supported exceptional growth in clinical offerings along the way.
“Rick has been a terrific partner with Yale Medicine,” said YM CEO Paul Taheri, MD.
“Together we built an exceptional clinical practice that rivals any in the country. Rick is tough-minded, strategic and purposeful, all of which make him a great colleague and an exceptional leader.”
D’Aquila has also been active in the community, most notably as a promoter of the partnership between YNHH and Habitat for Humanity that built more than a dozen homes throughout the neighborhoods surrounding the hospital.
D’Aquila has had an extraordinary career in health care. In addition to his significant contributions at Yale New Haven Health, he was chief operating officer for New York Presbyterian Hospital, executive vice president and chief operating officer at St. Vincent’s Health in Bridgeport and president of Health Initiatives Corp., a healthcare strategy consulting firm. He plans to return to his consulting practice after leaving Yale New Haven.
