WEST HARTFORD – Denise Peterson has been appointed the president and CEO of Hebrew Senior Care and its affiliates located in West Hartford, it was announced last week by Richard Robinson, chairman of the Hebrew Senior Care Board of Trustees.

She succeeds Gary Jones, who served as interim president and CEO since August 2016, during which time he led the organization through its successful Chapter 11 reorganization.

“Mr. Jones was the ideal leader through the transitional period given his extensive non-profit experience coupled with his legal background and commitment to the Jewish community. We are enormously grateful to him for his leadership during this critical time,” said Robinson.

Peterson is a healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience leading patient care services and clinical operations. Prior to her appointment as president and CEO of Hebrew Senior Care, she served as senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Trinity Health of New England where she provided leadership for the discipline of nursing and was accountable for nursing practice across the region.

She previously also served as vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer for the Hospital of Central Connecticut, as service line executive for the Surgical Care Center at Danbury Hospital, and as administrative director of Inpatient Services for Waterbury Hospital.

Peterson received a Diploma in Nursing from St. Francis School of Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Hartford. In 1995, Ms. Peterson earned a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Rensselaer.

A resident of Middlebury and the mother of two children, Peterson is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (NEA-BC). She is also active in the Women’s Choice Awards and sits on their healthcare advisory board.

Hebrew Senior Care (formerly Hebrew HealthCare) provides specialized and comprehensive health and living services for older adults and their families, including acute medical and behavioral hospital units as a member of Connecticut Senior Hospital Alliance; an outpatient physician practice specializing in geriatrics; senior day center; dementia services; assisted living services; and a premier senior living community, Hoffman SummerWood.