Reynolds named new president at Northern Light AR Gould Hospital

Date: 08/21/2023

Presque Isle, Maine (August 21, 2023) — Northern Light Health president and CEO Tim Dentry is pleased to announce that Jay Reynolds, MD will become AR Gould Hospital’s next president. In this role, Dr. Reynolds will also serve as a senior vice president for Northern Light Health.
 
Reynolds, who has served as the senior physician executive at the hospital for a number of years, has been filling the role of interim president for the hospital since July 1.
 
“It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Reynolds as the next president of AR Gould Hospital,” says Dentry. “As a native of Aroostook County, Jay is absolutely passionate about serving the people of northern Maine, ensuring they have access to the very best in care, and working collegially with all for the betterment the County. His understanding of rural healthcare through his 29 years at AR Gould Hospital, approachable leadership style, and out-of-the-box thinking positions him well to lead the next chapter of this hospital’s legacy and I look forward to working with him in his new role.”
 
Dr. Reynolds is a native of Fort Fairfield, where he still lives today with his wife, Karen. He has spent his entire professional career working for AR Gould, beginning as a family medicine physician in Fort Fairfield in 1994. Over the years, he was involved in varying roles, including seven years of serving as both the chief operating officer and chief medical officer for the hospital before the duties were split into two roles in 2007.
 
“I am grateful to be chosen for this responsibility,” says Dr. Reynolds. “I am proud of the breadth of services we provide here at AR Gould, and I am looking forward to playing an expanded role in seeking to continue our high level of care with the challenges ahead.”
 
Among his first steps as leader, Dr. Reynolds plans to reintroduce himself to staff, providers, and the community in his new role. “People are used to seeing me in a certain role, and this will be a chance to reset relationships and to open up a line of communications so I can hear their perspectives on what we are doing well and what we could be doing better.”
 
He also plans to build on existing relationships with the other three hospitals in Aroostook County, so the hospitals can find ways to continue and even expand services in northern Maine in more efficient ways.
 
“The reality is that as the population in our region ages, the need for healthcare services grows and the workforce size decreases. This is the top operational challenge that we face today.  We need to work together to find solutions to this challenge,” he explains.
 
Reynolds begins his duties as president immediately and looks forward to building on existing relationships and creating new ones to help ensure continued safe, quality care that is sensitive to the needs of patients.
 
###
 
At Northern Light Health, we’re building a better approach to healthcare because we believe people deserve access to care that works for them. As an integrated health delivery system serving Maine, we’re raising the bar with no-nonsense solutions that are leading the way to a healthier future for our state. Our care team—in hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, long-term and home healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and ground and air medical transport and emergency care—are committed to making healthcare work for you: our patients, communities, and employees. To learn more about Northern Light Health and our locations across Maine, visit www.northernlighthealth.org.