Dean Carucci
Market President, HCA New England Healthcare,
and Chief Executive Officer, Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Dean Carucci has been with HCA Healthcare since 2001 and was appointed Market President of HCA New England Healthcare in 2023. He will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a role he has held since 2015. He started his career at the HCA Healthcare corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, as a member of the Internal Audit and Consulting Services department.
In 2005, Dean moved to Richmond, Virginia, to become the Controller of CJW Medical Center. CJW Medical Center is a 758-bed Level I Trauma Center providing a full range of tertiary care in the heart of Richmond. This experience was invaluable as he transitioned in 2006 to the Richmond Division Controller role overseeing four hospitals (six campuses).
Dean served as the Chief Financial Officer of Parkland Medical Center in Derry, New Hampshire, from 2007 to 2011. As CFO of Parkland Medical Center, Dean provided financial vision and leadership, helping the facility grow its services while working closely with nursing and operational leadership to develop processes and drive quality outcomes.
In January 2012, Dean moved to the greater Kansas City, Kansas, region to serve as the Chief Operating Officer of Overland Park Regional Medical Center (OPRMC). During his tenure at OPRMC, Dean led the facility through a $110 million capital expansion project designed to increase access to emergency services, increase intensive care bed capacity, and set the stage for the growth of pediatric and adolescent service offerings. Dean returned to New England in April 2014 to serve as the Chief Operating Officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
He holds a B.S. in Finance from Louisiana State University and an MBA from The Ohio State University. In addition to his role as Secretary/Treasurer of the Portsmouth Regional Hospital Board of Directors, Dean has served on the New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA) Board and Executive Board since his appointment in January 2017, and is currently the NHHA Board Chair.
Jacob Wiesmann
Chief Financial Officer
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Jacob Wiesmann is the chief financial officer (CFO) of Portsmouth Regional Hospital and has served in this role since March 2022. As CFO, Jacob has management responsibility of all financial departments including accounting, reimbursement, managed care, health information, and utilization review. He is also responsible for the financial allocation of resources and developing operational and capital budgets that support the hospital’s short- and long-range plans. In July 2023, Jacob assumed CFO responsibilities at Frisbie Memorial Hospital as well.
Prior to his current role, Jacob most recently served as CFO of HCA Healthcare’s Parkland Medical Center in Derry, New Hampshire. Throughout his career, he has served in various roles within HCA Healthcare, including financial controller positions with Colorado-based North Suburban Medical Center and Rose Medical Center. Prior to that, Jacob served as assistant controller of CJW Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. He began his career at HCA Healthcare in 2002 as a staff accountant at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Jacob has served in several leadership positions on nonprofit boards in the communities where he resided which included president of The Upper Room, a family resource center dedicated to the education of young people and young families, for which he remains on the advisory board; and president of the board of Community Health Services, a nonprofit organization that provides education and case management support for those struggling to navigate healthcare services.
Jacob holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from Regis University. He also holds a Certificate in International Business from EM Strasbourg Business School (formerly IECS) in Strasbourg, France.
Brian Sanders, MD, MHCM
Chief Medical Officer
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Brian Sanders, MD, MHCM, is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Portsmouth Regional Hospital and has served in this role since January 2023. As CMO, Dr. Sanders is responsible for leading clinical performance and practice standards to ensure superior clinical outcomes and patient experience. He also assumed responsibilities as CMO at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in June 2023.
Prior to joining HCA Healthcare, Dr. Sanders most recently served as chief of the department of pediatric emergency medicine and chair of the department of pediatrics at Mass General Brigham’s Salem Hospital. He also served as the hospital’s site director for the Boston University Medical Student Program, as medical director for the COVID-19 employee testing clinic and vaccine program, and as site director for the REVISE (Reducing Variability in the Infant Sepsis Evaluation) Study for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
During his career, Dr. Sanders also served as medical director of pediatric emergency medicine at Lowell General Hospital where he helped to develop a pediatric emergency department. He also practiced as a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Boston; Children’s Specialty Group in Norfolk, Virginia; and Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Sanders, a dual board-certified pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine physician, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, and completed his residency and fellowship at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. He also holds a Masters in Healthcare Management from Harvard University Chan School of Public Health.
Dr. Sanders has held academic appointments at Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Boston University School of Medicine. His volunteer work includes international travel, treating patients and developing medical clinics in Zambia, India, Ecuador, and Jamaica.
Michelle R. Dodd, PhD, RN, CCRN-K
Chief Nursing Officer
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Michelle Dodd, PhD, RN, CCRN-K, is the chief nursing officer (CNO) of Portsmouth Regional Hospital and has served in this role since January 2020. As CNO, Michelle provides overall leadership and management to the hospital’s nursing team, which comprises the largest group of employees in the hospital.
Prior to her current role, Michelle most recently served as vice president of nursing operations supporting HCA Healthcare’s strategic nursing plan for all 18 hospitals in the company’s Capital Division. Throughout her nursing career, she has held various clinical positions in emergency medicine and critical care. Michelle began her career with HCA Healthcare in 2003.
Michelle received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from George Mason University and completed her Master of Science in Nursing and Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Research at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her doctorate was supported by a competitive NIH: NRSA F31 grant and focused on healthcare acquired infection risk in the ICU. Michelle’s experience in infection prevention plays a significant role in her leadership of the clinical excellence and quality initiatives in nursing practice.
Michelle was the co-founder and president of the Greater Richmond Virginia Chapter of the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) and is certified in critical care.
Michelle’s leadership style is coaching oriented and visionary. She enjoys the challenge of breaking new ground with technology, mentoring, and education, and is deeply involved in the hospital’s nursing education programs with several local colleges, as well as the extended learning opportunities program which is designed to encourage young people to explore careers in healthcare. She also volunteers each holiday season with Wreaths Across America, helping to place wreaths at the gravesites of veterans throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Michelle Ruru
Chief Operating Officer
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Michelle Ruru is the chief operating officer (COO) of Portsmouth Regional Hospital and has served in this role since August 2023. As COO, Michelle manages the strategic operational priorities and service line growth for Portsmouth Regional Hospital and its affiliates.
Prior to her current role, Michelle most recently served as vice president of operations of Ogden Regional Medical Center, a 238-bed Level II trauma center in Utah. In this role, she was responsible for numerous clinical, ancillary, and facility departments including plant operations, imaging services, laboratory, physical therapy, and other support services; and led and facilitated multiple construction projects totaling $150 million. Michelle held a range of progressively responsible leadership roles at HCA Healthcare’s Cache Valley Hospital in Utah, including ancillary services manager for two years, after which she was promoted to ancillary services director in 2018. Michelle started her career with HCA Healthcare in 2008 as director of hyperbaric medicine and infusion therapy, also at Cache Valley Hospital.
Michelle has served in several leadership positions on nonprofit boards in the communities in which she’s worked, including the YCC Family Crisis Center of Ogden, Utah. The YCC is a resource center dedicated to supporting individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence. Services offered provide safety, shelter, advocacy, and resources for individuals and families. Michelle also worked and partnered with local high schools and colleges to offer students healthcare education and hands-on experience for several different modalities and skill sets in the healthcare field.
Michelle holds both a Bachelor of Science in Business and Healthcare Management and a Master of Business Administration - Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.
Michelle graduated from HCA Healthcare’s executive development program in 2022. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.