Ms. Penney serves as president and CEO of a critical access hospital and primary stroke center that serves a medically underserved rural region in Massachusetts. She led the organization through a financial turnaround, successfully guiding the hospital out of Chapter 11 to emerge as an independent community health system, which is an outcome achieved by fewer than 3% of health systems nationally. Under her leadership, Athol Hospital earned a 5-star CMS quality rating in 2024 after previously holding a 1-star rating, marking the only critical access hospital in the country to achieve such a rapid improvement. The hospital also received an IPRO quality award for outstanding quality improvement in rural care. Ms. Penney strengthened workforce engagement by leading a systemwide refresh of mission, vision and values, resulting in measurable gains in employee satisfaction. She has also advanced community-based innovation, including a nationally recognized school-based tele-behavioral health program delivering thousands of virtual therapy sessions to rural youth.
