CNE Names Jackson as Kent President, COO

WARWICK, RI — Care New England has appointed Carolyn Jackson as President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kent Hospital, taking the reins Feb. 2.

Jackson’s experience includes more than two decades of senior healthcare leadership experience, with a strong record of operational excellence, financial turnaround, and quality improvement across complex hospital systems, CNE noted in an announcement about the appointment.

Jackson joins Kent Hospital from Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Braintree, where she currently serves as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, Jackson spent six years as Chief Executive Officer of Tenet Healthcare’s Massachusetts Market and Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, and she served as Chief Operating Officer of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“Kent Hospital is a cornerstone community hospital, and an integral part of Care New England’s system of hospitals, services, and providers dedicated to delivering foundational care to our community,” said Dr. Michael Wagner, President and CEO of Care New England. “Carolyn’s proven leadership and commitment to quality, and her ability to strengthen organizations clinically and operationally make her exceptionally well-suited to lead Kent Hospital and advance our mission of coordinated, patient-centered care.”

During her tenure at Saint Vincent Hospital, Jackson led an $89 million financial turnaround over three years. Under her leadership, the hospital earned national recognition for clinical excellence, including a Healthgrades’ designation as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention for two consecutive years. She also spearheaded COVID-19 response efforts, including the establishment of a high-efficiency vaccination clinic that administered more than 85,000 vaccines, while maintaining low employee infection rates through rigorous safety protocols.