The former CEO and president of the Crotched Mountain Foundation has been appointed to take over on an interim basis at Dartmouth Hitchcock’s state-run psychiatric hospital.
Donald Shumway, who retired from the foundation in 2015, was appointed to the position by Gov. Chris Sununu after Sununu asked New Hampshire Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert MacLeod to resign.
The staffing shuffle came after a member of the state’s executive council discovered the facility has been short two psychiatrists since January, which is in violation of an agreement with the state, according to multiple news organizations.
Shumway led Crotched Mountain for 13 years before announcing his resignation, according to a press release sent out in September 2015. Prior to his tenure at Crotched, Shumway served as the commissioner of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, a position appointed by then Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in 1999.
“He made it his life’s work to transform the care, and assure the well-being, of New Hampshire’s vulnerable citizens,” the release says.
It says Shumway stepped away from the position in order to devote more time to his family.
Jim Varnum, who has been on the Crotched Mountain Foundation board of trustees for more than 10 years, said he has known Shumway for a long time and worked closely with him during his tenure as president.
Varnum said Shumway’s experience at Crotched makes him a good candidate to lead the hospital out of this turbulent time.
“He has worked with very difficult human interactions and experiences whether that be at Crotched Mountain or during his time at Health and Human Services where he worked for years,” Varnum said “…He’s extremely service oriented and committed to working with families — children and families — in very difficult situations. I think his background is very strong to deal with whatever needs to be done.”
David Johnson, director of marketing and communications, said on Monday afternoon that Shumway oversaw the completion of its accessible hiking trails, the skills center, and the wood chip power plant.
He said Shumway hasn’t had an active presence at Crotched since he departed from the post.
Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 234 or akessler@ledgertranscript.com.