Northern Light Health names new president and CEO

BREWER — Following a national search, the Northern Light Health Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Guy Hudson, MD, MBA, has been unanimously selected as the next president and chief executive officer of Northern Light Health. Dr. Hudson, an accomplished pediatric urologic surgeon, physician executive and experienced CEO, will start in his new role in mid-October, succeeding Tim Dentry, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

“We are delighted that we have been able to attract such a talented and experienced physician executive as Dr. Hudson to lead Northern Light Health in the years to come,” says John Ryan, board chair at Northern Light Health. “Dr. Hudson brings a unique combination of compassionate clinical expertise and vision for serving the healthcare needs of rural communities. He has a proven record of leading financial turnarounds in hospital systems, balancing the need for financial discipline with providing world-class healthcare to the community. Dr. Hudson is the ideal candidate to lead Northern Light Health during these uniquely challenging times, and we look forward to welcoming him to our community in Maine.”

Previously Dr. Hudson served as the CEO of Swedish Health System for six years and the chief executive of Providence’s North Division, including Puget Sound and Alaska, for two years. Like Northern Light Health, the Providence North Division includes a mix of secular and Catholic facilities, cares for rural communities and includes several critical access hospitals.

As a pediatric urologic surgeon, Dr. Hudson was named a “Top Doctor” by Seattle Met and Portland (Oregon) Monthly on several occasions and received the Patient’s Choice Award for Compassionate Doctor for several years.

“I am drawn to organizations with exceptional people and a strong sense of purpose — and Maine is rich in both,” said Dr. Hudson. “Northern Light Health’s unwavering commitment to rural healthcare and to the well-being of the communities it serves deeply resonates with me. Having grown up in a rural area, I understand the critical importance of ensuring access to high-quality care close to home. I am inspired by the system’s forward-looking efforts to meet the evolving needs of patients and strengthen access for future generations. I am honored to join this dedicated team and look forward to advancing our shared mission.”

Northern Light’s search for a new leader began in March when Dentry announced that he would retire as CEO .

“The search committee was presented with many strong and experienced candidates. All of them were very interested in leading an organization that serves as such an important resource for so many here in Maine,” says Julie Dawson Williams, board vice chair and chair of the CEO Search Committee. “We were especially impressed with Dr. Hudson’s commitment to a thriving, world-class health system serving rural communities. In getting to know Dr. Hudson through this process, he clearly and meticulously outlined his vision for advancing Northern Light Health, with a passion that demonstrated just how much he believes in our mission and values. We are excited about what his leadership will mean for our system, our patients and their families and for the state of Maine.”

Dentry will stay on as CEO until Dr. Hudson’s arrival in October. “I am sure that a constant on my mind in retirement will be the excellent purpose and mission of Northern Light Health and my many trusted colleagues who I care for deeply,” says Dentry, who has served Maine communities for more than a decade and whose legacy will last for many decades to come.

During his tenure, Dentry orchestrated large-scale community access to COVID-19 vaccinations and resources, rebuilt two critical access hospitals, improved inpatient access for pediatric behavioral health, launched a psychiatric residency program and expanded birthing services in Hancock County.

“It is reassuring to know the person who is taking the helm of Northern Light Health is not just qualified but is driven by the same values,” adds Dentry. “I am looking forward to hearing about the great things happening at Northern Light Health in the coming years.”