Kenneth D. Roberts, one of the longest serving hospital chief executives in New York State who for three and a half decades has guided the growth of Mather Hospital into one of the most respected and highly ranked hospitals on Long Island, will step down as president effective June 1, 2022. He will be succeeded by Kevin McGeachy, the hospital’s Senior Vice President for Administration, who will assume the title of Executive Director.
Known for his approachable style that encouraged a close-knit hospital culture often referred to as the “Mather Family” and a strong emphasis on quality patient care, Mr. Roberts became president of Mather in 1986, having joined the hospital as Senior Vice President in April 1982.
Mr. Roberts guided the day-to-day operation of Mather Hospital and its strategic planning to achieve patient satisfaction, quality, operational and financial goals. Under his leadership, there have been multiple hospital expansion projects including the Emergency Department, Cody Ambulatory & Inpatient Surgical Pavilion Surgery Center, the Frey Family Foundation Medical Arts Building, the Fortunato Breast Health Center/Pain Management Center expansion and the Calace Pavilion, which included and a new 35-bed Intermediate Patient Care Unit. The Jefferson’s Ferry Lifecare Community also was built under his administration.
Numerous new programs opened under his leadership including the Sleep Center, Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, Lymphedema Program, Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, Transitional Care Unit, Infusion Center, Wound Treatment Center, and Lung Cancer Screening Program, and recently the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
Mr. Roberts in 2008 initiated Mather’s Voyage to Excellence, a team-based, cultural transformation program that resulted in marked improvements in both patient and employee satisfaction scores. The goal of the Voyage is to make Mather the hospital of choice in the communities it serves for patients, employees, physicians and healthcare professionals. That same year, Mather began the Intensivist program recruiting physicians who are specially trained to care for the most critically ill patients.
In 2014, Mather became a teaching hospital with the approval of its Internal Medicine Residency Program. The Graduate Medical Education program has since grown to more than 110 residents and fellows including a fellowship in gastroenterology added this year. Mather also implemented cutting-edge technologies including Precision CyberKnife of New York in partnership with New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, robotic surgery, a robotic lab system, and advanced CT and MRI imaging. The hospital also set up a solar panel array, became the first Long Island hospital to install a thermal (ice) storage system to help with cooling the hospital during warmer months, and installed charging stations for electric vehicles.
During this time, Mather also acquired primary care physician and specialty practices to form Harbor View Medical Services, PC, a large multidisciplinary group. Under Mr. Roberts’ leadership, Mather has been recognized by national organizations for exceptional patient satisfaction, patient safety and quality care. It earned Magnet® recognition for exemplary nursing and patient care in 2013 and again in 2018 and became the first New York State hospital to receive accreditation for a nurse residency program.
Given the changes in health care and the increasing difficulties in remaining an independent hospital, Mr. Roberts guided the hospital’s board search committee for a healthcare partner that in 2018 resulted in Mather’s affiliation with Northwell Health.
Mr. Roberts also serves as president and member of the Board of Directors of Mather Hospital, Mather Health System, Inc. and the JTM Health Facilities Foundation. He formerly served as a board member of Island Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
He recently served as vice president and treasurer of Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company and member of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee; and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hospital Association of New York State; a board member on the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board and is past chairman of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, serving two terms. Mr. Roberts is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and recipient of the 2011 Monsignor Thomas J. Hartman Humanitarian Award and the 2015 Long Island Business News Outstanding CEO Award. He has also participated in many medical mission trips to South American along with his wife and several local physicians, nurses, and community members.