KEENE, NH – Cheshire Medical Center has selected its new President and Chief Executive Officer.

In a news release on Monday, Cheshire Medical announced that Joseph L. Perras, MD, has been named to the position.

Perras spent the last six years as CEO at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC), and also served as Chief Medical Officer since 2015. Before joining MAHHC, Perras practiced at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for 12 years, where he served on the staff of Internal Medicine, and according to the release, was a founding physician within the Hospital Medicine Practice. He held various clinical leadership positions with DHMC, including section chief of Hospital Medicine and Medical Director of Care Management.

As President and CEO of Cheshire Medical Center, Perras will be responsible for “ensuring that the mission and strategic objectives of Cheshire Medical Center are achieved in an efficient, effective, and high-quality manner, consistent with the health needs of the hospital’s service area and the strategic objectives of Dartmouth Health.”

“Dr. Perras joins Cheshire at an important time in their history, and his experience as a trusted and valued Dartmouth Health leader will be instrumental. Outside the academic medical center, Cheshire is our largest healthcare member,” said Dartmouth Health CEO and President Joanne M. Conroy, MD. “Being part of Dartmouth Health enables Cheshire to provide services that far exceed those of a typical rural hospital, including extensive programs in primary care, cancer care, cardiology, orthopaedics, and public health.”

Perras will succeed former President and CEO Dr. Don Caruso, who retired at the end of May after three decades of work at Cheshire Medical Center. Perras will begin work on August 7th.