40 Influential Leaders - Joanne M. Conroy, MD

Joanne M. Conroy, MD
President and CEO of Dartmouth Health

Joanne Conroy has managed the state’s only academic health system, and it’s largest private employer, since 2017.Conroy also navigated the system through the coronavirus pandemic and a labor shortage. Under her leadership, Dartmouth Health pulled through some of the toughest times in healthcare, emerging more resilient and adaptive.

“We started thinking innovatively about things we [previously] thought couldn’t be accomplished,” says Conroy, citing the implementations of Telehealth, remote work, and partnerships with local institutions. While not suitable for all applications, telehealth breaks down geographical barriers, particularly for patients in rural or underserved areas. She says these virtual consultations often result in fewer laboratory and imaging tests, saving time and money.

The pandemic prompted a paradigm shift in work dynamics, introducing hybrid and asynchronous models. Conroy says Dartmouth Health now has 2,500 permanently remote employees, which equates to about 20% of its workforce. “We’ve realized we can do our work in different ways.” Remote work allows Dartmouth Health to hire without geographical constraints.

In rural areas, workforce shortages are even greater, and options are fewer compared to urban centers. Long before the pandemic, Dartmouth Health created a Workforce Readiness Institute to fill the needs for allied health positions such as pharmacy technicians, surgical techs, medical assistants, and phlebotomists. Conroy says students get paid while completing their certifications, offering career pathways directly from high school.

More recently, Conroy oversaw the construction of a new 240,000-square-foot patient pavilion at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon and a new Ambulatory Surgery Center at D-H Clinic Manchester for same-day surgeries.

Conroy has long been a vocal advocate for increasing the number of women in leadership. She is a founding member of Women of Impact, a group of healthcare executives addressing complex problems in the industry. She is often singled out as a role model for other women who aspire to become leaders and agents for positive change in healthcare.