Lifespan Announces Crista Durand will Lead Newport Hospital

Crista Durand will be the new head of Newport Hospital, Lifespan, Rhode Island's largest health system, announced Wednesday.

Durand, a seasoned hospital executive who has most recently held a leadership position at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital (L+M) in New London, Connecticut, will join Newport Hospital on Aug. 1.

Durand was selected by Lifespan and hospital leadership following a national search that spanned six months and included applicants from around the U.S.

“Crista’s leadership skills and proven track record of developing and growing new lines of business in a challenging health care environment made her an obvious choice to be the new president of Newport Hospital. Even more important is her passionate commitment to community hospitals and her strong belief that community hospitals can thrive within a broader system framework,” said Timothy J. Babineau, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Lifespan. “Crista brings a unique set of skills that are rooted in a strong financial background and paired with a focus on innovation, transformation and new business development. All of these characteristics make her the most qualified person to lead Newport Hospital at this pivotal time in health care.”

According to Durand, who grew up in eastern Connecticut, Newport Hospital provides the perfect opportunity for her to best utilize the skills she has developed throughout her career.

 “Newport is a special place with strong community ties,” she said. “I’m proud to serve as the next president of Newport Hospital, where together, we can enhance the patient experience, recruit new physicians and strategically develop programs and services.”

Durand is currently the vice president of strategic planning, marketing and business development at L+M, a 280-bed acute care hospital. The nationally recognized institution employs 2,300 staff and has a medical staff of 350 physicians. In this position, which she has held since 2009, she has led both the strategic and master facility planning efforts. She also led the development and startup of several new centers of excellence and played a key role in recruiting new physicians. In addition, she was integral in the analysis and execution of L+M’s acquisition of Westerly Hospital.

Prior to joining L+M, Durand was the chief financial officer (CFO) and senior vice president at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, Connecticut. As the hospital’s CFO, Durand developed financial models that incorporated short- and long-term cash flow needs, debt capacity and cash flow targets, all in support of the hospital’s strategic imperatives. Eventually, Durand took on the operating responsibility for several areas, including physician practices and the home care division.

Earlier in her career, Durand served in a number of financial roles at Community Health and Homecare, Inc., which became part of the Day Kimball system in 1997.

Durand is a member of the CHA Financial Oversight Committee, is a board member of the Center for Hospice Care, is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, serves as the acting finance chair on the Rectory School Board of Trustees, and is a member of the Connecticut chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

While Durand grew up in eastern Connecticut, she has strong ties to Newport having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Salve Regina University. She received a master’s degree in business administration from Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts. Durand and her husband, Stephen, along with their two sons, currently reside in Pomfret Center, Connecticut. They plan to relocate to Newport.