What attracted me to this role at SVMC, and within the Dartmouth Health system, is its commitment to serving our communities and continuously improving the patient experience.
Patricia L. Fisher, MD, MHA, CPHQBennington, VT—Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, has named Patricia L. Fisher, MD, MHA, CPHQ, as its next chief medical officer (CMO). She will officially begin her role on October 12, 2026.
“After an extensive search, I am pleased to share that Dr. Fisher will be taking on this critical role, leading our medical staff and advancing our ongoing clinical and quality initiatives,” said SVMC President & CEO Estevan Garcia, MD, DrPH, MPA. “Her breadth and depth of experience in driving clinical excellence and fostering innovation will be a tremendous asset to our patients, staff, and organization.”
A board-certified family physician with a Master of Healthcare Administration from Cornell University, Fisher spent nearly two decades in Vermont, serving in progressively senior leadership roles across the University of Vermont Health Network and the Community Health Centers of Burlington. Most recently in Vermont, she served as vice president, chief medical officer, and chief quality officer at Central Vermont Medical Center. She also held multiple executive and medical staff leadership positions at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she helped advance quality, patient safety, physician engagement, and operational excellence across the state's largest academic health system. She currently serves as vice president, chief medical officer, and chief quality officer at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean University Medical Center in New Jersey.
“What attracted me to this role at SVMC, and within the Dartmouth Health system, is its commitment to serving our communities and continuously improving the patient experience,” said Fisher. “Throughout my career, I’ve been focused on whole-person wellness and building the collaborative teams that make that possible. I look forward to returning to Vermont and working closely with SVMC’s exceptional physicians, clinicians, and staff.”
Former SVMC CMO Trey Dobson, MD, left the role earlier this year to pursue a teaching position within the Dartmouth Health system. Garcia has served as interim CMO while the search for a successor was conducted.
For more information about SVMC, visit svmc.org.