Christina McCulloch named president of Sharon Hospital

SHARON — Nuvance Health has appointed Christina McCulloch, MBA, BSN, RN, as president of Sharon Hospital.

McCulloch has worked at Sharon Hospital for more than eight years, most recently as chief nursing officer since 2018, and will begin her new role in the coming weeks, Nuvance officials said.

She will work closely with president Dr. Mark Hirko, who will remain part of the leadership team in an advisory role as he transitions his focus and expertise to serve as the full-time president of Putnam Hospital, officials said.

“I am deeply thankful for this opportunity to lead Sharon Hospital’s incredible team as we continue to provide five-star care to our region,” McCulloch said. “My career as both a registered nurse and as a clinical leader at Sharon Hospital has shown me how truly special our community is. I look forward to working closely with Sharon Hospital’s community board, our local clinical and physician leaders, and the Nuvance Health leadership team to ensure our hospital’s strength into the future.”

This announcement is part of Nuvance Health’s strategy to adapt its leadership structure to continue meeting the changing needs of the health care landscape in western Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, according to officials.

“This transition is Nuvance Health’s latest investment in Sharon Hospital’s future and ensures it will have a dedicated, unique full-time leadership team,” according to a statement.

“We are re-affirming our commitment to the communities we serve by appointing a unique leadership team at each of our hospitals,” said Dr. John Murphy, president and CEO of Nuvance Health. “Christina’s extensive educational background, deep experience as a clinician and time as a trusted leader rising through the ranks at Sharon Hospital have proven her unyielding commitment to high-quality, compassionate patient care. We know Christina is the right candidate to lead the hospital at this pivotal moment in health care.”

McCulloch will continue working with Dr. Hirko to oversee Sharon Hospital’s growth-based transformation, focused on ensuring the hospital remains sustainable and vibrant within the community amid a challenging health care landscape. She has played a central role in the transformation from its earliest planning stages, providing insight based on her strong relationship with Sharon Hospital’s staff and community, according to Nuvance.

“As I transition into my new role in the Nuvance Health system, I thank Sharon Hospital’s patients and staff for trusting my leadership throughout the pandemic and as a steward of this invaluable community resource,” Dr. Hirko said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Christina is the best person to continue this commitment to our community; I have witnessed firsthand her dedication to our staff and patients, as well as her skill as a capable leader with a rare talent for remaining calm and forward-looking, even in times of crisis.”

McCulloch has been a clinician for nearly 20 years and a leader at Sharon Hospital since 2014, serving as director of nursing, director of quality and performance improvement, and chief quality officer.

She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital and Griffin Hospital, where she began her career at the bedside as a staff nurse, according to Nuvance.

She has an MBA in Healthcare Management from Quinnipiac University, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Western Connecticut State University, and an associate degree in nursing from St. Vincent’s College.

McCulloch