Lester P. Schindel Named President and CEO of Waterbury Health

Lester P. Schindel named President and CEO

Lester P. Schindel has been named CEO of Waterbury HEALTH network in Connecticut. Schindel has served as interim CEO of the network for the past 12 months leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, a particularly challenging year for the organization and healthcare in general. Since the start of the pandemic, Waterbury Hospital has cared for 862 COVID-19 positive patients, tested over 6,000 people in its outpatient testing site. Since the COVID-19 vaccine became available the network has administered more than 10,000 shots of vaccine in collaboration with community partners including Post University and the Borough of Naugatuck.

While meeting the challenges of the pandemic, Schindel has led the organization through continued growth. During the past year, the network transitioned Chase Outpatient Center to StayWell Health Care, Inc. and acquiring an interest in Waterbury Surgery Center adding services to the community while maintaining quality care by Waterbury HEALTH providers. In addition, the network has added new physicians expanding its primary care patient base and adding new services such as the hyper specialized hepatobiliary surgery and urology services.

Schindel serves the greater Waterbury community as a member of the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Greater Waterbury.

Schindel is an accomplished hospital leader with extensive experience in developing physician practices, innovative collaborations and strong relationships with allied health providers.  Lester has previously served as president and CEO of several healthcare organization including CharterCARE Health Partners, a Prospect affiliate comprised of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island; Steward Holy Family and Merrimack Valley Hospital, a 402-bed, two-campus hospital system in Haverhill, Massachusetts and New England Sinai Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Stoughton, Massachusetts, the largest long-term acute care hospital in the country. A graduate of Rutgers University, Lester earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from George Washington University.