Mid-State Bids Farewell to Founder, Welcomes Next Generation of Leadership

Aug 3, 2016 | News, Uncategorized

Sharon Beaty, CEO and Drl Claire Reed, CMO

Sharon Beaty, CEO & Dr. Claire Reed, CMO

Visionary CMO Frederick Kelsey Passes Baton to Rural Family Medicine Veteran Claire Reed

Plymouth, NH – Frederick Kelsey, MD, FACP, has been an advocate for our community and its health since 1979. As Mid-State Health Center’s founding Chief Medical Director, Dr. Kelsey’s patient-centered leadership has kept us at the forefront of primary care innovation for almost two decades. Now, as he steps into retirement, we honor and appreciate Dr. Kelsey’s tireless commitment to the health of Mid-State’s patients and providers. He is a man of integrity, wisdom, and compassion who leaves a legacy of healing – healing the sick, healing the healers, and healing a fractured health care system.

That legacy will be nurtured by incoming Chief Medical Officer Claire H. Reed, MD, FAAFP.  Dr. Reed is a family medicine practitioner with over 30 years of experience in primary care. She earned her medical degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center and completed her residency in Wichita, KS. Since then, Dr. Reed has practiced in both Kansas and Wisconsin, most recently serving as Medical Director of Bridge Community Health Clinic in Wausau, WI.

“Dr. Reed’s commitment to rural community health is inspiring. She is a warm, enthusiastic and capable advocate for patients and clinicians, which simply makes her an excellent choice to succeed Dr. Kelsey. We are so pleased to welcome her to the Mid-State Team,” said CEO Sharon Beaty.

Dr. Reed says her goal is to continue Dr. Kelsey’s work. “Our priority for Mid-State Health Center is to keep providing high quality, accessible care that puts patients and their needs at the center of a team with services such as psychology, health coaching, and dental care.”

Balance is a key concept in Dr. Reed’s leadership style. She knew she’d found a home when she came to interview and saw how central balance was to Mid-State’s philosophy of care. She was impressed with how the healthy work-life balance kept clinician turnover low while a balance between integrated care and metrics kept patients happy and healthy.

“In big cities, family practice often becomes just a gateway to consultants, and it’s fragmenting primary care,” Dr. Reed explained. “In small towns, we have more of an ability to practice the full scope of family medicine, which covers everything from birth to death, and I really enjoy that!”

Dr. Reed and her family moved to Plymouth in mid-June, and they are thoroughly enjoying all the beauty the Lakes Region and the White Mountains have to offer. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, knitting and spending time with family. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Reed to the Mid-State family!