Hartford HealthCare names new Chief Operating Officer and President

Bimal Patel, President of Hartford HealthCare’s Hartford and Northwest Regions and Senior Vice President, has been named the health system’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Cheryl Ficara, RN, Senior Vice President for Operations in the Hartford Region, will be President of the Hartford Region, and a Senior Vice President at HHC — the first female president of the Hartford Region.

“Bimal and Cheryl are consummate professionals who have demonstrated their commitment to our values, and their value to our system, in countless ways for many years,” said Hartford HealthCare President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey A. Flaks. “They are well prepared for their new roles and responsibilities, and will continue to bring their deep knowledge, commitment to excellence, and passion for service to all they do.”

Patel joined Hartford HealthCare in February 2009 as Senior Vice President for Support Services at Hartford Hospital. He has led numerous facilities and services integration initiatives. He served as Hartford Hospital’s regional Vice President for Operations and, from 2014 to 2015 as HHC’s Senior Vice President for Operational Integration. He was President of the system’s East Region from 2015 to 2017, and has served as President of the Hartford Region since 2017. In 2022, he assumed additional responsibilities for the Northwest Region in 2022. Patel will retain his oversight of the Northwest Region as part of his COO role. Bimal has a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy, and a Master of Health Administration degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Ficara has a long and successful career at Hartford Hospital, which she joined as critical care nurse in 1990. She is widely respected as a committed nursing leader, mentor and advocate for professional practice. After serving as Hartford Hospital’s Director of Perioperative Services, Ficara was named Regional Vice President for Patient Care Services in January 2011. In 2022, she was named the Hartford Region’s Senior Vice President for Operations. Ficara has co-authored several publications, and is a noted national speaker on topics including clinical innovation and professional development. She earned her Bachelor of Science and her Master of Science degrees from the University of Connecticut.

“The presidency of the region that includes our largest hospital, and the oversight of the many facets of operations across HHC, are challenging and critical roles ― especially at a time of accelerated change and innovation,” Flaks said. “Based on their past successes, and their proven leadership, I have every confidence that Cheryl Ficara and Bimal Patel will advance our aim to be more accessible, affordable, equitable and excellent for all.”