Beverly Hospital's Laverty resigns

After months of increasing conflict with doctors and nurses, Beverly Hospital chief executive Stephen R. Laverty resigned yesterday, ending an eight-year tenure as head of one of the North Shore's leading medical institutions.

Dr. Henry J. Ramini, an obstetrician who held a series of medical management roles and retired in January as trustees board chairman for the hospital's parent company, was named interim chief executive. Beverly Hospital has retained Witt/Kiefer, an executive search firm, to find a permanent replacement.

In a statement, trustees of the parent company, Northeast Health System, said Laverty improved the hospital's clinical quality, made it financially stronger, and upgraded equipment. "We accept Steve's resignation with a sense of loss but also with a deep appreciation for his accomplishments," said David St. Laurent, the chairman of the board of trustees, in the statement. St. Laurent and other hospital officials declined to be interviewed.

Still, Laverty's tenure was marked by friction between him and the hospital's doctors and nurses, creating a leadership crisis at Beverly Hospital and its sister organization, Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester.

Doctors took a vote of no confidence in Laverty in April, and nurses followed suit in October.

Most Northeast doctors were reluctant to speak about Laverty and his departure yesterday, but those that did expressed relief. "I'm sure in some quarters there's a lot of rejoicing going on," said Dr. Brenda Richardson, who practices at Addison Gilbert Hospital.

Laverty's association with Paul Galzerano, who was assistant vice president for support services at Beverly Hospital for much of Laverty's tenure, also became an issue, according to nurses and former employees, who said Galzerano could be intimidating.

Galzerano, a Groveland resident, was arrested Sept. 30 and charged with possession of stolen property. In a search of his house, police allegedly found a grandfather clock, antique furniture, and paintings that had belonged to the hospital, but had disappeared during a construction and renovation project. Neither Galzerano nor his lawyer could be reached for comment.

Ramini, 76, is well known among staff. He has served as chief of obstetrics, president of the medical staff, vice president of medical affairs, and chairman of the health system's trustees board.

But not all doctors at the hospital said they were pleased with Ramini's selection as interim chief executive.

"I think there are other people who are better suited to handle this transition, especially since Hank was chairman of the board the whole time there were concerns being raised about Mr. Laverty," said Dr. Sydney Wedmore, an internist.

But Wedmore also accepted some responsibility for the situation, as he was a member of the search committee that selected Laverty in 2000.

Jeffrey Krasner can be reached at krasner@globe.com.