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P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D VO L . X X V I N O. X I X A U G U S T 9 , 2 0 2 1 30 Health care hero on a personal mission ainebiz: You began your career as a certified nursing assistant, and are now the CEO of Penobscot Valley Hospital. How have you advanced so far professionally? Crystal Landry: I grew up in the rural town of Sherman, completed a CNA program, and began working in a local nursing home. I later com- pleted my nursing degree and began as a staff nurse. My professional goal was to work in every level of hospi- tal positions so that I would be able to understand the hospital delivery system firsthand. I was very fortunate to have many mentors, and work with peers who always wanted to see what more we could learn and do. My desire to become a leader at PVH, a rural hospital, was the direct result of a personal experience. My stepfather suffered a heart attack and cardiac arrest while at work in a north- ern Maine school. He was transported to Houlton Regional Hospital, a critical access hospital, and then to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Now, 10 years later, we are still celebrating and enjoying each day with him because of a rural hospital. I knew that at some point in my career, I wanted to transi- tion to becoming a strong advocate for those hospitals. MB: You came to PVH at a critical time for the hospital — and for the community of Lincoln. A local paper mill was closing, and within a few years PVH faced the need to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. What was that experience like? CL: Six years ago, when I joined PVH, I could see the financial chal- lenges mounting as the town's largest employer closed and many people lost their jobs. is economic change was felt as a ripple effect at PVH. In 2019, I accepted the role of CEO, and 10 days later we filed PVH into Chapter 11 bankruptcy with the goal of restructuring so that the hospital could remain open. at was some- thing personally I knew was critical for the people who live in and visit our community. MB: Ultimately, the hospital emerged from Chapter 11, and did so without laying off employees. What do you attribute that success to? CL: is is simply and 100% a result of the support from the community and the dedicated staff at PVH. e community and town of Lincoln's leadership recognized the critical need of a local hospital, both to meet M B Y W I L L I A M H A L L H E A LT H C A R E Crystal Landry CEO Penobscot Valley Hospital Penobscot Valley Hospital 7 Transalpine Road, Lincoln Founded: 1973 What it does: A nonprofit, 25-bed critical access hospital, PVH provides a full range of care, including inpatient, outpatient, emergency, surgical, diagnostic, laboratory and rehabilitation services. With a staff of 175, PVH is also one of the largest employers in the Lincoln Lakes Region. Contact: 207-794-3321 www.pvhme.org

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