Citizen of the Year: Award ceremony celebrates Dee's contributions to hospital, community
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The celebration of Thomas Dee, president and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, touched almost as much on his impact on the wider community as on his 14-year tenure as leader of the hospital.
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce named Dee their Citizen of the Year for 2024 earlier this year. The award ceremony took place on Thursday on the terrace of the Everett Mansion, on the site of the former Southern Vermont College. The chamber award statue intentionally came in a shape similar to the Bennington Monument. The Chamber has been giving out the award for more than 50 years. “His visionary leadership has bolstered development and growth both at the hospital and in the community,” said Amy Spear, chamber president. “Tom is an incredible champion for Vermont. For 14 years, his unwavering dedication and visionary leadership have significantly improved the local economy and elevated community health care standards.”
Before SVMC, Dee worked for Health Alliance in Kingston, New York, an integrated health system of three hospitals. He was president and chief executive officer of the 222-bed Benedictine Hospital for more than 17 years. Dee has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master's in Healthcare Administration, both from Xavier University in Ohio.