Leadership Team

Leading an integrated health system, which includes an academic medical center and multispecialty physician group practice, which together employ more than 8,000 physicians, nurses and staff members, is a formidable task. Dartmouth-Hitchcock is led by three individuals who bring a wealth of knowledge and vision to their respective jobs.

Thomas A. Colacchio, MD
President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Thomas A. Colacchio, MD, President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

In July 2009, Thomas Colacchio, MD was named President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, an integrated health system designed to efficiently coordinate resources, expand access to the specialized services and research available at New Hampshire’s only academic medical center, and enhance the value and quality of care in communities throughout New Hampshire and eastern Vermont.

Dr. Colacchio came to Dartmouth-Hitchcock in 1981 following his internship and residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and fellowship in Academic Surgery at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. During his tenure at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, he served as president of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic from 1999-2009, was Chief of the General Surgery Section from 1984 to 1996, and Chair of the Board of Governors.

He is also Professor of Surgery at the Dartmouth Medical School (DMS), and was a principal investigator in a number of groundbreaking National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research studies on colon cancer. Dr. Colacchio graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science degree and received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. He continues to practice as a Surgical Oncologist.

Nancy Formella, MSN, RN
President of Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital

Nancy Formella, MSN, RN President of Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital

Nancy Formella brings with her over 25 years of experience in the clinical nursing and health administration field. Prior to joining DHMC as Senior Nurse Executive in 1999, she held a variety of positions within the Mayo Health System for almost 15 years.
At St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, Formella was a clinical nurse specialist and the Director of Nursing Education and Development, as well as the Clinical Director of Nursing at the Rochester Methodist Hospital. At St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, she advanced from the Clinical Director to the Associate Administrator/Nurse Executive. She has also held positions as a clinical nurse specialist and staff nurse in Wisconsin and Iowa.

Nancy Formella was named the Nurse Leader of the Year by the New Hampshire Nurses' Association (NHNA) in 2004, and in 2005 received the award for Nursing Management Excellence from the New Hampshire organization of Nursing Leaders. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the American Nurses’ Association, the American Organization of Nurse Executives and the American College of Healthcare Executives. In 2009, she received the Distinguished Alumna in Nursing award from Marquette University.

James N. Weinstein, DO, MS
President of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic

James N. Weinstein, DO, MS President of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic

Dr. James N. Weinstein is an internationally known orthopaedic surgeon, health services researcher, and pioneer in the field of informed choice for patients. In addition to being president of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic, he serves as Director of The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI) a research, policy, and educational institution within Dartmouth, dedicated to the ongoing reform of health care.

Dr. Weinstein joined the Dartmouth-Hitchcock staff in 1996. In 2003, he was named the inaugural Chair of the Departments of Orthopaedics at DMS and DHMC. He founded the first-in-the-nation Center for Shared Decision-Making, and subsequently established the internationally recognized Spine Center at DHMC. He has received more than $35 million in research funding and is the author of more than 250 peer-reviewed papers.

Dr. Weinstein is the Principal Investigator on the national Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT,) the first comprehensive study to look at the effectiveness of the most common back surgeries. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Spine.