Lawrence, Mass. – Karen Gomes, RN, MS, CPHQ, president and CEO of Tufts Medicine Care at Home, has announced her retirement effective December 31, 2022.
“It has been my life’s calling, as well as a tremendous privilege and honor, to dedicate my 30-year career to caring for others. It is gratifying to now look forward to devoting more time to caring for my own growing family,” said Gomes, who recently welcomed her first grandchild. “This was a difficult decision, but I am so proud of our team’s accomplishments and even more confident of the great advancements ahead for Tufts Medicine Care at Home.”
Gomes, who began her career as a bedside nurse, joined Tufts Medicine Care at Home (formerly Home Health Foundation) as chief clinical officer and vice president of clinical services in 2012. She was named president and CEO in 2017.
In her leadership role at Tufts Medicine Care at Home, a Lawrence-based nonprofit organization in its 127th year, Gomes oversees a staff of expert healthcare professionals who deliver the highest quality care in all the places patients call home. Yet perhaps her most impactful accomplishment has been behind the scenes, as the driving force behind the organization becoming a member of the Wellforce health system in 2018.
Earlier this year, Wellforce transitioned to its new name of Tufts Medicine – and Home Health Foundation to Tufts Medicine Care at Home – to reflect the clinically integrated network’s closer relationship with Tufts University and commitment to an advanced, completely connected healthcare experience for patients and care teams alike.
Gomes has worked with colleagues at Tufts Medicine to create a smooth transition plan once she departs. Rey Spadoni, a highly experienced healthcare executive with leadership roles at numerous home health and hospital organizations statewide, has been named as interim president of Tufts Medicine Care at Home, effective January 3, 2023.
“I am honored to take the baton from Karen, while recognizing that she will never be replaced,” Spadoni said. “Instead, I am pleased to continue the great work being accomplished daily by this respected team of healthcare heroes to advance community health through expert, compassionate care and essential services in the home.”
About Tufts Medicine Care at Home
Tufts Medicine Care at Home, part of the Tufts Medicine health system, provides a full continuum of home health, palliative and hospice care in home and community settings. Our highly skilled healthcare providers are renowned for their expertise in a wide range of cutting-edge clinical and supportive services for infants, children, adults and elders. The Lawrence-based nonprofit organization delivers expert, compassionate care in more than 100 communities throughout the Merrimack Valley, northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.