January 15, 1999

Partners vice president of Finance and former MGHer Cathy Robbins will be taking a sabbatical to work on health policy issues at the Heller School at Brandeis University. Beginning Feb. 1, Peter Markell will be assuming responsibilities as permanent head of Partners Finance. Robbins was the MGH chief financial officer and senior vice president before becoming the first vice president for Finance when Partners was created in 1994.

"Cathy's contributions during her 19 years at the MGH and Partners are well-known, and as Partners first vice president for Finance, no one has worked harder to help get the system off the ground," says Partners President and CEO Samuel O. Thier, MD. "Thanks to her and her staff, we now have a coordinated, consolidated budget and finance infrastructure to support our activities."

James J. Mongan, MD, MGH president, says he has valued the opportunity to work with Robbins. "Her skills and expertise were greatly appreciated, and I'm sure she will be missed by all who worked with her," he says.

Markell served as interim chief financial officer at the MGH from May 1995 to June 1997. He has been with the accounting firm Ernst & Young since 1977 and was named as a partner in 1988. During his tenure there, he has held positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as partner on the MGH audit.