The Board of Directors of Catholic Health East has awarded Deacon Dennis R. Ferguson, Esq., with its 2008 Excellence in Governance Award for his dedicated service on the Mercy Community Health Board of Trustees.  Deacon Ferguson was nominated for this recognition by William J. Fiocchetta, President and CEO of Mercy Community Health in West Hartford.  Catholic Health East is a multi-institutional Catholic health system, which is co-sponsored by 10 religious congregations, and Hope Ministries, a Public Juridic Person within Catholic Health East. Based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, the System provides the means to ensure the continuation of the Catholic identity and operational strength of sponsors' health ministries (including Mercy Community Health,) which are located within 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida.

 

In December 2007, Deacon Ferguson completed his two-year term as chair of Mercy Community Health’s Board of Trustees.  Mr. Fiocchetta characterized Deacon Ferguson’s leadership as passionate, generous, strategic, analytical, and consensus-building.  “His stewardship, vision, collaborative nature, willingness to challenge his colleagues for the ultimate benefit of those we serve and his unwavering loyalty to our Mission and Core Values make Dennis very worthy of this recognition.  We firmly believe that he exemplifies the very best of Mercy Community Health as well as the very best of Catholic Health East,” Mr. Fiocchetta said.

 

 “These individuals exercise strategic thinking and visionary leadership, and have consistently shown dedication to their respective organizations and to the mission and values of Catholic Health East,” said Robert V. Stanek, president and CEO of Catholic Health East, of this year’s Excellence in Governance Award winners. “We express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of our Board members and especially our honorees for sharing their time and talents in serving our health care ministry.”

 

The Excellence in Governance Award carries with it a grant of $10,000 to be designated to a Mercy Community Health program or service that provides community benefit.  Deacon Ferguson has designated that this gift be applied to the upcoming renovation project at the Saint Mary Home Chapel.  Mercy Community Health will soon announce a fundraising campaign to refurbish the Chapel in order to increase its accessibility. 

 

Owner of the Law Offices of Dennis R. Ferguson on Farmington Avenue and Deacon at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church on Farmington Avenue, Deacon Ferguson and his wife, Linda, also live in West Hartford.