AUGUSTA — Maine Veterans’ Homes is pleased to introduce Debra Fournier, RN-BC, MSB, as the organization’s new Chief Operations Officer. Fournier has over twenty-five years of healthcare experience, most recently as the vice president of Eldercare Services and administrator for St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston from 2004-10. Fournier served six years as Director of Nursing at the MVH facility in Scarborough, from 1990 to 1996.
Debra Fournier
“I am honored to be a part of such a great organization with an outstanding reputation nationally,” said Fournier. “It is very fulfilling for me to come back to MVH and work with our 1,100 employees whose mission is caring for those who served.”
Fournier was the Director of Operations at St. Marguerite d’Youville Pavilion from 2001 to 2004 and prior to that Administrator at the Gorham House. Her extensive clinical experience includes positions as geriatric case manager, clinical liaison, RN, LPN, and CNA.
“Deb brings a great deal of clinical and administrative experience, and she already has a very good understanding of how MVH cares for Maine’s veterans and their families,” said Kelley J. Kash, Chief Executive Officer. “MVH is recognized as a leader among State Veterans Homes across the nation, and we are confident that Deb’s proven leadership will result in improved services that make us the provider of choice for our quality of care, dignity and respect.”
Fournier’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from St. Joseph’s College, where she received the first Holley S. Gimpel Award for academic excellence, and a master’s of science in Business from Husson College.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Maine Health Care Association and she is a member of the American College of Health Care Administrators, National Gerontological Nurses Association, and American Health Care Association’s Disaster Preparedness Committee.
Fournier began her duties at MVH on Dec. 6. and resides in Buxton with her husband, Dan. Her father, Percy Tripp, served in the Air Force and was stationed in Japan and her grandfather, Albert Arnold, was killed in action during WWII. Her great-grandfather, James Gallant, served in both WWI and WWII.
MVH operates 640 long-term care and rehabilitation beds in six Homes located in Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Machias, Scarborough and So. Paris. MVH is a public, not-for-profit organization, and works closely with state and federal agencies, veterans’ service organizations, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Administration, and local communities to provide quality services to veterans and eligible family members.
