Nantucket Cottage Hospital is not only an integral part of the island community, but it is an equally integral part of our family as well. As a family of six, we have frequented the ER for stitches, fevers and other mishaps that accompany a family with four boys, always receiving attentive and comprehensive care. But the hospital hasn’t just been there for our family during tragic events or unfortunate circumstances. It has served as the “home away from home” where we gave birth and welcomed three of our four children into the world, most recently our son Charles on January 10, 2020. It is these life changing moments for which we feel forever connected and grateful to our community hospital.

While nothing can fully prepare a family for the life changing experience that bringing a new baby into the world will be, the process can be a positive one or not. Our experience, most recently, was nothing short of perfect.

We had a pretty good idea of what to expect, this being our third child in three years. What we could not have planned for however, was the tremendous care our family received by the nursing staff and just how much they would contribute to our overall experience.

We arrived on a Friday morning and were warmly welcomed. It felt as though the whole nursing staff was anticipating our arrival, ready and eager to get the process started. How grateful we were to have such individualized attention, knowing that is not the norm in most all other hospitals. They embraced our desire for a holistic, natural birth. Whether through maintaining the set environment through dimmed lighting and quiet music, or providing birthing balls at various stages or encouraging walking the halls and trying new laboring positions. They respected our wishes the entire way.

– Kathleen and Isaiah Stover with their kids Gabe, J.J., Xander and Finn

(January 29, 2020) Nantucket Cottage Hospital is pleased to announce that Michelle and Bob Atchinson will serve as the event chairs for the 2020 Boston Pops on Nantucket concert set for August 8th.

The Atchinsons, summer residents of the island who have been coming to Nantucket for 30 years, will oversee the signature event of the summer with a dedicated group of hospital staff and volunteers, producer Jon Rosbrook and Aisling Glynn’s ACKtivities, as well as vendors and special guests. The annual concert is the largest single fundraiser for Nantucket Cottage Hospital that brings thousands of people together at Jetties Beach. All of the net proceeds generated during the event stay on Nantucket to sustain the hospital’s general operations and its year-round commitment to the health and wellbeing of the island community.

“Bob and I are honored to take on this role in support of Nantucket Cottage Hospital and are excited to work with the many volunteers who make the Pops a special event for the community,” Michelle Atchinson said. “We look forward to doing our part to steward this great tradition and ensure that it continues to provide critical support for our island hospital.”

The concert in August 2020 will mark the 24th year for the Boston Pops on Nantucket event.

UPDATE: Saturday, April 4th concert is canceled

We are pleased to announce a new, free concert series at the hospital that will celebrate the gift of the magnificent Steinway Spirio piano which sits in the main lobby. This piano, as well as the keyboard in the cafeteria on the second floor, were generously donated by Bruce and Marilou Sanford, in honor of their daughter, Ashley. The concert series will feature island and off-island pianists and other guest musicians.

Experienced hospital CEO, former U.S. Navy Lt. Commander to Lead Island’s Largest Private Employer

(December 6, 2019) The Nantucket Cottage Hospital Board of Trustees has named Gary Shaw President and Chief Executive Officer of Nantucket Cottage Hospital following a nationwide search. Shaw brings more than two decades of experience leading hospitals and healthcare organizations from Delaware to Alaska, as well as 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy’s Medical Service Corps, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He will join Nantucket Cottage Hospital in his new role on Monday, Dec. 9th.

“Gary is the right person to lead Nantucket Cottage Hospital into this new era with the island’s new healthcare facility, and every member of the search committee and the Board feels confident that his experience and skillset are well-matched to meet the challenges of our remote island hospital,” said Kevin Hickey, President of the NCH Board of Trustees. “Gary’s leadership style and track record of accomplishments, both in the Navy and as a healthcare executive, stood out to us during the search process and we look forward to introducing him to NCH staff and the island community.”

Shaw most recently served as President of Cambridge Medical Center in Minnesota, an 86-bed facility that is part of the Allina Health not-for-profit healthcare system. At Cambridge Medical Center, he was responsible for a number of systemwide improvement initiatives in quality and patient care and led the development of a new $9 million outpatient clinic. Prior to that, Shaw was the hospital administrator of the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, a 158-bed regional referral center and teaching hospital for the Alaska Native and American Indian populations.

“My wife Trisha and I are very excited to be returning to our New England roots, joining the Nantucket community, and I couldn’t be more pleased to be invited to work with the wide array of highly skilled team members at the Nantucket Cottage Hospital. I am truly humbled.”

Shaw enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1977, progressing from Hospital Corpsman to Lieutenant Commander of the Navy’s Medical Service Corps over the span of two decades. He served during four wars and his last overseas assignment was as a Navy Environmental health advisor (Public Health) to the United Nations during the Bosnian war.

Shaw and his wife Trisha have two grown children. The Shaws will relocate from Minnesota to Nantucket in the coming months.

“Gary’s experience in healthcare organizations that serve remote and rural areas and being an active member of those communities is one of his many attributes that we believe will benefit Nantucket Cottage Hospital and the island,” said Jack Burke, Vice President of the NCH Board of Trustees and the chair of the hospital search committee. “Of the many potential candidates we interviewed during this search process, Gary was the clear, unanimous choice of the committee given his background, leadership qualities and extensive accomplishments as a healthcare executive.”

Shaw succeeds Dr. Margot Hartmann, who had served as Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s President and CEO since 2010 and stepped down from that role in September 2019. Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, DNP, has served the hospital as interim President and CEO since Dr. Hartmann’s departure, and will continue to assist NCH in a consulting role.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Shaw received a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare/Business Administration, followed by a Master of Science degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville. He holds an Executive Professional Coaching Certificate from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

On Monday, December 2nd, the Vesper Lane entrance to the hospital parking lot will be temporarily closed to complete site work. We hope to reopen the Vesper Lane entrance as soon as possible.

Park here off Prospect Street and walk in the new main entrance!

Vehicles can use the two Prospect Street entrances:

• Patients accessing the Emergency Department will use the Prospect Street emergency entrance and parking lot.
• For all other hospital services besides the Emergency Department, use the main Prospect Street entrance, park in the main lot and enter the building either through the new main front door or the new medical center door.
• Dr. Lepore’s patients should use the Prospect Street entrance to the lot.