Dartmouth Health Announces Job Cuts, CEO Says Patient Care Won’t Slip

Just a day after the announcement that Dartmouth Health would be trimming its workforce, CEO Dr. Joanne Conroy stepped in to explain why the cuts are being made and, more importantly, what they won’t affect.

The numbers are stark: about 100 current employees will lose their jobs, and the organization will scrap roughly 300 open positions that were slated for future hiring. The bulk of those roles sit in the administrative and senior‑leadership tiers, not the front‑line clinicians who see patients every day.

"When we started looking at reductions last year, the first rule was to protect clinical staff," Conroy told reporters. "We went through the hierarchy, examined each layer of management, and asked ourselves where we could streamline without compromising care." She added that the process was “painful but necessary,” acknowledging the human impact while emphasizing the broader financial picture.

At the heart of the decision is a $60 million operating deficit that has been creeping up on the system. Rising costs for medical supplies, the lingering effects of tariffs, and a cascade of federal policy changes have all squeezed the bottom line. "Everything’s getting more expensive—from the gloves we wear to the technology we rely on," Conroy said, sighing that the challenges feel “like trying to steer a cruise ship through a sudden storm.”

In tandem with the staffing changes, Dartmouth Health will discontinue two telehealth programs. The move has raised eyebrows, but the CEO was quick to reassure patients: "We still have sixteen vibrant telehealth services up and running. The two we’re ending are being replaced by other, more sustainable options, and we’re coordinating directly with the patients affected."

Interestingly, the layoffs come on the heels of the system’s largest ever donation—$30 million earmarked specifically for rebuilding the neonatal intensive care unit. Because the gift is restricted, it can’t be diverted to shore up the operational shortfall, a point Conroy highlighted to underscore that the cuts are not about a lack of generosity but rather about fiscal responsibility.

When asked if the community should be worried, Conroy offered a cautiously optimistic outlook. "We’ve already turned a $4.1 million profit this quarter, so you can see the curve beginning to shift. It’s not an instant turn, but the ship is definitely heading in the right direction," she said, adding a small smile that hinted at relief.

Employees who were let go received the news in person from their managers on Tuesday, a decision the leadership said was intended to preserve dignity and provide immediate support.