Burlington, Vt. – The University of Vermont Health Network’s senior executive is among more than 100 rural hospital and health system leaders recently highlighted by a leading national health care news publication.

Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, president and chief executive officer of UVM Health Network, was named among the ‘118 rural hospital and health system presidents and CEOs to know’ for 2025 by Becker’s Hospital Review. Dr. Eappen was recognized for his work leading the integrated, academic rural health system serving more than one million people and for his focus on a wide range of priorities that impact patients, communities and employees across the health system.

“Rural hospitals play a vital role … eliminating the need for long travel while ensuring excellent healthcare access close to home. At the helm of these essential institutions are CEOs who wear many hats to keep their communities healthy and supported,” the publication wrote. “Despite challenges like the pandemic and nationwide staffing shortages, these executives have implemented resilient strategies to keep their hospitals thriving for the long haul.”

From advancing efforts to address Vermont’s health care affordability crisis, to addressing regional challenges around affordable housing and childcare and shrinking rural health disparities through high-impact initiatives like integrated, system-wide cancer care, Dr. Eappen leads a broad range of work that impacts patients, communities and employees throughout the region.

“We are incredibly proud that Dr. Sunny Eappen has been named one of Becker’s ‘Rural Hospital and Health System CEOs to Know’ for 2025. This recognition reflects his deep commitment to improving rural health care through innovative workforce development, expanded digital access, and a strong focus on value-based, population health initiatives,” said Tom Golonka, chair of the UVM Health Network Board of Trustees. “As we continue to face real challenges around affordability and access to care, Dr. Eappen’s thoughtful and forward-looking leadership is helping ensure our communities receive the high-quality care they deserve – now and into the future.”

Since joining UVM Health Network in late 2022, Dr. Eappen, an anesthesiologist who formerly served as a leader at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, has navigated numerous national and regional challenges impacting the health system’s operations and financial health.

Under Dr. Eappen’s leadership, UVM Health network has, among other things:

• Built award-winning workforce development offerings known as the Pathway Program, which support employees’ professional growth and development across a range of high-demand health care careers.
• Opened multiple housing options that provide more than 180 housing units for employees in response to Vermont’s affordable housing crisis.
• Dramatically expanded the system’s use of telehealth services, broadening the availability of specialty care and time-sensitive provider-to-provider consults.
• Launched an innovative shared staffing model for emergency departments across the health system, improving rural communities’ access to accredited, fellowship-trained emergency medicine physicians.

“The needs of our region are constantly evolving, and our mission is to meet those changes head-on while creating sustainable, affordable and efficient pathways to health and wellness for our patients,” said Dr. Eappen. “It is an honor to be recognized, but the truth is this isn’t just about me. This recognition reflects an incredibly skilled and committed group of leaders and our trustees, who enable our continued commitment to expanding access, improving quality of care and addressing the longstanding challenges that drive health disparities in rural communities – both here and across the country.”