Burlington, Vt. – University of Vermont Health Network’s Board of Trustees and Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, have agreed that he will step down from the role of president and chief executive officer.

University of Vermont Medical Center president and chief operating officer Steve Leffler, MD, will serve as interim UVM Health Network chief executive officer in addition to his current role effective October 15, 2025. Dr. Eappen will remain on through December to support the changeover.

“Our focus as volunteer board members is on ensuring the health system continues to evolve as a strong partner in reducing expenses, slowing the growth of hospital costs and delivering high-quality, sustainable care,” said Tom Golonka, UVM Health Network’s board chair. “As members of the communities we serve, we understand the urgency of creating a future where access to affordable care is no longer out of reach. We are fully committed to the work ahead under Steve’s capable leadership.”

Before joining UVM Health Network in late 2022, Dr. Eappen, an anesthesiologist, had a medical career spanning over three decades serving in clinical, academic and leadership roles.

“It’s been my privilege to be part of this team, to see firsthand the way the people of this organization take care of our patients, our communities and each other,” said Dr. Eappen. “But I believe – based on everything that’s happening and all of the external pressures on our rural health system – that this organization needs to move forward in a different way. I’m committed to supporting Steve as a full partner in this transition.”

UVM Health Network is taking decisive action to reduce costs, improve the quality of care and provide a better experience for patients. Part of this work includes transitioning to a more efficient system of leadership and governance structure that is more closely connected to the communities we serve and better aligned with the system’s anchor academic medical center. Dr. Leffler, who spent his clinical career as an emergency physician, has been with UVM Medical Center for more than 30 years, and has served as the hospital’s president since 2020.

“I want to thank the board and the entire staff of UVM Health Network for having the confidence in me to lead in this pivotal time for health care in our region and across the country,” said Dr. Leffler. “As health care continues to evolve, this transitional period is going to continue to challenge us all, and I am committed to making sure this health system changes to meet the needs of our patients now and into the future.”

Jesse Bridges, chair of UVM Medical Center’s Board of Trustees added, “To live up to the promise of a unified health system, we must do everything we can to meet this moment and deliver the health care our communities depend on us to provide. UVM Medical Center’s Board fully recognizes the need for our health system to evolve to realize this vision. We stand ready to lean into this transformational work with the support of staff and community alongside Dr. Leffler. We are grateful for his willingness to step in to this dual role.”