DANVILLE - The doctor who turned Geisinger Medical Center from a local hospital into a regional health care system passed away Saturday.
Dr. Henry Hood, former chief of staff and president of Geisinger, passed away at his home at the Riverwoods Continuing Care Retirement Community in Exeter, N.H.
From 1957 through 1992, Hood served at Geisinger as a neurosurgeon, chief of staff, and president and CEO. His first plan of action was to grow Geisinger Hospital, establishing a new operating suite, intensive care unit, trauma center and cardiology unit, according to The Press-Enterprise newspaper.
According to an email sent to employees by Geisinger CEO Dr. Glenn Steele Jr., Hood wanted to see a science research institute on campus, and soon the Sigfried and Janet Weis Center for Research was started.
Other programs established under his tenure include Geisinger Wyoming Valley, the Ronald McDonald House, the emergency department and LifeFlight. The Children's Miracle Network Telethon and Geisinger Health Plan HMO were also started under his supervision.
One of Hood's last projects for the hospital was working with Donald Housley, professor emeritus of history at Susquehanna University, on the recently released "Make it the Best - A History of Geisinger Health System 1912-2001," which tells the history of the hospital from its establishment by Abigail Geisinger in 1912 to Steele's arrival in 2001.
"Several years ago, Dr. Hood and I decided to move forward with a history of Geisinger based largely on Dr. Hood's recollections and records," Steele said in a press release. "We commissioned Donald to work with Dr. Hood to write the text, and we are pleased that the tangible results of their collaboration are finally available for the public to enjoy."
The book is available for $5 at Geisinger's online store, a link for which can be found on Geisinger's website, www.geisinger.org.
All proceeds from book sales will benefit the Henry Hood Center for Health Research, on the campus of Geisinger Medical Center, established in 2008.
A native of Vermont, Hood was a graduate of the Cornell School of Hotel Management in 1943 before serving in the Army during World War II, then attended Cornell University to study medicine. He married Jane Ann Steady in 1949 and leaves behind four children.
Plans will be announced at a later date for a memorial service on campus to honor and remember Hood.