Southern NH Health Welcomes Acting Surgeon General of U.S. Navy for Tour of Medical Center and Discussion with Healthcare Community Leaders

By Keith Baldi, Manager of Enterprise Communications

Southern New Hampshire Health on Monday hosted Rear Admiral Matthew Case, Acting Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy, as part of his visit to the Granite State to mark Veterans Day.

Southern New Hampshire Health CEO Colin McHugh and other members of the health system leadership team led Rear Admiral Case on a tour of a new Heart & Vascular Center that is currently under construction, set to open at Southern NH Medical Center in Nashua in early 2027.

  Dozens Discuss Healthcare Landscape

McHugh and Case then facilitated a discussion with dozens of participants, including state-elected officials, about the evolving healthcare landscape in the state, the role of technology in patient care, behavioral health, and workforce challenges and opportunities.

“It's an honor to host one of the top healthcare leaders in the U.S. military to discuss the issues facing veterans, service members, and their families. The Navy's approach to caring for those at home and abroad offers valuable lessons, and we are proud that our teams bring that same dedication and excellence to the patients and families we serve across southern NH and northern MA,” McHugh said.

Rear Admiral is NH Native

Rear Admiral Matthew Case is a Nottingham, NH native and a University of New Hampshire graduate. During his visit, he heard that Southern NH Health cares for more than 10,200 patients who are veterans, along with nearly 2,000 who are active-duty military or serve in the National Guard or Reserves.

“The Navy believes that we need to be visible in communities across our country, reminding Americans of our mission and duty. Opportunities to meet with local elected officials, healthcare leaders, and others invested in the well-being of our neighbors are invaluable. We know that the exchange of ideas and experiences helps make the U.S. Navy and local communities stronger. I’m very grateful to Southern New Hampshire Health for bringing us together and hosting a great event,” said Case.

Building Culture

A portion of the discussion, which was attended by state-elected officials and leaders of non-profit organizations in Nashua, focused on how systems like Southern NH Health build a culture that attracts and retains clinical and non-clinical team members that care for people in the region.

NH State Senator-Elect Laura Telerski said, “We hear a lot from our constituents about workforce and the need to strengthen employment at our hospitals, especially in rural NH. Meeting with Rear Admiral Case was a great opportunity to discuss his view of how we can fill the roles we need.”

“Right now, we are considering legislation to allow local physicians to access medical records from the Veterans Affairs portal,” said State Senator Regina Birdsell, who was also at the event and was thankful to Southern NH Health for hosting. “I am glad I had the chance to bring this important issue forward and let Rear Admiral Case know this is something that should be addressed,” Birdsell continued.

Rear Admiral Case also took time to thank the dozens of Southern NH Health employees who are currently serving in the military or who are veterans. He spoke about the dedication of military families and how important it is for communities to embrace service members when they return to civilian life.