Central Maine Healthcare names Littleson as president, CEO

Courtesy / Central Maine Healthcare Central Maine Healthcare has named Steven Littleson as president and CEO.

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By Jessica Hall

Central Maine Healthcare on Friday announced that Steven Littleson has been appointed as the health care system’s president and CEO.

Littleson had served as CMH’s interim president and CEO since July 19, after the retirement of Jeffrey Brickman. Littleson joined the Lewiston-based CMH in May 2020 as president of Central Maine Medical Center before taking on the additional role of senior vice president of operations for the health system.

“Steve is a seasoned leader with an unrelenting drive to provide the best possible care to our communities and the strategic mindset to match that pursuit,” said CMH Board of Directors Chair Dev Culver. “His deep experience, energy and commitment to the community and Central Maine Healthcare team members make him the ideal leader to guide the system through this period of change and beyond.”

Littleson became head of CMH during the pandemic and the associated controversy over health care workers and vaccines. Central Maine Medical Center’s vaccination rate for workers was 85% in September, lower than the average rate for all Maine hospitals of 91.6%, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Earlier this week, CMMC temporarily suspended pediatric and trauma admissions due to an acute nursing staffing shortage in key areas. CMH’s other hospitals include Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital.

During his time with CMH, Littleson has led efforts that increased coordination among parts of the health system, improved performance on quality metrics, and strengthened the financial recovery from the initial waves of the pandemic.

Littleson also has been guiding the development of the Cancer Care Center at Central Maine Medical Center, a $33 million facility that will open in the spring.

“I am honored to be named to this position and to be entrusted to lead the exceptional team members who make Central Maine Healthcare a remarkable organization,” Littleson said. “I am inspired by working alongside team members who live the mission of providing the best care to each one of our patients every day. I can’t wait to see how much we’ll accomplish together.”

Before he joined CMH, Littleson served as regional president of Jefferson Health in Philadelphia and president of the hospitals division and chief operating officer for Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. Additionally, he has held senior roles at Meridian Health, Southern Ocean County Hospital, both in New Jersey, and Sentara Healthcare in Virginia.

A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Littleson served as an officer and chairman of the boards of the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals. He was on the boards of community service organizations including Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Rotary International, the American Red Cross and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

He continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member of New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and he has been a regular guest lecturer for the Peking University Executive MBA program in Beijing.

Littleson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gettysburg College, his master’s degree in health administration from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University and his doctorate in business administration from Walden University.

He lives in Raymond with his wife, Debra, and dog, Liberty.