Jim Squires to Retire as Endowment for Health President in December, 2011; Mary Vallier-Kaplan to Serve as Interim President

Concord, NH – James W. Squires, M.D., has announced his plan to retire as president of the Endowment for Health, the state’s largest health foundation, on December 31, 2011, after a decade of service to the organization as its founding leader. Upon his retirement, the Endowment’s Board of Directors will name Mary Vallier-Kaplan as Interim President. Simultaneously, a Board-appointed search committee will work to identify a long-term successor.

Squires has been the Endowment’s president since the foundation’s inception. Under his leadership, the foundation has awarded more than 750 grants, totaling more than $32 million to support a wide range of health-related programs and projects in New Hampshire. 

Squires, who previously founded the Matthew Thornton Health Plan, New Hampshire’s first HMO, was also a noted general and vascular surgeon before serving two terms as a state senator and running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2000.

The Endowment for Health was formed in 1999 from the proceeds of the sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Hampshire to Anthem Insurance. Under Squires’ leadership, the foundation’s mission, to improve the health and reduce the burden of illness for the people of New Hampshire, came to life through grantmaking and public policy involvement with a special focus on assisting vulnerable and underserved populations.

“Jim is truly an asset to the state, and his leadership and example have provided the compass by which we will navigate the foundation’s future,” said Endowment for Health Board Chairman Cordell Johnston. “Jim’s unique combination of medical, insurance and legislative experience, has been the cornerstone in establishing the foundation as a credible, nonpartisan funder and think tank on health and health policy in New Hampshire,” Johnston added.

Looking ahead, Vallier-Kaplan’s leadership during the transition will provide consistency and stability to the organization and all of its community partners. “Mary has been another cornerstone of the Endowment’s leadership from day one,” added Johnston. “There is no one better suited to lead the organization through the transition and into the next era.” Vallier-Kaplan currently serves as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Endowment and will assume all the duties of President for an interim period upon Squires’ retirement. 

Vallier-Kaplan has been responsible for the overall design and implementation of the foundation’s program which includes grantmaking and communication. In addition, she currently oversees the day-to-day operations of the Endowment and manages strategic development and performance assessment functions of the Endowment. Vallier-Kaplan has more than 25 years of professional experience in public and community health issues in New Hampshire. She continues to play a key role in shaping health-related philanthropic practice and policy on a national level.

“We are especially fortunate to have Jim remain at the helm for the next eight months. He and Mary will ensure a smooth transition that creates continuity for the staff and the organization’s various stakeholders around the state, as well as for our regional and national affiliations,” concluded Johnston.

Squires, 73, has long played a prominent role in the state, serving as a subject matter expert, policy advisor and leader on statewide health system reform. In 1994, he was named “Physician of the Year” by the New Hampshire Hospital Association. In 1996, he was elected to the New Hampshire Senate and, after re-election in 1998, he was appointed chair of the Public Institutions, Health, and Human Services Committee. Dr. Squires graduated from Williams College and McGill University Medical School. He served in the United States Air Force as a flight medical officer, having received his surgical training at Grace New Haven Hospital and New England Medical Center. Dr. Squires also taught surgery at the Boston Veterans Administration Hospital.