WINSTED — After less than a year on the job, Winsted Health Center CEO Carole Organek has resigned amid concerns about the organizational structure of the facility, which has been in operation for the past 11 years.
The president of the foundation’s board of trustees, John Doyle, said Wednesday that the health center is looking to form a new management structure and that Organek resigned to allow the evolution of that new path.
"She and the board came to a mutual agreement that we needed to assemble a different management team and she resigned," Doyle said. "The board is thankful for her work on behalf of the center and we’re taking a look at what functions we need."
Doyle said money has been at the root of many issues at the health center but that Organek’s resignation was not related to financial problems.
"The center has always had a substantial fiscal challenge," he said. "There are a variety of tasks the board requires at the health center. Some of them we have been able to meet and some we haven’t."
Doyle said a letter regarding Organek’s resignation was sent Wednesday to corporators of the Winsted Health Center Foundation and that the next step will be listing the most important functions of the director, determining priorities and deciding whether a full-time or part-time position is required for the job.
Prior to taking the job at the Winsted Health Center, Organek served as vice president and managing director of JMP Group, Inc. When she was hired last July, then-president of the Board of Trustees Anita Holmes said, "With Ms. Organek’s leadership, our organization will be assured new life and vigor, continued growth and the addition of new health services."
As late as last November, Organek told The Winsted Journal that she was developing a long-term business plan for the center, including attracting new health-care providers and services, fund development and managing building renovations.
"I don’t think there is a question of a need for services here," Organek said in November. "There is a need. Basically, we want to bring more to the area. I think everybody in the community recognizes we need this service in the area."
