WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, January 10, 2023 — Gaylord Specialty Healthcare today announced that Mitch Podob, former Global Director of Human Resources, Americas, at CooperSurgical, Inc., has been appointed as Gaylord Vice President of Human Resources. Podob succeeds retiring Vice President of Human Resources Wally Harper.
With extensive experience in human resources and organizational development leadership, Podob will lead all aspects of human resources management at the nonprofit rehabilitation-focused healthcare system.
Podob will continue to build upon Gaylord’s culture of excellence and innovation that has earned the system honors, including “Top Workplace USA 2022” and recognition on Becker’s Healthcare’s “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare 2022.”
A graduate of Binghamton University who earned a Professional Human Resources Certification from Fairfield University, Podob comes to Gaylord with significant experience leading human resources functions for global companies, including Swarovski, Timex Group, Cotiviti Corporation, and Daymon Worldwide, Inc.
He serves as HR Advisory to the Board of Directors of Connecticut Foodshare and served as president of the Society for Human Resources Management, Fairfield County from 2015 to 2018.
“I look forward to working in alignment with Gaylord’s mission, vision and values to connect people and processes to support, build on, and enhance the patient and employee experience,” said Podob.
“Mitch is a wonderful addition to our leadership team,” said Sonja LaBarbera, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“As a team builder, a mover, and a motivator who has a well-established record of successfully managing the employee experience, Mitch will be a driving force in helping Gaylord continue to solidify our position as a national leader in medical rehabilitation.”
Podob resides in Easton with his wife Cheryl and has two daughters, Emily and Caroline.
About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare:
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a rehabilitation-focused, nonprofit health system headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut, that provides inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery.
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is anchored by Gaylord Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital, and includes Gaylord Outpatient Services and Gaylord Physical Therapy for patients who require diagnosis and treatment on an outpatient basis. Gaylord's Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation is a hub for accelerating world-class rehabilitative research, technology development and innovation to improve the quality of life and function of people around the world. Together, these entities deliver a complete continuum of rehabilitative care driven by clinical experience, innovation and human compassion.
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