January 7, 2025, Middletown, Conn. — Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric R. Vaught, DO, MPH, MBA, as its new Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Vaught will lead CHC’s medical staff with a focus on advancing the organization’s mission to provide the highest quality primary medical care to people and communities across Connecticut. Dr. Vaught is the fifth Chief Medical Officer in CHC’s 52-year history.
Dr. Vaught has a distinguished background in family medicine, including obstetrics, public health, and organizational leadership. His experience includes a long record of service in the United States Navy, where he practiced as a family physician and led numerous public health and clinical transformation initiatives, including advancing the patient-centered medical home model for Naval primary care practices overseas. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at HealthFirst Family Health Center in Fall River, Massachusetts. Prior to his work at HealthFirst, Dr. Vaught served in the Naval Hospital in Naples, Italy, managing daily operations across Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.
At CHC, Dr. Vaught will lead the organization’s medical staff, which includes 150 primary care providers in family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, OB-GYN, and women’s health, as well as specialties such as podiatry, dietetics and chiropractic medicine. As part of the clinical leadership of the organization, he will work closely with CHC’s clinical chiefs in nursing, behavioral health and dentistry, as well as teams devoted to health professions training, key populations, and quality improvement. He is charged with ensuring the highest quality and safety of care at all service delivery locations, including primary care centers, mobile health units, and school-based health centers.
“Dr. Vaught’s leadership, expertise and interests are fully aligned with our mission to deliver the highest quality health care to our patients, particularly underserved populations, and to advance the health of our communities,” said Margaret Flinter, PhD, Senior Vice President and Clinical Director of CHC. “His vision for primary care, supported by CHC and the Moses/Weitzman Health System’s resources in research, innovation and operations, will advance our remarkable 52-year mission of making healthcare a right, not a privilege.”
Dr. Vaught holds a BS from Oregon State University, a DO from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, an MBA from Rockhurst University, and an MPH from the University of West Florida.