Mass General Brigham Names Zafonte Interim President of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network

Mass General Brigham today announced that Ross Zafonte, DO has been named Interim President of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. 

Zafonte is currently Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mass General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Research, and Education at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. He will maintain his current responsibilities and begin his new role as Interim President effective immediately, working  closely with outgoing president David Storto to ensure a smooth transition for patients and staff.

“Ross is the perfect choice to lead Spaulding while we conduct a search for a permanent successor. He has extensive knowledge of Spaulding and our broader system, given the leadership positions he has held across our health care enterprise,” said Ron Walls, MD, Mass General Brigham’s Chief Operating Officer. “Ross is an exceptional collaborator and is known for bringing out the best in those he works with. I have known Ross personally for many years and have the utmost respect for his ability to nurture a culture of teamwork focused on doing what is best for patients.” 

In his leadership roles for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation within Spaulding, Mass General Hospital, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Zafonte has worked closely with department chairs and other leaders from across the system. His experience as a chair of multiple departments and his work as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Spaulding provide a foundation on which he will build a collaborative team at Spaulding.  

“Spaulding plays a unique role within Mass General Brigham and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with so many of my colleagues across the system on initiatives that help us provide the best care for patients no matter where they are and across the care continuum,” said Zafonte. “I look forward to working together with the incredible leadership team we have at Spaulding and all of our dedicated clinicians, researchers, trainees, and staff as we continue to transform the lives of the patients we care for.”  

Zafonte is recognized nationally and internationally in the field of brain injury care. His textbook is considered one of the standards in the field and he is currently directing several large clinical treatment trials focused on understanding mechanisms of recovery after brain and spinal cord injury. He is the Earle P. and Ida S. Charlton Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. 

The search process for a permanent President of Spaulding will be aligned with the Mass General Brigham United Against Racism priority and includes a diverse search committee and slate of candidates for consideration. Our leadership toward ensuring the most equitable and diverse environment—for our patients and colleagues across the system—is the very foundation for our success as a premier health care provider nationally and internationally. 

Media Contact

Mass General Brigham:
Rich Copp rcopp@partners.org
Bridget Perry bperry7@partners.org