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Taking the helm at Charter Oak after 40 years in healthcare
For Vernette Townsend M’08, a promise she made in childhood has shaped an entire career. Now, more than four decades later, that same sense of purpose guides her as she leads one of Hartford, Connecticut’s most important community health organizations.
When Townsend was a first grader at Saint Joseph Cathedral School in Hartford, a young Sister of Mercy shared a story that would leave a lasting impression. The Sister explained that even though she had wanted to become a nurse, she became a teacher because local parochial schools needed educators.
That afternoon, Townsend went home and told her father she was going to be a nurse when she grew up.
“I told him Sister Ruth didn’t get the chance to be a nurse, so I wanted to take her place,” Townsend recalled. “And I’ve never lost that commitment.”
Armed with a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Saint Joseph, Townsend has built a distinguished career in nursing and healthcare leadership. On Jan. 1, 2025, she was promoted from chief nursing officer to president and CEO of Charter Oak Health Center, the Hartford-based nonprofit healthcare provider.
Since stepping into the role, Townsend has focused on strengthening the organization and elevating its visibility across the Hartford community.
“Charter Oak, to me, is this small diamond that people don’t fully know about in the city of Hartford,” Townsend said. “We have a healthcare model that deserves to be seen.”
Success through education
Townsend was raised in a household where faith and education were central values.
“I am proudly Roman Catholic,” she said. “My parents knew the best way for their children to succeed was through education, so they worked incredibly hard to make sure I attended parochial school.”
After graduating from Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, Connecticut, Townsend earned a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Connecticut, then, drawn by its reputation for its rigorous training, strong leadership, and professionalism, she enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.
Following three years of active duty, Townsend joined Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford. Her leadership abilities quickly became evident, and she was promoted to assistant nurse manager of one of the hospital’s 44-bed units.
During her time there, she met Terry Bosworth, USJ associate professor of nursing, who was supervising students during their clinical rotations. When Townsend began preparing for the nurse practitioner exam, Bosworth offered guidance that would shape her career.
“There is a tenacity about you,” Bosworth told her. “I think you need to stay in leadership.”
Townsend took that advice to heart. In 1994, when Saint Francis Hospital took over Mount Sinai Hospital, she became nurse manager of two Saint Francis medical units — while still overseeing her team at Mount Sinai. It was a demanding period, but one that helped define her leadership style and resilience.
USJ was a professional learning environment. The classes were small. The professors knew my first name. They knew what I did for work. We would be in class and they would say, ‘Vernette, have you seen this in your workplace?’ It was validating.
Vernette Townsend
Thriving in USJ’s supportive learning environment
By the early 2000s, with two young children at home and a full plate at work, Townsend decided it was time to earn her Master of Science in Nursing. Not every program saw her potential. One director discouraged her, suggesting she would not succeed given her family commitments.
That moment could have dissuaded her, but instead, it reinforced her determination.
She immediately scheduled a meeting at USJ with Terry Bosworth, then chair of the Nursing program.
“I walked in, sat down, shared my resumé. She said, ‘When can you start? We would love to have you here.’”
Townsend enrolled at USJ, juggling evening, weekend, and weekday classes. Bosworth became her trusted advisor, and in 2008, Townsend earned her degree, a testament to her persistence and USJ’s commitment to supporting working professionals.
“USJ was a professional learning environment,” Townsend said. “The classes were small. The professors knew my first name. They knew what I did for work. We would be in class and they would say, ‘Vernette, have you seen this in your workplace?’ It was validating.”
A strategic problem solver
Townsend went on to join Baystate Health in Springfield, Massachusetts, serving as director of nursing for the Neurosurgical Intermediate Care Unit, the Neuromedical Unit, and the Kidney Transplant Program — roles that required both clinical precision and strong leadership.
In 2018, Trinity Health recruited her back to Connecticut as a “fixer nurse” at Saint Mary’s Hospital, where she helped guide the hospital through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with the same steadfastness that defined her career.
Her reputation as a strategic problem-solver who combined clinical expertise, financial acumen, and organizational skill, caught the attention of Charter Oak Health Center. In May 2023, she was recruited to be vice president of Nursing. The following summer, encouraged by colleagues, she entered the search for their new president and CEO. Six months later, the board voted unanimously to promote her.
One of Townsend’s strongest supporters is Charter Oak Chief Medical Officer Dr. Luis Diez-Morales, a longtime colleague from Trinity Health.
“Vernette is a thinker,” said Dr. Diez-Morales. “She analyzes and she is decisive. She knows when she needs to act, and when to delegate and let other people make decisions. I have seen a change in the culture, a feeling of ownership in every single employee, and a pride that the employees show in the work that they do. I have seen that transition since Vernette has been here.”
Vernette is a thinker. She analyzes and she is decisive. She knows when she needs to act, and when to delegate and let other people make decisions.
Charter Oak Chief Medical Officer Dr. Luis Diez-Morales
Continuing to grow
Now at the pinnacle of her profession, Townsend continues to pursue growth. On December 13, she earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, dedicating her thesis to Bosworth, who passed away in 2012 after battling an autoimmune disease.
“Through my time there and Terry Bosworth’s encouragement, USJ was the catalyst for me to continue growing as a leader,” Townsend said.