The Tower Health Board of Directors announced Thursday the appointment of Charles F. Barbera, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP, as president and CEO of Reading Hospital, effective April 4, 2022. Dr. Barbera brings deep experience to the position, having served in a variety of senior clinical and executive roles during his more than 25-year tenure with the health system.
As president and CEO of Reading Hospital, one of the top 50 hospitals in the country, Dr. Barbera will be responsible for the hospital’s operations, clinical outcomes, employee and physician engagement, and service to the community.
“With Reading Hospital’s well-earned reputation as one the top hospitals in the country, we had strong interest from many excellent candidates,” said C. Thomas Work, chair of Tower Health’s Board of Directors.
“As we conducted the search, it became readily apparent to the Board that the best leader to move our mission forward was within our own ranks. As a highly respected clinician with strong leadership and business skills, Dr. Barbera brings a unique and impressive background to the position, including unsurpassed commitment to and knowledge about Reading Hospital and the communities it serves. We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Barbera’s caliber and experience leading the hospital into the future.”
“I am honored to serve as president and CEO of Reading Hospital, a bedrock of our community and unmatched leader in clinical excellence since 1867,” said Dr. Barbera. “As one of the finest healthcare centers in the nation, the hospital is a local treasure. I am deeply committed to working closely with our physicians, nurses, and support staff to bring about an enhanced era of collaboration – putting people first in everything we do. The team at Reading Hospital are my colleagues and friends, and I cannot wait to get to work supporting and empowering the incredible care they deliver.”
Dr. Barbera joined Reading Hospital in 1996 and became the Chair of Emergency Medicine in 1999, a position he held for more than 20 years. Dr. Barbera was key in the creation and accreditation of Reading Hospital’s Trauma Center, developed a successful Emergency Medicine Residency Program, and was instrumental in the development of Reading Hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Department and Psychiatric Emergency Department. He was also the clinical leader in the health system’s expansive telemedicine efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An active member of the Reading community, Dr. Barbera is regularly recognized for his dedication to patients and the region. In 2019, he received the Berks County Medical Society William J. Alexander Award for Contributions to Medicine and Community Service. He is the past President of the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians and the Berks County Medical Society.
He also received the Berks County American Red Cross Medical HERO Award and recognition from Becker’s Hospital Review on their list of 100 Physician Leaders to Know.
“Dr. Barbera embodies the values and culture that make Reading Hospital such a special place. He brings a powerful combination of clinical and business acumen, but what really sets him apart is his infectious energy and dedication to service and giving back to the community,” said P. Sue Perrotty, CEO of Tower Health. “As we move forward and build a new future for Tower Health, Dr. Barbera will be a collaborative and unifying influence that will advance Reading Hospital’s legacy of clinical and operational excellence.”
Dr. Barbera received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from LaSalle University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Alvernia University, and a Master’s in Public Health from The George Washington.
He previously served as the president of Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians and The Berks County Medical Society and on the boards of Autism Society of Berks County, the American Heart Association, and the Children’s Home of Reading. Dr. Barbera currently serves as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation Board.
