2 days Ago
My last full day as CEO of the Hospital for Special Care was filled with emotion. After spending several hours with staff and patients during a week of celebrations, I was overwhelmed by the profound sense of family and community that defines this extraordinary place.What touched me most were the memories others shared—the smallest moments that somehow meant the most: hallway hellos, snowstorm fellowship, late-night check-ins.
I was deeply moved to realize how these everyday gestures left such a lasting imprint.People often ask how I balanced the role of CEO with my personal life. The truth is—I didn’t.
The two became inseparable. This has never been just a job; it has been part of my identity, woven into who I am.I will be forever grateful that HFSC gave me the opportunity to advocate, to build, and to dream—not only for the broader community, but for my own son, Lincoln.
Now 29, Lincoln lives with severe autism. When he was young, there were no services in Connecticut—or anywhere in New England—that offered the kind of inpatient support children like him so desperately needed. What began as a mother’s hope turned into a mission.
Lynn Ricci and baby Javon at the Pediatrics Unit at Hospital for Special Care. ContributedWhile I’m deeply proud of all we’ve accomplished at HFSC—from developing a pediatric unit that cares for babies on ventilators to creating a home for those who cannot survive without the specialized care we provide—the development of the autism program holds a singular place in my heart. It is more than a professional milestone; it is deeply personal.
And I will continue to advocate for individuals and families affected by autism for as long as I am able.I also want to thank the public officials whose unwavering support has been essential. Their advocacy has made it possible for HFSC to serve a population where more than 85% of patients rely on Medicaid.
I hope they recognize that their efforts stand as a cornerstone of what has been built here. And I hope that when they reflect on their own careers one day, they carry a deep sense of pride in all they helped make possible. Until then, I trust the state will continue to keep HFSC under its protective wing as we navigate the complex road ahead.
Crista Durand has now taken the reins as CEO, and my transition is eased knowing the hospital is in such capable, compassionate hands. Crista shares the heart of our mission and the vision for its future—she now carries the torch forward.I am incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to lead HFSC.
I’ve been inspired every day by our patients, our team, and the larger community that surrounds us. I ask only this: that you continue to stand with Crista to preserve, protect, and strengthen this one-of-a-kind facility— “a home for some people and a hospital for others” as so beautifully described by the Hartford Courant earlier this year.Lynn Ricci has worked at Hospital for Special Care since 2004, the past 10 as president & CEO.
.
