Dr. Anthony Ricketts Says Goodbye To JFL Board; Troy De Chabert-Schuster Now Chairman

ST. CROIX — Dr. Anthony Ricketts officially announced his resignation as the board chairman of the Juan F. Luis Hospital on Wednesday, bidding farewell to a great team, some of whom expressed gratitude for what was considered to be an exceptional three-year performance as headirected of the board.

Dr. Ricketts took his short time at Wednesday’s board meeting to thank those who supported him throughout his three-year tenure, and expressed gratitude to the medical staff for its confidence in his ability to lead.

“I appreciate the confidence that was placed in me, and I hope that I did a fair job in advancing the plans of the medical staff,” Dr. Ricketts said.

He went on: “To my board, thank you all very much. I’m grateful that you all gave me the opportunity, and I’m also very thankful for the emails, texts, voice messages that I used to get a 4:00 a.m.

“My resigning has been made easier by the fact that we have a very strong and competent board, and so with the influx of this competence I’m very sure that we can successfully get through the SIA.”

As Dr. Ricketts leaves, a new board member, Vera Falu, recently approved by the 31st Legislature, joins the team.

Ricketts, like Dr. Kendal Griffith, runs his own private practice here, and will continue to practice at JFL. He led the board during tumultuous times, including the devastating loss of accreditation last September and having to navigate through that undertaking, all while facing a seemingly unending armada of problems the challenged the medical institution’s viability.

All through the process, however, at least on the surface, Dr. Ricketts kept his composure. And although he will no longer be a board member, Dr. Ricketts offered to help in any way possible.

“Dr. Ricketts took the helm as chair of the board at one of the most tumultuous eras that the hospital has ever been in,” said Dr. Griffith. “He was able to bring a state of calm and cohesion — with the board, executive team and remaining staff — like this board has never seen before.”

Griffith added: “As a result of the stability of the board, the executive team became stable and the rest of the hospital became more stable. And I think that the improvements that you’re seeing at JFL is a direct representation of the leadership of the board through its chairman.”

Dr. Griffith also recalled being “in the trenches” with Dr. Ricketts during the early days of trying to regain Centers for Medicare and Medicaid certification, and through other difficult times.

Before he left, the former chairman received a standing ovation from an emotional yet grateful board.

JFL’s new Board Chairman Troy De Chabert-Schuster. Image Credit: VIC.

Troy De Chabert-Schuster, former vice chairman of the board, stepped up as chairman. He told The Consortium that his heart is for the people here, and sees his service as part of being a proud Virgin Islander.

“I’m honored and humbled, but at the same time I see the weight of the responsibility to make sure that the organization continues to be successful and provide healthcare,” he said.

According to the bylaws of JFL, the term of a chairman lasts one year. Thereafter, he can be elected for a second year, however to be elected as a chairman for a third year, he must receive the support of two-thirds of the board.

JFL’s next board meeting has been set for November 3.