Ridley Park, Pa. - Dennis W. Cronin, M.D., was elected to a two-year term as president of Taylor Hospital’s Medical and Dental Staff, effective July 1, 2005.

“I am very honored to be selected to serve the hospital in this capacity,” says Cronin, who also serves as vice chairman of the Department of Surgery at Taylor Hospital. “I look forward to following in the footsteps of the medical staff’s past presidents, who have done such great things for Taylor.”
Cronin is a 1968 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in General Surgery at Presbyterian University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, he has been a member of the Medical and Dental Staff at Taylor Hospital since 1975.

Joan K. Richards, chief operating officer of Crozer-Keystone Health System and president of CKHS Hospitals, says she looks forward to collaborating with Cronin during his term.

“Dr. Cronin possesses a wealth of medical knowledge and experience that will serve him well in his new position as president of the Medical and Dental Staff,” Richards says. “He has demonstrated a deep commitment to the hospital and values his relationships with his coworkers, which will no doubt help ensure his success in this new capacity.”

Pramod S. Lele, M.D., Taylor internist and immediate past president of the Medical and Dental Staff, agrees.
“Dr. Cronin has been intimately involved with the medical leadership at Taylor Hospital, in spite of his busy schedule,” Lele says. “He has lent his wisdom and calm reasoning to the deliberations of the medical staff and will be an excellent leader for the next two years. The baton has been passed to good hands.”

Cronin has many years of experience as a medical staff leader, previously serving as secretary/treasurer, second vice president and first vice president of the Taylor Medical and Dental Staff, as well as president of the medical staff at Presbyterian University of Pennsylvania Medical Center from 1984-1986. He has also served as chairman of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee at Taylor.

“Taylor Hospital is an outstanding facility, and in my new position as president of the Medical and Dental Staff, I’d like to see it continue on its current path,” Cronin says. “It’s a very friendly place, where the physicians and personnel have good rapport and enjoy their time together, and our patients appreciate that.”
In addition to his service at Taylor Hospital, Cronin is a member of several national and local organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, the Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Delaware County Medical Society and the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery. He is the author of several published works. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served with the U.S. Air Force from 1970-72, spending one year in Thailand.

Cronin lives in Media with his wife, Regis. They have three sons and three grandchildren.

Eric Heffelfinger, D.O., Pulmonary Diseases, was named vice president of the Medical and Dental Staff, while Fritz Bech, M.D., Vascular Surgery, was named second vice president. Gregory P. Cuculino, M.D., Emergency Medicine, will serve as secretary/treasurer.