After steering Oregon State Hospital through the stormy waters of the pandemic and a staffing crisis, Superintendent Dolly Matteucci is set to retire at the end of this month. Having spent over three decades in the mental health care system, Matteucci will leave behind a legacy of navigating one of the state's most intense healthcare challenges.
According to OregonLive, Matteucci's retirement comes as the hospital has been grappling, with a mental health crisis that has only deepened in recent years. The hospital faced federal scrutiny after admissions practices during the pandemic led to a ballooning waitlist, and staff left in high numbers due to the grueling conditions. Despite these challenges, Matteucci held the rudder firm, notably steering the facility clear of serious COVID-19 outbreaks among patients and making crucial safety upgrades in response to federal probes.
Matteucci began her healthcare career in 1987 as a registered dietitian, with her first post being at the California Department of State Hospitals-Napa, Becker's Hospital Review reports. Before her role at Oregon State Hospital, she served as the executive director at Napa State Hospital.
During her tenure in Oregon, the hospital not only managed to keep the pandemic at bay among its patients but also transitioned to a primarily forensic facility, “Over the years I have learned that in our world, change is always afoot, challenges will always exist, and opportunities to grow and improve are endless. There will never be the perfect time to say goodbye, and my time is now.” Matteucci told Oregon Health Authority. Under her leadership, Oregon State Hospital reached compliance with court orders regarding patient admissions, a significant turnaround that was not seen as feasible just a few years prior.
Matteucci's role will be temporarily filled by Dr. Sara Walker, the hospital's Chief Medical Officer, who will take over as interim superintendent starting March 30. Walker has been with Oregon State Hospital since 2006, carrying a wealth of experience from her work as a unit psychiatrist and the Chief of Psychiatry. The Oregon Health Authority has announced that it will lead a national search to find Matteucci's permanent successor.
