BIDDEFORD — Southern Maine Health Care (SMHC) announced last week that Kathryn Cope will serve as its new chief operating officer.

Cope currently serves as vice president of Operations and Critical Care at Maine Medical Center (MMC), a role she assumed in 2019.

Cope takes over for Nathan Howell, who was named President and CEO of MaineGeneral Health in Augusta.

“Kathryn is an experienced health care executive with more than 25 years of experience in acute care clinical operations, finance, and service line strategy,” said Joel Botler, MD, chief medical officer and interim president of MaineHealth’s Southern Region, which includes both SMHC and MMC. “Her experience as a community-oriented collaborator with proven skills in advancing innovative solutions to complex challenges make her a perfect fit for SMHC.”

Cope earned her undergraduate degree in Economics and Classics from Bowdoin College and her MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia. She has been at Maine Medical Center since 2012, serving in several leadership roles before her current position.

SMHC includes a full service, acute care medical center in Biddeford, with York County’s only inpatient mental health unit. Emergency care, surgical services and diagnostic and therapy services are available at SMHC’s Medical Centers in Biddeford and Sanford. SMHC offers primary care and multi-specialty physician services, diagnostic and therapy services and Walk-In Care centers in York County communities including Biddeford, Kennebunk, Saco, Sanford and Waterboro.