Team Copley Welcomes Avril Cochran, EdD, RN
Copley Hospital CEO Joseph Woodin is pleased to welcome Avril Cochran to the Copley family. Avril joined the team as Vice President of Operations on August 3. “We received tremendous interest in the position and, in the end, are happy to have filled it with someone who has such a diverse background and a familiarity with Copley and our community,” stated Woodin. “Avril’s extensive background in hospital and healthcare operations makes her the best fit for our community hospital.” Upon arriving, Avril hit the ground running, meeting with staff and touring the facility. This week, she will be meeting with each department manager and learning specifics about their operations.
No stranger to Copley, Avril’s history spans 31 years (1980-2011), working in a number of patient care departments and positions. Her earlier tenure included inpatient and Emergency Room patient care, overseeing our Infection Control/Risk Management Department, and Director of Nursing. In 2011, Avril left Copley with a focus on quality and safety, joining Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) as Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Specialist. Until recently, and for the past seven years, she has served as Director of Quality and Safety and Vice President of Patient Care Services at North Country Hospital. Avril completed her MSEd in 2012 at St. Joseph’s College, Maine and recently received her EdD in Ethical Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University.
As Vice President of Operations, Avril will oversee a number of departments, including Facilities & Security, Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology), Rehabilitation Services, Laboratory, Sleep Disorders Clinic, Tele-Medicine Services, Nutritional Services, and Environmental Services, Copley Terrace and Copley Woodlands Woodin notes, “Avril is taking over a number of responsibilities currently held by Vera Jones, Chief Operating Officer.” In June, Jones announced plans for her retirement. She will continue to be available through the fall to assist with the leadership transition.
“It’s exciting to be back at Copley,” states Cochran. “As I reacquaint myself with the facility and the upgrades/renovations, I continue to run into familiar faces. I look forward to the challenges the position brings but, more importantly, to working and growing with the team. I’ve always had a soft spot for Copley, as it has always been my community hospital, and am happy to be back.”
Outside of work, Avril and her husband Nathan own and operate The Great Outdoors with locations in Morrisville, Newport, and Enosburg. She is also an ordained minister and, when time permits, performs weddings, baptisms, and other religious services. She served as the interim minister for several area churches and currently serves as the pastor for the Irasburg United Church.