Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham Welcomes New Board Members
New Members Will Help Guide BID Needham’s Mission
Needham, MA – Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham (BID Needham) announced today that three new members have joined the hospital’s Board of Trustees: Barry J. Coffman; Grace B. Perez-Lirio, MD; and Lara M. Whiteley.
BID Needham’s board is made up of dedicated professionals with a wealth of personal and professional experience and a shared commitment to the hospital’s mission to create healthier communities — one person at a time — through seamless care and ground-breaking science, driven by excellence, innovation and equity.
“Our new board members’ unique experiences and perspectives will further strengthen our organization and the role we are honored to play in our community,” said John Fogarty, President, BID Needham. “I am pleased to welcome them to the BID Needham Board of Trustees and look forward to working with them.”
“Our new trustees’ commitment to our community is clear, and we are thrilled to have them join BID Needham’s board,” said Paul Fleming, Chair, Board of Trustees, BID Needham. “Their guidance and perspectives will be important in shaping our path forward.”
BID Needham also thanks outgoing board members Joseph A. Auth; Ginny Caggiano; Joe Kannam, MD; and Jana Kierstead for their service and contributions.
View a full list of members of the BID Needham Board of Trustees.
In addition to the new Trustees, BID Needham announced new members of the Board of Advisors, including Joseph A. Auth; Clifford J. Berger, MD; Jennifer S. Buell, PhD; Barry J. Coffman; Patrick R. Dempsey; Denise C. Garlick; Laurie M. Gordon, MD; Samantha S. Hack; Jana P. Kierstead; Joseph C. Phalen; Sonal M. Ullman, MD; and Charles F. Walsh, Jr. Gregory Petrini was named a BID Needham Advisor Emeritus.
About BID Needham's New Trustees
Barry J. Coffman
Mr. Coffman is a member of Launchpad Venture Group, a Boston-based angel investment group. Mr. Coffman mentors, advises, and serves as a board member for many local start-up companies. Prior to joining Launchpad, he was the co-founder and portfolio manager of Boldwater Capital Management, a hedge fund investment firm, and portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments.
Mr. Coffman and his wife are longtime Needham residents and have three grown children. He is an active community member, currently serving on the Town of Needham Finance Committee. Mr. Coffman served as a member of the BID Needham Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2024 and is a past member of the Board of Advisors. He is the new Chair of the Board of Advisors and holds an ex officio role on the Board of Trustees. Mr. Coffman is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received his Master of Business Administration from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Grace Perez-Lirio, MD, FACP
Grace Perez-Lirio, MD, FACP, is the regional medical director of Beth Israel Lahey Health Primary Care and a board-certified internist and primary care physician. She is also a clinical instructor and lecturer at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr. Perez-Lirio serves on various medical committees and boards and is treasurer and secretary for the Charles River District of the Massachusetts Medical Society and board member emeritus for the Philippine Medical Association of New England. She also leads 100children.org, which provides meals for children in impoverished areas of the Philippines. Dr. Perez-Lirio has served on the BID Needham Board of Advisors and is the incoming Chair of the Board’s Medical Staff Appointment Committee.
Lara Whiteley
Ms. Whiteley is executive director of finance at athenahealth, Inc., and a certified public accountant with over 30 years of accounting and finance experience. Prior to joining athenahealth, Ms. Whiteley served in management positions for Deloitte in Dallas, London and Boston. Ms. Whiteley and her husband reside in Dover. She is an active member of the community, having served as a trustee of Carter Memorial United Methodist Church and as a volunteer leader with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and the Needham Junior Cheer Program. Ms. Whiteley served on the BID Needham Board of Advisors from 2017-2025. She will serve as the incoming Chair of the Finance Committee.
Ms. Whiteley received her Master and Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University.
About Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham (BID Needham) is a licensed 73-bed acute care community hospital. BID Needham has served residents in Needham and surrounding communities for more than 100 years. The hospital has been recognized by several organizations for quality and safety, including U.S. News & World Report and The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Needham is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a healthcare system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
