MANCHESTER, NH – The next time you step into CMC’s Emergency Department, you may be greeted by Dr. Blake Sonne — pronounced “sunny” — who certainly lives up to his name. As an accomplished emergency medicine physician and the new Medical Director of CMC’s Emergency Department, he brings a calm, steady warmth into even the most intense clinical situations. Colleagues say the atmosphere shifts the moment he walks in, not because he demands attention, but because he radiates a quiet confidence that steadies everyone around him.
“I personally try to keep a calm tone… it creates smooth processes… and the patient follows, too.”
Dr. Sonne joined CMC with a clear purpose: to help shape a new chapter for emergency care in Manchester. He saw an opportunity not just to practice medicine, but to make a meaningful difference in how emergency services are delivered — improving efficiency, strengthening teamwork and ensuring patients feel heard and cared for from the moment they arrive.
Raised in Houston, Dr. Sonne trained at the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed his emergency medicine residency at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. He later moved to New England to be closer to his wife’s family and has spent the past several years caring for patients across multiple New Hampshire emergency departments — experience that shaped him into a versatile, adaptive physician who thrives in fast‑moving, unpredictable settings — and prepared him to lead meaningful change at CMC.
Since the beginning of the year, patients may already be noticing the difference.
“We have made some important changes that help patients feel comfortable,” he explains. “We are seeing patients more quickly and they are being discharged sooner as a result.”
Under Dr. Sonne’s leadership, the Emergency Department has focused on improving patient flow, reducing wait times and minimizing boarding — all while maintaining the highest clinical standards. The goal is simple: when you come to CMC’s ED, you are evaluated promptly, treated efficiently and cared for with respect.
“A lot of emergency medicine is talking to people and making them feel confident and comfortable that they’re okay.”
The alternative, he says, erodes trust.
“Dismissiveness doesn’t work… it doesn’t help people,” Sonne says.
That philosophy extends beyond the bedside. He frequently steps in to assist advanced practice providers and fellow physicians, reviewing cases and offering guidance to ensure every patient receives the highest standard of care. His colleagues describe him as approachable, supportive and deeply collaborative — the kind of leader who strengthens the entire team.
Working in Manchester has given Dr. Sonne a clear understanding of the region’s healthcare needs — from limited primary care access to the social stressors that bring many patients to the Emergency Department. His leadership reflects that awareness, advocating for processes that not only improve efficiency but also ensure that even on the busiest days, patients feel cared for rather than rushed.
For patients and families, that means something important: when the unexpected happens, CMC’s ED is ready. Ready with experienced clinicians. Ready with improved processes. Ready with leadership committed to making emergency care better.
For Dr. Sonne, the reward of emergency medicine lies in the moments when decisive action changes a life.
“It only takes one or two of these cases… where you’ve made an impact… that keeps you in for the next shift.”
That readiness extends to one of the community’s most complex needs: behavioral health crises. CMC’s emergency department also provides emergency behavioral health services, ensuring that individuals in crisis have immediate access to timely, acute care. Although this critical service will remain, CMC recently announced that on March 31, 2026, the hospital will transition outpatient behavioral health services to community-based providers, including The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, which has the infrastructure, specialization and capacity to meet growing demand.
To that extent, the CMC team has reached out to 100% of Behavioral Health patients to support this transition.
The focus remains on proactive communication, continuity of care and ensuring patients are aware of the resources and options available to them.
For Dr. Sonne and his team, the goal is simple: no matter the emergency —physical or behavioral —patients can count on steady hands, compassionate care and a department prepared to serve the Manchester community.