Several hospital and health system CEOs have left their roles in 2026 less than a year after taking the helm.
Becker’s reported more than 160 hospital and health system CEO exits between Jan. 8 and Oct. 8, including about 65 who announced plans to step away from the role entirely. Hospital CEO exits totaled 103 from January through August, up 21% from 85 over the same period during 2025, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. By contrast, CEO exits across all industries fell 18%.
Here are five CEOs who left less than a year into the job. This list does not include departures tied to personal or health reasons.
1. Tarek Salaway, Oregon Health & Science University (Portland). Mr. Salaway became CEO in mid-December 2025. OHSU told staff April 3 that he was no longer in the role. His attorney said OHSU ended his employment after it did not take his concerns about “bias and resource waste” seriously. Chief Medical Officer Renee Edwards, MD, was named acting CEO. OHSU later named Amy Shlossman CEO, effective Aug. 31.
2. Daisy Rodriguez, MSN, RN, Vista Health System (Waukegan, Ill.). Ms. Rodriguez left as CEO and chief nursing officer Oct. 6, about two months after she was named to the role. She was Vista’s fifth CEO, counting an interim leader, since American Healthcare Systems acquired the system in July 2023. Her exit came weeks after a September payroll problem that Vista attributed to a banking issue. Kevin Spiegel, a senior vice president at American Healthcare Systems and a former Vista CEO, is providing interim support.
3. Colin O’Sullivan, Colleton Medical Center (Walterboro, S.C.). HCA Healthcare named Mr. O’Sullivan CEO of the hospital in August 2025. In May, he was named senior vice president of East region specialty hospital operations at ScionHealth.
4. Rob Anderson, Lakewood Ranch (Fla.) Medical Center. Mr. Anderson resigned as CEO of the Universal Health Services hospital March 26, about 11 months after he was hired in April 2025. COO Philip Reber served as interim CEO. The hospital named Jason Madsen CEO in June.
5. Denten Park, St. Vincent Hospital (Worcester, Mass.). Mr. Park led the Tenet Healthcare hospital and the company’s Massachusetts market from February 2025 until January, when a spokesperson confirmed he was no longer with the organization. Adam Bracks served as interim CEO. Maria Menendez became CEO in June.
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