Hospital and health system CEO turnover is running ahead of 2025’s pace, and several of the exits have occurred at some of the nation’s largest hospitals and health systems.
Hospitals posted 74 CEO exits in the first half of 2026, up from 68 during the same period in 2025, according to global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Retirements remain the most common driver, though a difficult industry backdrop — delayed insurer payments, rising workforce and pharmacy costs, and looming Medicaid cuts under HR 1 — is also squeezing margins and adding pressure to what Bloomberg Businessweek described as an increasingly grueling job, with more than 70% of CEOs across industries reporting clinically high stress.
Here are the five biggest CEO exits of the year so far at the nation’s largest systems by number of hospitals and bed count, according to Becker’s reporting:
Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth (94 hospitals): Rob Jay, CEO since the system’s 2021 formation, transitioned to executive chairman in June, with CFO Doug Shirley named his successor. The leadership transition came days after the system completed the sale of eight community hospitals to Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Health, as ScionHealth said it plans to concentrate on specialty hospital services with a smaller community hospital footprint.
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services (30 hospitals): Marty Bonick stepped down as president and CEO on June 2 to pursue other opportunities, with COO Dave Caspers named his successor. Mr. Bonick had served as CEO since 2020 and oversaw the system’s initial public offering in July 2024.
Arlington-based Texas Health Resources (29 hospitals): Barclay Berdan will retire in September after four decades with the system, including 12 years as CEO. COO Winjie Tang Miao was elevated to a newly created president role in April after serving as senior executive vice president and COO and will take over as CEO at a future date.
Miami-based Jackson Memorial Hospital (1,550 beds): Carlos Migoya stepped down May 31 as CEO of Jackson Health System. He joined the system in 2011 and led its financial turnaround, ending every year since 2011 with a surplus, the system said. President and COO David Zambrana, PhD, DNP, RN, was appointed his successor.
Yale New Haven (Conn.) Hospital (1,541 beds): Christopher O’Connor stepped down as CEO of Yale New Haven Health in June after 14 years with the system. President Pamela Sutton-Wallace named acting CEO while the board conducts a national search.
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