St. Louis-based BJC Health System has a new president and CEO.
On Oct. 1, the health system welcomed Nick Barto to the role, according to a news release shared with Becker’s.
Mr. Barto brings more than three decades of healthcare and operations experience to the top leadership position.
Most recently, he served as president of the health system and president of BJC’s East Region. He succeeds Rich Liekweg, who announced his retirement in June.
“Since joining BJC, I’ve seen the unwavering dedication of our caregivers across our hospitals, clinics, and behind the scenes each and every day,” Mr. Barto said in the release. “I’m honored to lead BJC Health System as we continue working together to provide extraordinary care with patients at the center of all we do and strengthen our legacy as a mission-oriented academic health care leader for generations to come.”
Mr. Barto was named president of BJC Health System in 2023 after joining the organization in 2018 as CFO. Mr. Barto was named president of the East Region in 2024, in addition to his role as BJC president.
BJC credited him with playing a key role in successfully extending the health system’s 45-year affiliation agreement with Washington University and its medical school; overseeing the successful integration of Kansas City, Mo.-based St. Luke’s Health System; and helping secure the agreement with Springfield, Mo.-based CoxHealth, and BJC’s St. Louis Children’s Hospital to expand pediatric care.
He is also credited with working with clinical and operational leadership to establish BJC’s Business Intelligence and Data Solutions Group and collaborating with Washington University to launch the Center for Health AI.
The leadership transition comes as BJC has grown to become one of the nation’s largest nonprofit academic health systems, with 47,000 caregivers, 24 hospitals and more than 250 clinics and service centers across three states.
