Several of the nation’s largest health systems will see leadership transitions in 2026, as longtime CEOs retire or step down and successors step into key roles.
Here are eight leadership changes to know:
1. Eduardo Conrado, president of St. Louis-based Ascension, will assume the role of CEO, effective Jan. 1. Mr. Conrado will succeed Joseph Impicciche, who is retiring after more than 20 years of service to Catholic healthcare and Ascension.
2. Patrick McGill, MD, was appointed president and CEO of Indianapolis-based Community Health Network, effective Jan. 1. Dr. McGill will succeed Bryan Mills, who is retiring.
3. Abhi Rastogi, COO of Philadelphia-based Temple Health, was appointed president and CEO of the organization. Mr. Rastogi will succeed Michael Young, who plans to retire Jan. 2.
4. Sarah Ness, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth, was appointed president and CEO, effective Jan. 3. Ms. Ness will succeed Liz Dunne, who is retiring after a decade of service to the organization.
5. Matthew Zuino was appointed president and CEO of Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health, effective Jan. 17. Mr. Zuino will succeed Michael Mayo, who is stepping down as CEO. Mr. Mayo, who also holds a doctorate in healthcare administration, will transition to an executive-in-residence role before fully retiring from Baptist Health in December 2026.
6. Brian Donley, MD, executive vice president and COO at New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian, is set to become president and CEO of the health system Jan. 22. Dr. Donley will succeed Steven Corwin, MD, who is stepping down after a 14-year tenure.
7. Larry Antonucci, MD, president and CEO of Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health, will step down when his contract concludes on Sept. 30. A formal search process for the next president and CEO will begin next year.
8. Jeff Sandene, executive vice president and CFO of Charleston, W.Va.-based Vandalia Health, was appointed president and CEO of the system, effective July 2026. Mr. Sandene will succeed Dave Ramsey, who is retiring after more than 47 years of experience in healthcare administration.
