Multiple health systems will experience leadership transitions on or around Oct. 1 as the fourth quarter of the year begins.
Several of the changes stem from previously announced retirements, with successors set to take over in September and October. Others leave organizations with interim leaders while they search for permanent ones.
Here are 12 shifts to note, all reported by Becker’s this year:
Note: This list is not exhaustive.
1. Madeline Bell, BSN, retires Oct. 1 as CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after nearly 40 years with the organization. Joseph Mitchell, MD, CHOP’s president, will succeed Ms. Bell as president and CEO. Dr. Mitchell joined CHOP in April 2025 and brings more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience to the position.
2. Peter Pisters, MD, will retire Sept. 30 from Houston-based The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center after nine years as president. Jeffrey Lee, MD, was named interim president. Dr. Lee has been at UT MD Anderson for 35 years, most recently serving as executive vice president, chief physician executive and chief cancer network officer.
3. Michael Englehart will become president and CEO of Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance on Oct. 1. He succeeds Kevin Leahy, who announced earlier this year that he would step down after 30 years in the role and nearly 50 years with Franciscan. Mr. Leahy will remain with the system through Dec. 31 to support the transition.
4. Ben Spence, COO of Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health, will become president and CEO on Oct. 1. Mr. Spence will succeed Larry Antonucci, MD, who will retire Sept. 30 after nine years at the helm. Mr. Spence joined Lee Health in 1995 and has spent more than 30 years with the organization.
5. Mike Dandorph will step down as president and CEO of Burlington, Mass.-based Tufts Medicine on Sept. 30, and COO Phil Okala was appointed acting president and CEO. As part of the leadership transitions, Mark Gilchrist, MD, chair of the Tufts Medicine Integrated Network Board, will serve as a liaison to Mr. Okala and Erika Werner, MD, chief physician executive.
6. Winjie Miao became CEO of Arlington-based Texas Health Resources in September, succeeding Barclay Berdan, who retired. Ms. Miao was named president in April as part of the planned succession and previously served as the system’s senior executive vice president and COO. She joined Texas Health in 2000 as an administrative resident.
7. Steven Shapiro, MD, became CEO of Los Angeles-based Keck Medicine of USC on Sept. 24. He succeeds Rodney Hanners, who stepped down after six years leading the health system. Dr. Shapiro continues to serve as USC’s senior vice president for health affairs.
8. Jennifer Eslinger became president and CEO of Akron, Ohio-based Summa Health on Sept. 21. She is Summa’s first permanent CEO since its acquisition by General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Co. She succeeds Daryl Tol, who served as acting president and CEO and remains president and CEO of HATCo. Ms. Eslinger previously served as president and COO of Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health.
9. Tonya Darner became president and CEO of Petoskey, Mich.-based McLaren Northern Michigan on Sept. 28. She succeeds Gar Atchison, who will retire Sept. 30 and is assisting with the transition. Ms. Darner joined the 202-bed hospital from UP Health System, where she was market CEO of UP Health System-Marquette (Mich.) and UP Health System-Bell in Ishpeming, Mich. She also spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force.
10. Tina Gillespie will step down Oct. 3 as CEO of Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo. Nikki Hendren, who has served as COO since 2023, was named interim CEO while the hospital board searches for a permanent successor.
11. Bryce Cordle, BSN, RN, will become CEO of Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in October. He succeeds April Bennett, MSN, RN, who plans to retire in October. Mr. Cordle has served as the hospital’s chief nursing officer.
12. Joey Hester shared plans to retire in September as CEO of Medical Center Enterprise in Alabama after a 50-year healthcare career. Mr. Hester joined the 131-bed hospital, part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, in 2022. When his retirement was announced, the hospital said a successor had not been named and that board members, medical staff and administration would take part in the search.
