Becker’s has reported on at least 70 hospital and health system CEO exits, including retirements and resignations, since Jan. 2. Of those exiting CEOs, roughly 30 resigned without announcing future plans.
Here’s where the CEOs who did share next steps are headed:
1. Retirement. About two dozen CEOs have announced plans to retire. A few have held their roles for longer than the average tenure, including Candice Saunders, BSN, president and CEO of Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System, who will retire June 30 after a decade in the role.
In March, Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health, announced plans to retire after more than 12 years leading the system.
2. Moves outside healthcare. A few departing CEOs are considering roles outside of the healthcare sector. In February, Beth King said she would step down as CEO of JCH HealthCare, which manages Jersey Community Hospital in Jerseyville, Ill., to pursue a career in finance.
Paul Hanson stepped down in January as president and CEO of Sanford Health’s Sioux Falls (S.D.) market. After 37 years in hospital administration, he said he is considering opportunities both within and outside healthcare.
3. Non-CEO roles. Two departing CEOs have transitioned into non-CEO positions. Jeff Brannon, RN, stepped down as CEO of Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Ala., to take on a role supporting healthcare education and business development through the hospital’s partnership with Jersey College School of Nursing.
Alex Walker resigned Feb. 1 as CEO of Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H., amid the hospital’s integration with Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare. He now serves as executive director of the Catholic Health Care Foundation of Greater Manchester.
4. New systems, new regions. About 15 CEOs exited to lead other hospitals or health systems, with several joining new organizations in different regions. Kimberly Russo, for example, was named CEO of Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare’s central region, effective April 28, after serving as CEO of George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
In another cross-regional move, Jeff Perry, MSN, exited his role as CEO of Atchison, Kan.-based Amberwell Health and was named CEO of Warsaw, N.Y.-based Wyoming County Community Health System.
5. Returning to previous employers. One “boomerang” leader, Corwin Harper, returned to Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente on Jan. 21 to become president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia. He had previously spent 25 years with Kaiser and most recently served as CEO of Shreveport, La.-based Ochsner LSU Health.
