Hospital and health system CEO departures in 2026 have clustered in a handful of states, with Florida, Texas and California seeing the most turnover, according to a Becker’s analysis of reported departures.
The departures span major health systems, community hospitals and rural facilities. Some executives are retiring after long tenures, while others are leaving for leadership roles at other organizations.
A comparison of departures reported between March 20 and Oct. 21 in 2025 and 2026 — the timeframe available for both years — shows Florida with the sharpest increase, rising from three reported CEO exits to 10. California and Texas remained among the most active states in both years, with roughly 10 departures per state each period. Washington and Iowa also saw modest increases, with Washington’s departures including leaders at Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System and Vancouver-based PeaceHealth.
The findings come amid broader hospital leadership turnover. Hospitals reported 116 CEO exits in 2026 through September, up 22% from the same period in 2025, according to an Oct. 27 report from global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Florida sees the sharpest rise
Florida has seen more hospital CEO departures in 2026 than any other state in the analysis, and four of them came from facilities operated by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.
Ashley Vertuno exited her role as CEO of HCA Florida JFK North Hospital in West Palm Beach in June to become CEO of the Arizona market at Healthcare Outcomes Performance Co. Jason Kimbrell left HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in Palm Beach County in May to become CEO of Wilson (N.C.) Medical Center. Tripp Owings left HCA Florida Brandon Hospital in June to lead Wichita, Kan.-based Ascension Via Christi. In October, Dale Neely announced plans to exit HCA Florida Capital Hospital in Tallahassee.
Other departures involved nonprofit and community hospitals. In August, Caitlin Stella exited her role as CEO of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Joe Stuczynski retired as CEO of Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, and Royce Brown exited his role as president and CEO of AdventHealth Lake Wales. In May, Andrew “Andy” Guz also announced plans to leave Bradenton-based Manatee Health to lead Columbus (Ind.) Regional Health.
Several of the Florida executives left the state for CEO roles elsewhere, including in North Carolina, Kansas and Indiana.
Texas sees departures across hospital types
Texas has had a steady stream of CEO transitions in 2026, including at several of the state’s largest systems.
Barclay Berdan announced plans in March to retire as CEO of Arlington-based Texas Health Resources, and David Callender, MD, plans to retire at the end of 2026 as president and CEO of Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System. David Huffstutler plans to retire in March 2027 as president and CEO of Austin-based St. David’s HealthCare, and Grant Wicklund plans to retire as CEO of Christus Santa Rosa Health System in San Antonio. Brad Holland exited his role as president and CEO of Abilene-based Hendrick Health in May.
Other departures involved smaller facilities. Donny Booth, MSN, RN, was dismissed in March as CEO of Permian Regional Medical Center in Andrews, and Steve Hyde retired as CEO of Paris Regional Health in June.
California remains an active state for CEO turnover
California has continued to see leadership changes across hospitals and health systems of varying sizes.
Barry Arbuckle, PhD, announced plans in April to step down as CEO of Fountain Valley-based MemorialCare after 24 years and become executive chairman. Marcia Manker also announced her retirement as CEO of MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley in April. Rodney Hanners stepped down as CEO of Los Angeles-based Keck Medicine of USC in September.
Other transitions involved smaller hospitals. Siri Nelson stepped down as president and CEO of Marshall Medical Center in Placerville in July, Stephen Gray announced plans to leave Watsonville Community Hospital in June, and Sandra Anaya stepped down as CEO of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe in April.
A closer look at smaller hospitals
Beyond the geographic patterns, many of the departures involve smaller community hospitals.
In Iowa, Michael McCoy, MD, stepped down as president and CEO of West Burlington-based Great River Health in July, and Kim Price retired as CEO of Franklin General Hospital in Hampton in March. In Nebraska, Jared Chaffin resigned as CEO and CFO of Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend, and Holly Wolff resigned as CEO of Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury, both in August. Doug McCoy plans to retire as CEO of Eastern Plumas Health Care in Portola, Calif., and Jeremy Rabe exited his role as CEO of Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney, Kan., in June.
Editor’s note: This analysis examines hospital and health system CEO departures reported by Becker’s between March 20 and Oct. 21, 2026, and roughly the same period in 2025, as tracked in Becker’s CEO exits coverage. It includes announced retirements and planned departures, not only exits completed during the reporting periods. The figures are not a comprehensive census of all hospital and health system CEO changes.
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