The summer has already brought a wave of leadership transitions at health systems across the U.S., including retirements at legacy institutions. The shifts come at a time when health system leaders are navigating financial headwinds, workforce pressures, rapid technology adoption and growing strategic complexity, underscoring the importance of strong leadership at the top.
A June 29 report from executive outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that while hospital CEO exits eased slightly in May compared to the month prior, turnover in the sector continues to outpace 2025 to date.
Here are 13 CEO changes reported in June:
Note: This list is not exhaustive:
1. Christopher O’Connor, CEO of Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut, stepped down after 14 years with the organization. Pamela Sutton-Wallace, president of Yale New Haven Health, was named acting CEO, effective immediately. Mr. O’Connor will serve as a special advisor to the chair of the board of trustees during the transition. The board will conduct a national search for the next CEO over the next several months.
2. Michael Wagner, MD, president and CEO of Providence, R.I.-based Care New England, will step down as president and CEO and transition to chair the health system’s board of directors. Care New England’s board aims to appoint the next president and CEO in early 2027. Dr. Wagner will remain in his current role throughout the search and will retire from full-time work once a successor is named.
3. Omar Lateef, DO, president and CEO of Chicago-based Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center, will retire in June 2027. He will remain in the role during the leadership transition before returning to clinical practice and expanding his work in community and public health.
4. Madeline Bell, BSN, will retire Oct. 1 as CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after nearly 40 years with the pediatric health system. Joseph Mitchell, MD, CHOP’s president, will succeed Ms. Bell, bringing more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience to the role.
5. Kevin Leahy will step down as CEO of Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Alliance on Dec. 31 after 48 years with the nonprofit Catholic health system. He will remain with the system as an internal consultant to assist with the leadership transition before retiring at the end of 2027.
6. William (Bill) Robertson will retire as CEO of Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System, effective Dec. 31, after serving in the role since 2022. Florence Chang, MultiCare’s president, will succeed Mr. Robertson as president and CEO on Jan. 1. Mr. Robertson and Ms. Chang will work closely together through the transition.
7. Todd LaPorte, CEO of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based HonorHealth, will transition from the CEO role in March 2027 after more than 10 years of leadership. John Neil, MD, the health system’s executive vice president, chief physician executive and chief strategy officer, will succeed Mr. LaPorte as CEO.
8. Tammy Snyder was named CEO of UVA Health University Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va., effective Aug. 3. Ms. Snyder will replace Kathy Baker, RN, who has been serving as interim CEO in addition to her role as chief nursing officer.
9. Doug Shirley was named CEO of Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth after serving as CFO since April 2025. Former CEO Rob Jay transitioned to executive chairman as part of the leadership change, which follows ScionHealth’s recent sale of eight community hospitals to Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Health.
10. Amy Shlossman was named executive vice president and CEO of Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University, effective Aug. 31. She joins OHSU from Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health, succeeding interim leadership following the departure of former CEO Tarek Salaway earlier this year.
11. Ben Spence, COO of Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health, was named the system’s next president and CEO, effective Oct. 1. He will succeed Larry Antonucci, MD, who is retiring after nine years as president and CEO.
12. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, stepped down as president and CEO of Rockville Centre, N.Y.-based Catholic Health, effective immediately. Executive Vice President and COO Gary Havican was appointed interim president and CEO. Dr. O’Shaughnessy had served as CEO since 2021.
13. Dave Caspers was named president and CEO of Brentwood, Tenn.-based Ardent Health, effective immediately. Mr. Caspers, who joined the publicly traded system as COO in March 2025, succeeds Marty Bonick, who stepped down to pursue other opportunities.
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