Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1539464
13 CEO / STRATEGY Where are exiting CEOs headed in 2025? By Kristin Kuchno B ecker's has reported on at least 130 hospital and health system CEO exits, including retirements and resignations, since Jan. 2. Of those exiting CEOs, roughly 50 resigned without announcing future plans. Here's where the CEOs who shared next steps are headed: Note: is page was created April 29 and updated Aug. 20. 1. Retirement. About 45 CEOs have announced plans to retire. A few have held their roles for longer than the average tenure, including Bryan Mills, who in July shared plans to retire as president and CEO of Indianapolis- based Community Health Network aer 16 years in the role. In March, Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health, announced plans to retire aer 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. Aer 37 years in hospital administration, he said he is considering opportunities both within and outside healthcare. 3. COO roles. A couple CEOs exited for COO roles at different organizations, such as Andrew Bedi, who was named COO of Doctors Hospital of Augusta (Ga.) in July aer serving as CEO of e Medical Center at Russellville (Ky.). In May, Paige Dworak exited her role as president and CEO of CareWell Health Medical Center in East Orange, N.J., and was named system COO of Hudson Regional. 4. Roles outside the C-suite. 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. 5. New systems, new regions. About 30 CEOs exited to lead other hospitals or health systems, with several joining new organizations in different regions. Ketul Patel, for example, will exit his role as CEO of Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to become president and CEO of Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System in October. In April, Kimberly Russo was named CEO of Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare's central region aer serving as CEO of George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. 6. 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. n South Carolina system taps 5th CEO in 54 years By Kristin Kuchno Lexington Health in West Columbia, S.C., has appointed Kirk Jenkins president and CEO. He will succeed Tod Augsburger, who will retire Jan. 1, according to an Aug. 29 health system news release. Mr. Jenkins has served as senior vice president of the system's physician network since 2015. Under his leadership, the network grew from 387 to 718 employed physicians and advanced practice providers and added market-leading service lines in specialties including heart and vascular, orthopedics, oncology, urology and general surgery. He joined Lexington Health in 2013 after serving as a healthcare administrator in the Air Force from 2004 to 2013. He has held leadership roles at Lexington Health for more than a decade. The system has only had five CEOs throughout its 54-year history, the release said. Lexington Health includes six community medical and urgent care centers, nearly 80 physician practices, more than 9,000 healthcare professionals and Lexington Medical Center, a 607-bed teaching hospital. n CHS Indiana hospital taps assistant CEO By Kristin Kuchno J oshua Baldobinos has been named assistant CEO of Northwest Health-Porter in Valparaiso, Ind., which is part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Heath Systems. Mr. Baldobinos has been with Community Health Systems for more than three years, holding leadership roles at hospitals in Arkansas and Arizona, according to a Sept. 2 LinkedIn post from Northwest Health. James Leonard, DO, stepped down as CEO of Northwest Health-Porter in May after serving in the role since December 2023. Northwest Health includes three hospitals and several other facilities, including outpatient medical centers and emergency departments. n