Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/593112
36 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP 4. Gary Kaatz, former president and CEO of Rockford (Ill.) Health System. Mr. Kaatz retired June 26 following Rockford Health System's merger with Janesville, Wis.-based Mercy Health System. e two entities began operating as a combined health system January 1. Javon Bea is president and CEO of Mercy. 5. John Lloyd, president and CEO of Meridian Health (Neptune, N.J.). Hackensack (N.J.) University Health Net- work and Meridian Health signed a definitive agreement to merge in May and become Hackensack Meridian Health. Pend- ing regulatory approval, Hackensack Meridian Health will be led by co-CEOs John Lloyd, current president and CEO of Me- ridian Health, and Robert Garrett, current president and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network. Aer two and half years, Mr. Garrett will assume the role as sole CEO of the orga- nization. 6. Stephen Jones, president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Health System (New Brunswick, N.J.). Or- ange, N.J.-based Barnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson Health System agreed in July to a merger that would create New Jersey's largest healthcare system: RWJ Barnabas Health. Barry Ostrowsky, president and CEO of Barnabas Health, will serve as inaugural president and CEO of the merged 11-hospital system. Stephen Jones, president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Health System, will serve as chief academic officer to further strengthen the relationship between the new entity and its academic partner, Rutgers University. e deal is slated for completion next year. 7. David Crane, president and CEO of Adventist Mid- west Health (Hinsdale, Ill.). Alexian Brothers Health Sys- tem and Adventist Midwest Health created a joint operating company this April called Amita Health. Alexian CEO Mark Frey was named CEO of Amita, while Adventist CEO David Crane became COO and executive vice president of the JOC. 8. Alan Levine, president and CEO of Mountain States Health Alliance (Johnson City, Tenn.). In early April 2015, Kingsport Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System and Mountain States announced plans to merge. Bert Hove, president and CEO of Wellmont, will take the helm as CEO of the merged organization, and report to Alan Levine, who will be promoted to executive chairman and president of the combined system. e deal is still pending regulatory approval. e lead- ers will continue to serve in their current roles and the systems will remain independent until the merger has been approved. 9. Laurence Merlis, former president and CEO of Abington (Pa.) Health. Mr. Merlis was named senior exec- utive vice president and COO of the merged system between Abington Health and Philadelphia-based omas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health System. Stephen Klasko, MD, the president and CEO of omas Jefferson University and omas Jefferson Health System, was appointed president and CEO of the combined organizations. 10. David McQuaid, former president and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (Philadel- phia).According to Stephen Klasko, MD, president and CEO of omas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health System, Mr. McQuaid decided to resign aer eight years as president and CEO of omas Jefferson University Hospitals because of "a change in management control due to our recent merger with Abington Health." omas Jefferson University and Jeffer- son Health System completed its merger with Abington (Pa.) Health this spring. At the time of his departure in February, Mr. McQuaid did not state his next professional plans. 11. Michael Young, president and CEO of Pinna- cleHealth System (Harrisburg, Pa.). Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center agreed to merge with Pinna- cleHealth System to form a new health enterprise, Penn State Health. According to e Patriot-News, PinnacleHealth's Presi- dent and CEO Michael Young will be appointed president and COO of the new enterprise and Penn State Hershey CEO A. Craig Hillemeier, MD, will be CEO. e deal is pending approv- al from the Federal Trade Commission and the state attorney general. n 36 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP