CEO exits have declined 19.5% in the first half of 2024 compared to last year.
There were 66 reported hospital CEO exits in the first six months of 2024, according to a July 25 report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Tapping hospital CEOs from within the same health system and promoting COOs were among the more popular ways to find successors.
Here are four ways hospitals and health systems chose their new CEOs in 2024.
1. In-house promotion, dual roles
Marley Koons was promoted from CFO to CEO of Lakin, Kan.-based Kearny County Hospital in February. Ms. Koons continued to serve as interim CFO while searching for her successor.
COOs are a common choice for promotion, as seen with Anderson Healthcare's Mike Marshall, who took over as CEO in February. He had served as the Maryville, Ill.-based system's CFO from 2005 to 2022 before becoming COO.
Erik Wexler, Renton, Wash.-based Providence's COO, was named its next CEO; he will succeed Rod Hochman, MD, on Jan. 1.
2. Talent from other systems
In July, Trey Abshier was selected as CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Fla. Mr. Abshier previously served as CEO of HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford.
In March, Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health tapped Hollie Seeley, RN, as CEO of Sutter Medical Center in that city. Ms. Seeley previously served as CEO of HCA Healthcare's North Suburban Medical Center in Thornton, Colo.
Jody Prather, MD, was tapped as Loveland-based HealthSource of Ohio's new CEO. Prior to that, Dr. Prather had served as chief strategy and marketing officer at Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health.
3. Returning leaders
George Brown, MD, was selected as CEO of Portland-based Legacy Health in April, returning to the role after serving in it from 2008 to 2018.
Eleze Armstrong also returned to her previous workplace this year. She was named CEO of Templeton, Calif.-based Twin Cities Community Hospital in January and had previously worked at the hospital from 2010 to 2018, most recently as chief strategy officer.
4. Movement within one system
Transitioning between hospitals under the same system was common. Dallas Purkeypile, for example, was named CEO of AdventHealth South Overland Park (Kan.). Mr Purkeypile had previously led CEO AdventHealth Ottawa (Kan.).
Michelle Fuentes shifted between workplaces within Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth. Ms. Fuentes was named CEO of AdventeHealth Castle Rock (Colo.), and had most recently been president of Adventist Health Sonora (Calif.)