Kansas City, Mo.-based Saint Luke's Health System has tapped Julie Quirin as president, effective Nov. 1.
Ms. Quirin will succeed Melinda Estes, MD, who has served as president and CEO since 2011. Dr. Estes initially planned to retire in 2021, but decided to push through the brunt of the pandemic, she told Becker's in June. She will now retire at the year's end as Saint Luke's and St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare merge, forming an integrated academic health system.
Richard Liekweg, CEO of BJC, will helm the merged system, leading a C-suite and board of directors with representatives from both parties — which plan to keep separate brand identities and operate from separate headquarters. Ms. Quirin currently serves as Saint Luke's senior vice president and chief operating officer, according to an Oct. 24 news release; her duties will be expanded to include oversight of the system's physician enterprise, quality function, digital/IT organization and government affairs team.