Gar Atchison plans to step down from his role as market president of UP Health System and CEO of UPHS – Marquette (Mich.) in late November.
Mr. Atchison will depart the health system to move back to his hometown of Petoskey, Mich., to be closer to family, UPHS said in an Oct. 26 news release shared with Becker's. He has also accepted a new position as president and CEO of Petoskey-based McLaren Northern Michigan.
"The decision to leave my role at UPHS was a very difficult one for my family and me, but we know it is the right choice for us now," Mr. Atchison said in the release. "I am honored to have been part of UPHS and called the Upper Peninsula home for the last four years."
Mr. Atchison joined UPHS in 2019. Before that, he served in several leadership positions at Frye Medical Center in Hickory, N.C. Both UPHS and Frye are part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, a joint venture of Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health and Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Health.
Tonya Darner, COO of UPHS – Marquette, was selected as interim CEO of UPHS – Marquette.