ATLANTA, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Saint Joseph's Health System today announced the resignation of Bonnie Phipps, president and CEO. Ms. Phipps, who has been in her current position with Saint Joseph's Health System for three years, is leaving to assume the President and CEO position at St. Agnes Healthcare, a 407-bed community teaching hospital and member of Ascension Healthcare in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Phipps will remain with Saint Joseph's through the end of the year.
"We regret losing the strong and supportive leadership that Bonnie has demonstrated over the last three years. However, we wish her the very best in her new leadership position," says Bruce Simmons, chairman of the board of trustees of Saint Joseph's Health System. "In the interim of appointing a new president and CEO, Saint Joseph's will draw upon a wealth of leadership resources to continue its dynamic course in the coming months and years."
The Executive Committee of the Saint Joseph's Board of Trustees is meeting to initiate the search process for a new CEO.
Saint Joseph's recently launched a strategic plan under the leadership of Ms. Phipps which includes a major campus and service line expansion. Among the initiatives are the hospital expansion to 410-beds, construction of the new Heart and Vascular Institutes, development of the Kenneth E. Thomas Center for Nursing Excellence, as well as growth of Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services.
"This has been an extremely difficult decision, but ultimately it came down to the opportunity of moving back to Baltimore to be closer to my family," says Ms. Phipps. "Saint Joseph's is an extraordinary institution. My time here has been an invaluable experience and is now part of the fabric of leadership that I take with me."
Phipps' ties to Atlanta include her recent induction to the Robinson College of Business Georgia State University Hall of Fame. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgia State University as well as a masters in professional accountancy. Phipps also was honored as an Atlanta Business Chronicle Healthcare Leader and one of Business to Business Magazine's 2004 Divas. Prior to Saint Joseph's, Ms. Phipps was CEO of the Promina Health System and CFO of DeKalb Regional Healthcare System. She also served in various positions with Egleston Hospital for Children (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta) and Kennestone Regional Healthcare System, Inc.
Under Ms. Phipps' leadership, Saint Joseph's expanded its national presence garnering national recognition for its cardiac, vascular and orthopaedic programs, as well as for clinical excellence, patient safety and service excellence by HealthGrades, Inc., the nation's leading provider of independent hospital ratings, Solucient and J.D. Power and Associates. Most recently, Saint Joseph's announced a strategic partnership with the Larry King Cardiac Foundation (LKCF) to "save a heart a day" by providing heart care to those who don't have the resources to pay for it.
Lynn Peterson, Media Relations Office (404) 851-5849 Pager (404) 722-4355 lpeterson@sjha.org
Saint Joseph's HospitalCONTACT: Lynn Peterson, Media Relations of Saint Joseph's Hospital,+1-404-851-5849, or Pager, +1-404-722-4355, or lpeterson@sjha.org
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