Avera Health appoints interim CEO, and more | MED MOVES

Julie Lautt has been named as the interim president and CEO of Avera Health in South Dakota.

Julie Lautt (Photo: Avera Health)

Lautt begins in the role effective Aug. 5, while the system searches for a permanent leader. She is currently the chief financial officer for Avera and will continue in that role while serving as the system’s interim leader.

She has been with Avera for 24 years.

In April, Avera announced Bob Sutton would step down as president and CEO, disclosing a recently diagnosed serious medical condition requiring an intensive care regimen.

"I want to sincerely thank Bob for his leadership and mentorship during his time at Avera. He is a tremendous strategic leader, and we will miss him dearly,” Lautt said.

“I look forward to working closely with our talented senior leadership team to continue to ensure our mission and dedication to Avera communities remains strong during this period of change," she added.

From 1999 to 2017, she served at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center as controller of managed hospitals, vice president and corporate controller and then as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

“Julie’s strong leadership and commitment to Avera made her an ideal person to see us through this transition. We thank Julie for her willingness to step into this role,” Sr. Mary Kay Panowicz, Avera System Members Chairperson, said in a statement.

Avera operates 37 hospitals and more than 200 primary and specialty care clinics in South Dakota and parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota.

Lifepoint Health appoints chief administrative and legal officer

Jennifer Peters has been named executive vice president, chief administrative and legal officer of Lifepoint Health in Tennessee.

Jennifer Peters (Photo: Lifepoint Health)

Peters has been with Lifepoint since 2013 and has served as executive vice president and general counsel for the past six years.

In her newly expanded role, Peters will continue to oversee Lifepoint’s legal department as well as lead key departments including compliance, enterprise risk management, insurance claims and human resources.

“Jennifer has been an important leader in Lifepoint’s growth and transformation over the last decade,” David Dill, chairman and CEO of Lifepoint Health said in a statement.

“She has guided our company through transformative partnerships, transactions and defining moments,” Dill said in a statement. “She combines extraordinary legal knowledge and skill with a deep understanding of healthcare and true compassion for our people and for each of the communities we serve.”

Before joining Lifepoint, Peters was general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer for Simplex Healthcare, and she was also vice president and associate general counsel at Community Health Systems.

Southcoast Health chooses new CEO

David McCready has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Southcoast Health in Massachusetts.

David McCready (Photo: Southcoast Health)

McCready is succeeding Rayford Kruger. He will join the system on Oct. 1, 2023, and begin leading the system on Jan. 3, 2024. Kruger will work with McCready to ensure a smooth transition.

McCready joins Southcoast from Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital where he has served as president for the past five years.  He also served for 18 years as a member of the leadership team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

“I am truly honored to join Southcoast Health as its next president and CEO,” McCready said in a statement.

“Southcoast is a special organization with extraordinary clinical expertise combined with a deep commitment to truly caring for and about its patients and their communities,” he added. “Southcoast has so much to be proud of, and I look forward to leading and supporting the organization as we continue to fulfill our mission of exceptional care and service.”

McCready worked for several years as an administrator at Boston Medical Center and at Highmark Health in Pittsburgh, and as a management consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Southcoast operates three hospitals and serves patients in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

UCI Health names chief information officer

Julie Eastman has been named the chief information officer of UCI Health in Orange County, California.

Julie Eastman (Photo: UCI Health)

She took the new post on July 24. Previously, she spent 18 months as associate CIO at UCI Health.

Eastman succeeds Scott Joslyn, who will focus on his role as chief innovation officer. He had been serving as chief information officer and chief innovation officer.

“I am deeply committed to furthering our mission and look forward to collaborating more broadly with our talented teams and esteemed partners to continue to deliver exceptional, patient-centric solutions that redefine healthcare in the consumer digital age,” Eastman said in a statement.

A registered nurse, Eastman began her career in critical care nursing. She brings clinical experience to the role of CIO.

"Julie’s unique combination of nursing and IT experience, leadership qualities, and vision stood out, making her the ideal choice for this crucial role,” UCI Health CEO Chad T. Lefteris said in a statement. “Her strategic direction will aid us in integrating the latest technology to streamline our operations and uphold our commitment to patient care excellence."

Before joining UCI Health, Eastman held the position of executive director for information services at CHOC Children's.