Dignity Health hires CEO for hospitals in Bakersfield, and more | MED MOVES

Simon Ratliff has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Dignity Health’s hospitals in Bakersfield, Calif.

Simon Ratliff

Ratliff will oversee Mercy Hospital Downtown and Mercy Hospital Southwest. He succeeds BJ Predum, who recently was appointed the president of Dignity Health’s Central Valley market in California.

Mercy Hospital Downtown offers 144 beds, while Southwest provides 78 beds.

Ratliff previously served as the president and CEO of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in Pennsylvania,

"My role is to serve and support the incredible employees and providers dedicated to caring for our community," Ratliff said in a statement. "If we put our patients first and work together, we can accomplish great things. Most importantly, we can improve the health and quality of life for the people we serve.”

Predum said he was excited to see Ratliff join the organization.

“Simon’s extensive experience and commitment to community health make him an ideal leader for Mercy Hospitals,” Predum said in a statement.

Chris Woleske

Key leader of Wisconsin health system plans to retire

Chris Woleske, the leader of the Bellin Region of Emplify Health, has announced her plans to step down next year.

Emplify Health is the new name of the health system formed by the merger of Bellin Health and the Gundersen Health System. She served as the president and CEO of Bellin Health from 2018 to 2022, when Bellin and Gundersen merged.

Woleske plans to retire July 1, but she’ll remain in a consulting role until the end of 2025.

Bellin and Gundersen CEO Dr. Scott Rathgaber will step into Woleske’s current role on an interim basis and take the opportunity to deepen his familiarity with the Bellin Region and help determine next steps for its leadership.

“Leading Bellin Health, and the Bellin Region of Bellin and Gundersen Health System, has been the best job I could imagine,” Woleske said in a statement. “I have been blessed to work with our more than 5,000 medical providers and staff who dedicate themselves every day to excellence in patient care.”

Dr. Scott Rathgaber, CEO of Bellin and Gundersen, will lead the Bellin region on an interim basis, and then consider next steps for leadership.

Kert Anzilotti, MD

ChristianaCare names president of medical group

Kert Anzilotti, MD, has been named the president of ChristianaCare’s medical group.

Anzilotti has served as interim president since June 2024. He will also continue to serve as chief medical officer of ChristianaCare.

As president of the ChristianaCare Medical Group, Anzilotti will focus on improving care and deploying new technology.

“Over the many years I have been at ChristianaCare, I have had the privilege of witnessing the dedication and compassion of my Medical Group colleagues as we served together with love and excellence,” Anzilotti said in a statement. “I am honored to lead this incredible, dynamic group that is reshaping the future of care, ensuring everyone we serve can achieve their best health.”

Anzilotti joined ChristianaCare in 2011 and has held a variety of leadership posts.

Janice Nevin, MD, president and CEO of ChristianaCare, said he’s “exceptionally qualified” to lead the medical group.

“His passion for our mission and vision for the future strength of our Medical Group is unwavering,” Nevin said in a statement. “Since joining ChristianaCare in 2011, Dr. Anzilotti has earned a well-deserved reputation as a thoughtful and collaborative leader.”

Joseph Hill

Cone Health names chief equity officer

Joseph Hill has been named the chief culture, equity and belonging officer of Cone Health in North Carolina.

He brings more than 20 years of leadership in DEI work.

Hill previously served as senior vice president and chief diversity officer at Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. He also served as the vice president and chief diversity officer at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Cone Health includes four acute care hospitals, a behavioral health facility, a health plan, and an accountable care organization

Risant Health, a subsidiary of Kaiser Permanente, plans to acquire Cone Health.