MED MOVES: HCA Healthcare hospital in Virginia names CEO, and more

Beth Matish has been named the new chief executive officer of Johnston-Willis Hospital, an HCA Healthcare facility.

Beth Matish

HCA Virginia announced Matish’s appointment as CEO of the Richmond, Va. hospital this month. She took the post beginning on Aug. 29.

Before joining Johnston-Willis Hospital, Matish had been serving as the chief executive officer of Retreat Doctors’ Hospital since 2016. She was credited with building a urology center, developing a robotics program and expanding mental health services.

She had been part of the senior leadership team for Henrico Doctors’ Hospitals for 20 years. Matish also served as the chief operating officer at Parham Doctors’ Hospital.

Dr. William Lunn, the chief executive officer of Chippenham and Johnston-Willis Hospitals, hailed Matish’s success in several areas.

“She is a proven leader who is known for consistently high scores in both inpatient satisfaction and employee engagement,” Lunn said in a statement. “She is a proven leader who is known for consistently high scores in both inpatient satisfaction and employee engagement.

• Read more: Intermountain Healthcare names interim leader

Tracie Morris

BHSH announces new chief people officer

Tracie Morris has been named the new chief people officer of the BHSH System in Michigan.

The BHSH System, formed by the merger of Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health, operates 22 hospitals. Morris will start in the new role on Sept. 11.

Morris will be tasked with developing innovative strategies to help recruit and retain people and improve staff well-being.

She said she was looking forward to her new role.

“The future of work is evolving and it is exciting to be on the BHSH System team to envision new ways of working and preparing for how to best support talent in the integrated delivery of health care and coverage,” Morris said in a statement. “I look forward to championing the strategies and supporting leaders so that team members and clinicians can do their best work.”

Before joining the BHSH System, Morris worked at BMO Financial Group, where she has served as the senior vice president, chief human resources officer and chief inclusion officer since 2019. During her 30-year career, she has led talent strategy and the execution of inclusion and talent programs.

Tina Freese Decker, president & CEO, BHSH System, said in a statement that Morris is well suited for the position.

“Tracie shares our passion for a high-performing culture and investing in our people,” Decker said. “She, working with our teams, will be integral as we reimagine our workforce and workplace, ensuring we are realizing our mission. Tracie has the vision and experience to make an immediate and positive impact for our teams, organization and communities.”

Jeff Carrier

Baptist Health hires president of western region

Jeff Carrier has been hired as the new president of the Baptist Health Western Region, which includes two hospitals and more than 40 outpatient locations in Arkansas.

Carrier said in a statement he’s looking forward to be closer to family members in northwest Arkansas.

“Baptist Health is well-known in the region for being a leader in health care and I’m excited to join the state’s first hospital so that I can help continue that legacy of quality and compassionate care,” Carrier said.

Carrier will oversee Baptist Health’s hospitals in Fort Smith and Van Buren. Baptist Health’s Western Region employs about 1,600 workers.

Carrier, a registered nurse, brings more than 20 years of experience with him to Baptist Health.

He previously served as president and CEO of Centura Health in Kansas, where he oversaw hospitals and clinics in a three-state region. He spent 12 years in leadership roles at Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri.  Before beginning his healthcare career, he also served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Baptist Health operates 11 hospitals and more than 100 clinics in Arkansas.

Anne Rasmussen

PeaceHealth picks new chief development officer

Anne Rasmussen has been named the PeaceHealth system vice president and chief development officer.

She succeeds Pat Modrzejewski, who is retiring from the role she occupied on an interim basis since 2019.

Rasmussen has been with Washington state’s PeaceHealth since 2012.She has served as the chief development officer for PeaceHealth’s Northwest network since 2016.

Mike Dwyer, PeaceHealth’s executive vice president of strategy and community health, said Rasmussen will be taking a key position in the organization.

“Philanthropy plays a critical role in our evolution as a person-first, community-centered organization,” Dwyer said in a statement. “As the system vice president and chief development officer, Anne will lead the philanthropic work of PeaceHealth, supporting our community Foundations by leading initiatives for planned giving, major donor gifts and research, private grant development and corporate relations.”

Based in Vancouver, Washington, PeaceHealth, is a non-profit Catholic health system serving communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth operates 10 medical centers and employs 16,000 caregivers throughout the northwest.

Amy Whitaker

Mercyhealth appoints VP of supply chain

Amy Whitaker has been named Mercyhealth’s vice president of supply chain.

She joins Mercyhealth after serving as vice president of supply chain clinical transformation at Bon Secours Mercy Health in Cincinnati. She also served as director of supply chain at Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg, Va., and as regional director, clinical supply chain and value analysis at Premier in Charlotte, N.C.

Before entering supply chain roles, Whitaker worked as a nurse for 14 years.

Whitaker said she’s looking forward to her new position.

“I was originally drawn to Mercyhealth’s mission, vision and values, as they align with me,” Whitaker said in a statement.

“Once I had the pleasure of meeting so many partners within Mercyhealth, I knew Mercyhealth was the perfect fit for me," she said. "It is apparent that Mercyhealth partners treat each other like family while striving for excellence. I’m very excited to become a part of such an extraordinary health system.”

John Showalter

Linus Health hires first chief product officer

John Showalter has been hired as the inaugural chief product officer of Linus Health.

Based in Boston, Linus Health is a digital health company focused on brain health. A primary care physician, Showalter will help lead the company’s clinical and data science efforts to produce solutions for the healthcare delivery and life sciences markets, Linus Health said in a news release.

Linus Health launched a digital platform to help primary care providers detect and treat cognitive disorders.

Showalter previously served as chief product officer at Jvion, a leader in clinical AI solutions. He also spent a decade at academic medical centers, most recently holding executive positions at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. At UMMC, he served as chief medical informatics officer and then as chief health information officer.

“My experience implementing new technology as a health system leader gave me a passion for digital innovation that has the potential to advance clinical care standards and impact millions of people,” Showalter said in a statement. “With its compelling mission, platform, and team, Linus Health stood out to me as a company positioned to drive a true paradigm shift in brain health and I’m honored to lead the teams crafting the solutions to make that possible.”