MED MOVES: Rochester Regional Health announces new CEO, and more

Richard Davis

Rochester Regional Health announces new CEO

Richard “Chip” Davis has been named the next CEO of Rochester Regional Health in New York. He’ll assume his new position March 7, 2022.

Davis succeeds Eric Bieber, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Davis was selected after a national search, the health system said.

“I am very excited to become the next CEO at Rochester Regional Health and look forward to working with all team members, the provider community, and patients and family members to continue the legacy of excellence during these challenging times,” Davis said in a statement.

He has been a leader in the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. He serves as senior vice president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System’s South Market and Henry Ford Hospital.

Doug Harrison

Before joining Henry Ford, Davis spent more than 25 years with Johns Hopkins Medicine in a variety of roles, including president and CEO of Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C.

West Virginia University Health System makes changes

The West University Health System has shifted a few leadership roles. Albert L. Wright, Jr., the system’s president and CEO, outlined the changes in an announcement to staff last week.

Doug Harrison, CEO at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, is adding some responsibilities. He will also be taking over as CEO of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital.

David Hess is leaving Reynolds Memorial Hospital to become the full-time CEO of WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital. He had been CEO of Reynolds since 2016 and took on duties as CEO of Uniontown earlier this year. Now, he’ll focus solely on Uniontown.

Michael Grace will serve as president of J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital beginning in January. He will continue in his role as chief administrative officer for the WVU Health System.

Louis Roe has been named president and CEO of Braxton County Memorial Hospital and Summersville Regional Medical Center. He had been serving in an interim capacity since July.

Eleze Armstrong

Doctors Hospital of Manteca selects chief executive

Eleze Armstrong has been named the new CEO of Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Calif.

She’ll take the position on Jan. 3. The hospital is part of Tenet Healthcare.

Armstrong succeeds Murali Naidu, who has been appointed as the new CEO of Emanuel Medical Center, Tenet’s sister hospital in Turlock, Calif. He will serve as CEO of both hospitals until Armstrong begins her duties.

“Eleze is an accomplished healthcare executive with excellent hospital leadership experience,” Warren Kirk, CEO of Tenet’s Northern California Group, said in a statement. “She will be an outstanding addition to our team and will help us build upon the great work already taking place at Doctors Hospital of Manteca for our patients and community.”

Armstrong has been chief operating officer of Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, a Tenet hospital in San Luis Obispo, Calif., since 2018.

She previously served as the chief strategy officer at Twin Cities Community Hospital. She started at Twin Cities in 2010, where she was director of imaging and cardiovascular services and later as market director of neuroscience services.

Jessica O'Neal

Medical City Las Colinas hires new CEO

Jessica O’Neal has been named CEO of Medical City Las Colinas, based in Irving, Texas.

She has served as CEO of Medical City Children’s Hospital and Medical City Women’s Hospital Dallas since 2018.

Before joining Medical City Healthcare, O’Neal was the chief operating officer of HCA Healthcare’s West Florida Hospital in Pensacola. She previously served as vice president of operations and chief operating officer of Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

“Jessica has a proven track record of strategic leadership and dedication to compassionate, patient-centered care certain to benefit patients,” Erolf Akdamar, president of Medical City Healthcare, said in a statement.

Elizabeth Wise

“With more than 15 years of healthcare experience, I am confident that Jessica will lead Medical City Las Colinas to the next level of healthcare excellence,” he said.

Upper Chesapeake Health announces new CEO

Elizabeth Wise has been named president and CEO of University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health. She’ll take the post Jan. 10, 2022.

Since 2017, Wise has served as president of Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono and senior vice president of operations for the Lehigh Valley Health Network, which includes Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City and the Pocono hospital. She was named president of the Dickson City hospital in 2020 and president of the North Region in 2021. She was hailed as a key contributor in the expansion of the Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Jason Carter

"I believe that we should put the patient at the center of every decision that we make,” said Wise. “I am joining an organization with a focus on high quality, patient-centered care and a highly collaborative and dedicated board of directors and leadership team. I look forward to being part of the Harford County community and working with colleagues at Upper Chesapeake Health and the University of Maryland Medical System in this next chapter of the organization’s rich history."

Wise succeeds Lyle Sheldon, who has been president and CEO of Upper Chesapeake Health for 26 years. He announced his plans to retire earlier this year.

Baltimore Washington Medical Center names COO

Jason Carter has been named senior vice president and chief operating officer of the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

Carter previously served as associate vice president for clinical operations at Wake Forest Baptist Health in High Point, N.C. Before joining Wake Forest Baptist Health, Carter held executive positions in other hospital settings.

He also previously held human resources positions in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors.

"UM BWMC has had an impressive evolution from a community hospital to a regional medical center providing top tier care," Carter said in a statement. "This evolution is exciting, and I look forward to building on this track record of success."