Vermont Business Magazine The CEO of Northwestern Medical Center leaves for a job in Kentucky. NMC and ScionHealth announced that CEO Dr. Dean French has accepted a position with the Louisville-based health system. Next August, Dr. French will become the chief medical officer of ScionHealth, a health system of 79 hospitals in 25 states.
In a statement to staff and medical staff, NMC Chairman of the Board, Jake Holzscheiter, said that while this change is unexpected, the board is pleased with the dramatic progress NMC has made over the last year and a half under the direction of Dr. French. He was appointed CEO of NMC in October 2020.
“Before Dr. French was hired, NMC went through a very broad and thorough process to define what NMC should be,” Holzscheiter said. “This has led to a strategic focus on improving safety, quality and financial viability. Excellent work has been done and our direction remains unchanged. We are confident that NMC is in a good position to continue the work on these common goals that we all believe in,” he said.
The NMC Board of Directors will meet to define the recruitment process for a new CEO. The hospital will be looking for a leader with the strength and experience to help NMC continue to move forward on its strategic path.
Dr. French is an experienced executive physician, having previously served as Chief Medical Officer in several hospitals. He also has a long track record of operational and financial success as a hospital CEO.
In its announcement, ScionHealth said Dr. French is uniquely qualified for this important position at ScionHealth based on his nearly 20 years of exceptional experience providing transformational and collaborative leadership in hospitals and healthcare systems in national scale.
“We are confident that Dr. French’s strong medical leadership background and extensive C-suite experience will enhance ScionHealth’s ability to pursue innovative quality and clinical improvements to exceed our patient expectations, business partners, payers and the communities we serve,” said Mr. Rob Jay, CEO of ScionHealth. “His impressive background, knowledge of all aspects of the healthcare industry, and passion for patient care reflect our commitment to strong and compassionate clinical and medical leadership.”
Dr. French earned an MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine and a BSc in Microbiology with honors from the University of Arizona. He is a family physician and has worked as a rural primary care physician, hospitalist, and emergency department physician. Before becoming a doctor, Dr. French served in the US Army Special Forces.
In addition to his professional experience, he has served as a board member for various organizations, including the Vermont Association of Hospitals, OneCare Vermont, and the Missoula Economic Partnership.
“I am thrilled to join ScionHealth in its early stages and look forward to contributing to a culture that focuses on people first, while seeking to harness innovation and technology to improve quality outcomes and patient experience for our nation’s most vulnerable populations,” said Dr. French. “I look forward to working closely with the talented and dedicated members of our team to build a lasting legacy of providing the highest quality integrated care to the patients and families who trust us.”
Sources: LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ScionHealth. Northwest Medical Center. Saint Albans. https://www.northwesternmedicalcenter.org/
