The health system's current chief operating
officer brings 30 years of experience, including eight with
Providence.
RENTON,
Wash., July 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Providence St. Joseph Health Board of Directors today announced
that Providence Chief Operating
Officer Erik Wexler has been named
the health system's next president and chief executive officer.
Effective Jan. 1, 2025, Wexler will
succeed Rod Hochman, M.D., who
recently announced his retirement after 45 years in health
care, including 17 with the Providence family of organizations. The timely
selection of a new CEO speaks to Providence's commitment to continuous review
and development of internal talent and succession planning,
ensuring continuity and an orderly transition of
leadership.
"With his unwavering commitment to the Mission and more than 30
years of experience in health care, Erik is the right person to
inspire and empower Providence
caregivers, medical staff and community partners to continue to
build on our vision of Health for a Better World," said
Providence Board Chair
Michael Murphy. "Erik will be
surrounded by one of the strongest senior leadership teams in
health care, and we are excited to build on our momentum as we
transform and expand access to care, especially for those who are
poor and vulnerable."
As COO, Wexler has been responsible for operational oversight
and strategy for Providence,
working to ensure access to a portfolio of vital, high-quality and
affordable services while also driving many of the organization's
transformation strategies. Erik has:
- Led the successful integration of Providence St. Joseph Health
in California through a unified
executive team, resulting in a common brand and laying the
foundation for a clinically integrated network and expansion of
value-based care. Value-based care now represents 35% of total net
operating revenue in the region, doubling covered lives to over
800,000.
- Completed an innovative joint venture with Cedars-Sinai Health
System to rebuild Tarzana Medical Center, now co-branded as
Providence Cedars-Sinai and resulted in co-investment by
Cedars-Sinai for the new hospital tower and campus infrastructure.
Rather than competing, the two health systems now collaborate on
clinical excellence, program development, and ambulatory care
within the community.
- Drove forward social issues aligned with our values, including
forming the first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council in
California; helping implement
Providence's $50 million commitment to health equity efforts;
championing legislation to address workplace violence and caregiver
burnout; reducing climate impacts and more.
"I joined Providence in 2016
because I felt a deep personal calling to the organization's
Mission, values and promise," said Wexler. "I feel incredibly
honored to serve and lead an organization of compassionate
caregivers and physicians who are deeply committed to improving the
health of our communities. I want to thank Dr. Hochman for his
mentorship and Providence St. Joseph Health Sponsors Council and
board for their confidence in me. I'm honored and humbled as I
begin this new journey as Providence's next president and CEO."
"Erik has dedicated his entire career to making health care
better for patients and caregivers," said Dr. Hochman. "Erik's
focus on Mission and his track record of successful transformation
through collaboration will serve Providence well, and I am thrilled that he has
answered the call to serve as our next president and
CEO."
Judy Marvin, M.D., chair of the
Providence Medical Group board, added, "Erik understands the
importance of partnering with clinicians. He is committed to making
Providence the best place to
practice medicine and to ensuring our physicians are well supported
in meeting the needs of patients. We look forward to working with
Erik as we continue to deliver on the quadruple aim of improving
quality, access, affordability and experience."
Before becoming COO, Wexler served as president of operations
and strategy for Providence's
southern region, and earlier as regional chief executive for
Providence Southern California. Wexler's past leadership roles
outside of Providence have
included chief executive for Tenet Healthcare's Northeast Region,
overseeing operations in three states. He also worked for Vanguard
Health Systems, and prior to that was senior vice president of
LifeBridge Health and President of Northwest Hospital.
Wexler serves on the American Hospital Association's Regional
Policy Board No. 9; is a member of the Board of Directors of the
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; a board member of R1; and
serves on the FBI Healthcare Advisory Council. He earned his
bachelor's degree in sociology and master's in business
administration from the University of
Hartford in Connecticut and
holds an Honorary Doctor of Science from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences.
"Throughout his career, Erik has consistently demonstrated that
he is a leader who is passionate about addressing the most pressing
issues in health care today: serving the poor and vulnerable,
ensuring financial sustainability, addressing caregiver burnout,
mitigating climate impacts and so much more," said Rick Pollack, CEO of the American Hospital
Association. "Providence's
leadership on those key issues is vital. We are excited to partner
with Erik as he assumes this new role and continues Providence's legacy of service and national
leadership."
About Providence
Providence is a not-for-profit
Catholic health system and one of the nation's largest health
systems, comprising a diverse family of organizations and driven by
a belief that health is a human right. With 51 hospitals, over
1,000 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing, and
many other health and educational services, the health system and
its partners employ more than 122,000 caregivers serving
communities across seven states – Alaska, California, Montana, New
Mexico, Oregon,
Texas, and Washington, with system offices in
Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif. Learn about our vision of
health for a better world at Providence.org.
CONTACT:
Michael Connors
+1 716.481.8162
Michael.Connors@providence.org
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SOURCE Providence