Vermont Business Magazine The CEO of Northwestern Medical Center is leaving for a job in Kentucky. NMC and ScionHealth have announced that CEO Dr Dean French has accepted a position at the Louisville-based health system. This August, Dr French will become the Chief Medical Officer at ScionHealth, a 79-hospital healthcare system spread across 25 states.
In a statement to staff and medical staff, NMC Board President Jake Holzscheiter said that although this change was unexpected, the Board of Directors is pleased with the dramatic progress NMC has made in the past year and a half under Dr. French’s leadership. He was named NMC CEO in October 2020.
“Prior to the hiring of Dr. French, NMC went through a very broad and thorough process of defining what NMC should be,” said Holzscheiter. “That led to a strategic focus on improving safety, quality, and financial sustainability. Great 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 shared goals that we all believe in,” he said.
The NMC Board of Directors will meet to define the process for recruiting a new CEO. The hospital will seek a leader with the strength and experience to help NMC continue to move forward on its strategic path.
Dr. French is an experienced physician executive, having previously served as Chief Medical Officer for multiple hospitals. He also has a long track record of operational and financial success as a hospital CEO.
In its announcement, ScionHealth said that Dr French is uniquely qualified for this important position with ScionHealth based on his nearly 20 years of outstanding experience in transformational and collaborative leadership in hospitals and health systems nationwide.
"We are confident that Dr. French's strong history of medical leadership and extensive C-suite experience will enhance ScionHealth's ability to pursue innovative quality and clinical improvements in order to exceed the expectations of our patients, business partners, payors and the communities we serve," said Mr. Rob Jay, Chief Executive Officer of ScionHealth. "His impressive background, knowledge of all aspects of the healthcare industry, and passion for patient care reflects our commitment to strong, compassionate clinical and physician leadership."
Dr. French received a doctorate of medicine from the University of Washington School of Medicine and a bachelor's degree 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. Prior to becoming a physician, Dr. French served in the U.S. Army Special Forces.
On top of his professional experience, he has served as a board member for a range of organizations, most recently including the Vermont Association of Hospitals, OneCare Vermont and the Missoula Economic Partnership.
"I am excited to join ScionHealth in its early days and look forward to contributing to a culture that focuses on people first, while also seeking to harness innovation and technology to improve quality outcomes and the patient experience for our country's most vulnerable populations," said Dr. French. "I am eager to work closely with our talented and dedicated team members to build a lasting legacy of providing the highest quality integrated care for the patients and families who place their trust in us."
Sources: LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ScionHealth. Northwestern Medical Center. St. Albans. https://www.northwesternmedicalcenter.org/
