June 24, 2016

Hi Team-

As you know, TriHealth is in the midst of an exciting transformational journey to ensure both our continued success and industry leadership in a rapidly evolving – and much more challenging – healthcare environment.  Guided by our bold, new strategic plan, we are bringing TriHealth together as one fully integrated, high performing system – uniquely positioned to achieve the Triple Aim of improved care, improved health and lower costs for all those we serve.  

Since the adoption of our strategic plan in early March, I have been working closely with our executive leadership team to assess current executive leadership capabilities in light of the new and expanded requirements for managing and leading the complex and transformational work ahead.  In short, this analysis led to agreement that the team’s current, more traditional executive leadership roles and associated responsibilities would need to evolve dramatically.  This presented each executive on our team with the opportunity to evaluate and decide on whether these new responsibilities and expectations remained a good fit with their career interests and desires. As a result of this evaluation, the following executive leadership and organizational decisions have been made:  

• Mike Crofton, TriHealth Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has elected to assume the new role of Vice President of Operational Finance for TriHealth, effective July 5, with primary responsibility for supporting our two regional divisions.  As we conduct a search for our next CFO, Mike Rutherford will serve as Interim CFO beginning on July 5, and will report to me. Mike Rutherford is a senior healthcare professional with a proven leadership track record of financial and operational achievements within large academic medical centers and integrated healthcare systems, including the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Summa Health System and Wake Forest. 
• Donna Nienaber, TriHealth Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer has made the decision to retire following 35 years of very capable service to Bethesda Hospitals and TriHealth.  Donna will continue to work with TriHealth on a consulting basis for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.  Until a new General Counsel is named, Steve Gracey, JD, currently TriHealth Director of Risk Management & Safety, will assume the role of Interim System Director of Legal Service, reporting to me. Steve will work with both our internal legal team and outside counsel to manage TriHealth’s legal affairs. 
• Dee Ellingwood, TriHealth Senior Vice President of Strategy, Communications & Public Affairs has decided to pursue opportunities outside of TriHealth.  As we work with Dee on a transition plan, I will assume executive leadership oversight for these corporate responsibilities. 

We respect the decisions these executive leaders have made, and are extremely grateful for their many important accomplishments and contributions in these roles.  Each has served TriHealth and our patients faithfully and with distinction, and we wish them all the best in their new opportunities and future pursuits. 

We will provide updates on the progress of our search efforts as we have them.  Thank you for all that you do for TriHealth and the community and patients we serve.

- Mark