St. Joseph’s Hospital CEO resigns

PARKERSBURG - St. Joseph's Hospital is looking for a new chief executive officer for the third time in two years, after the resignation of CEO Alan King, hospital officials announced Wednesday.

The resignation is effective Oct. 31.

"We are truly grateful for Alan's service to St. Joseph's Hospital since he assumed the CEO role there," said Charles R. Miller, CEO of Signature Hospital Corp., St. Joseph's parent company, "St. Joseph's is fortunate to have the support of an outstanding team of dedicated employees and affiliated physicians, and we know that they will be able to continue to provide their usual, excellent patient care. We're also confident about maintaining the momentum to move forward with the many quality initiatives that are underway there."

King said he believes the hospital will continue to operate smoothly during Signature's nationwide search for a replacement.

"This was a difficult personal decision for me, and I have appreciated the support by all the members of the St. Joseph's community. This hospital provides an exceptional level of service to the Mid-Ohio Valley, and I know everyone involved will maintain that service," King said.

Jack Julius will be serving as interim CEO until Signature can find a replacement, hospital officials said Wednesday.

Julius will start Oct. 6 and will be working with King to ensure a smooth transition, hospital officials said. Julius, a 38-year veteran of the healthcare industry has served as an interim hospital CEO at various hospitals and healthcare operations consultant for 20 years.

King was the third St. Joseph's CEO in two years. He was hired in January to succeed John McDowell. McDowell became CEO last year when his predecessor, Patsy Hardy, left to assume other responsibilities with Signature, the hospital's parent company.

Previously, King had been CEO at the Pampa (Texas) Regional Medical Center. McDowell became CEO last year when former CEO Patsy Hardy assumed other responsibilities with Signature.

King is a South Dakota native. He had been CEO at Pampa Regional Hospital in Texas for three years.

The hospital also announced this week that Lynn McCormick, former CEO of Sistersville General Hospital, had been named chief operating officer.

McCormick served at Sistersville General Hospital from 1995-1998 and again starting in 2005. She was responsible for the facility achieving critical access designation and obtaining funding and grants for facility improvements, new services and outreach programs.

She has also served as director of operations for the Ohio University Osteopathic Medical Center and managing director of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. McCormick began her career in health care in the 1970s at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital.