Russ Johnson, LMH Health president and CEO since 2016, plans to retire in August.
Johnson, 66, has served in health care leadership roles for more than 40 years, according to a Tuesday news release from the hospital.
During his time in Lawrence, “LMH Health has expanded services to meet the community’s needs, built and acquired new facilities, invested in leading-edge technology, and formed key partnerships as part of its commitment to remain an independent community hospital,” according to the release.
“More than a hundred years ago, Elizabeth Watkins charged LMH Health to provide care to all, regardless of their circumstances in life or ability to pay. Her commitment continues every day for us,” Johnson said in the release. “Through the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technologists, hundreds of other staff, non-profit partners and donors, our community hospital fulfills this charge, providing more than $40 million in financial assistance and $14 million in uncompensated care for patients each year. I am proud to have worked with these colleagues and to have been a part of that commitment over the last nine years.”
The hospital’s board of trustees will conduct a national search for Johnson’s replacement, and the board is currently interviewing search firms, according to the release.
Beth Llewellyn, a retired health care executive who joined the board of trustees in 2018, will lead the search committee, which will also include physicians and community members, according to the release.
“We are grateful for Russ’ visionary leadership and commitment to the mission of LMH Health,” Dr. Shari Matejka Quick, chair of the LMH Health board of trustees, said in the release. “Being a hospital CEO is a demanding job requiring a highly honed set of skills and the ability to navigate a range of issues every day that are unlike any other industry. Russ led LMH through unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for his service, and we will confidently support him until the end of his tenure.”
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