Catholic Health East: Latest News

Executive Vice President of Strategy and Ministry Development Appointed at Catholic Health East

January 2, 2006

Sr. Kathleen Popko

Catholic Health East (CHE), one of the nation's leading Catholic healthcare systems, announced the recent appointment of Sister Kathleen Popko, as CHE's Executive Vice President, Strategy and Ministry Development. In this position, Popko is responsible for pursuing ministry growth and identifying, piloting and disseminating innovative approaches and strategies across the CHE System. In addition, she will oversee CHE's Strategy Development, Internal Audit, and Corporate Compliance functions.

"Sister Kathleen is an outstanding choice for this newly created position. Her years of experience as Executive Vice President for our Northeast Division, combined with the depth and breadth of her hospital leadership and congregation experience, will benefit us as we lead our healthcare ministry into the future," said Robert Stanek, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health East.

Sr. Kathleen's impressive career in nursing, research, planning, and healthcare administration spans more than 30 years. She began her career in health care in 1969 as a staff nurse and team leader at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, MA and as Assistant Administrator for planning at Mercy Hospital from 1975 to 1981. She also served as Vice President of the Sisters of Providence Congregation from 1981 to 1985, during which time she was Project Director for the creation of the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS). While President of the Sisters of Providence Congregation from 1985 to 1993, she also served as Chair of the Board of SPHS. Sr. Kathleen became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sisters of Providence Health System from 1994 to 1997 and was instrumental in SPHS joining with Eastern Mercy Health System and the Allegany Health System to form Catholic Health East. She has served as President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Chairperson of the Board of Consolidated Catholic Health Care and The McAuley Housing Institute, and as member of numerous boards including the Board of the Catholic Health Association.

Since 1997, in her role as Executive Vice President, Sr. Kathleen has provided support and oversight for CHE's Northeast Division, with healthcare facilities located in the states of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. Sr. Kathleen earned a B.S. in Nursing from Marillac College in St. Louis, MO, and a M.S.W. and a Ph.D. in Social Policy from Brandeis University's Florence Heller Graduate School for Advanced Studies in Social Policy in Waltham, MA. While there, she was a research associate for the Levinson Gerontological Policy Institute and an Adjunct Assistant Professor. Sr. Kathleen also authored a book on the implications of regulatory controls on community hospitals.

Catholic Health East is a multi-institutional Catholic health system, which is co-sponsored by 15 religious congregations and Hope Ministries, a Public Juridic Person within Catholic Health East. Based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, the System provides the means to ensure the continuation of the Catholic identity and operational strength of the Sponsors' health ministries, which are located within 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida.

The System includes acute care hospitals, free-standing and hospital-based skilled nursing facilities, residential facilities, free-standing behavioral health and rehabilitation facilities, and numerous ambulatory and community based health services. Catholic Health East facilities employ approximately 43,000 full time employees as partners in ministry.

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