Catholic Health East: Latest News

Don McKenna named as St. Mary’s President and CEO

November 25, 2008

Don McKenna, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Health Care System

Newtown Square, PA, Wednesday, November 25, 2008 -- Don McKenna, administrator/chief operating officer of Wuesthoff Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., has been named as the new President and CEO of St. Mary’s Health Care System.

McKenna will start in early January 2009, when Thomas Fitz retires at the end of December after more than nine years at St. Mary’s. McKenna was selected after a nationwide search by St. Mary’s Board of Directors.

“We are very pleased to have Don McKenna join St. Mary’s Health Care System,” said Robert V. Stanek, president and CEO, Catholic Health East, of which St. Mary’s is a member. “Don has extensive experience in health care and a strong commitment to the Mission and Core Values of Catholic Health East and St. Mary’s. He will be a strong leader and a great asset to the entire CHE organization.”

McKenna brings over 20 years of progressive and diverse health care experience to St. Mary’s. Since 2003, he has served as the administrator of Wuesthoff Medical Center Melbourne, a 115-bed, not-for-profit community hospital that is part of a two-hospital system headquartered in Rockledge, Fla. In addition to leading the Melbourne facility, he also managed most of the system’s ancillary businesses, including its skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, hospice and home care services, and imaging center.

Prior to his service at Wuesthoff, McKenna worked for Tenet Healthcare Corporation for over 11 years, serving as chief executive officer of Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River, Fla., and before that, as chief operating officer for North Ridge Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Prior to that, he served as director of managed care/information systems at Tenet’s Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

“My family and I are thrilled to be joining the St. Mary’s community,” said McKenna. “St. Mary’s has a tremendous reputation and I look forward to meeting all the staff and medical staff. It’s a great honor to be entrusted with leading such a fine organization, and I am excited to be given the opportunity to continue to advance St. Mary’s mission and services.”

McKenna earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration as well as his master’s degree in public administration from Long Island University in Brookville, New York. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and he serves as a trustee of the Melbourne/Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce.

St. Mary’s Health Care System encompasses 196-bed St. Mary’s Hospital, the region’s first home health care/hospice service and inpatient hospice house, Oconee Heart and Vascular Center, Highland Hills Village retirement community, and St. Mary’s new Outpatient Diagnostic, Rehab and Wellness Center.

Catholic Health East (CHE), a multi-institutional Catholic health system co-sponsored by 10 religious congregations and Hope Ministries, is based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. CHE provides the means to ensure the continuation of the Catholic identity and operational strength of the sponsors’ health ministries, which are located in 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida. The CHE system includes 35 acute-care hospitals, four long-term acute-care hospitals, 36 free-standing and hospital-based long-term care facilities, 12 assisted-living facilities, five continuing-care retirement communities, seven behavioral-health and rehabilitation facilities, 25 home health/hospice agencies, and numerous ambulatory and community-based health services. More information about CHE is available at www.che.org.

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