ST. LOUIS – SSM Health Care has named Chris Howard president/CEO designate of SSM Health Care-St. Louis, effective September 4. Howard will replace current president/CEO Jim Sanger when he retires at the end of December.
Howard, 47, is currently regional president/system vice president of SSM Health Care of Oklahoma. He has 23 years of experience in health care, specializing in physician relations. He has been with SSM Health Care for 17 years.
“Chris’s talents will serve SSM Health Care-St. Louis well in the coming years,” said SSM Health Care President/COO Bill Thompson. “He is committed to exceptional patient care, and his ability to forge creative relationships with physicians is exactly the kind of leadership that will benefit patients.”
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Howard began his career with SSM Health Care as vice president, physician development and acquisition at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. In 1995, he became executive vice president of SSM Health Care of Oklahoma, and in 2005 he moved to regional president/system vice president of SSM Health Care of Oklahoma.
SSM Health Care of Oklahoma is a health care network that encompasses SSM Health Care facilities in Oklahoma. This includes St. Anthony Hospital and Bone and Joint Hospital at St. Anthony in Oklahoma City, and 19 affiliated hospitals, including Unity Health Center in Shawnee, Purcell Municipal Hospital in Purcell and Newman Memorial Hospital in Shattuck.
Prior to joining SSM, Howard held positions with Healthcare Systems of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Healthcare Corporation (now Integris Health) Baptist Medical Center, both in Oklahoma City.
Howard received a bachelor of arts degree in organizational communication and a master’s in organizational communication, both from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla. He also has a master's degree in health administration from the University of Oklahoma-College of Public Health, Oklahoma City. Howard is also a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives and is on the Oklahoma Hospital Association Board of Directors.
In addition to naming Howard President/CEO designate of SSM Health Care-St. Louis, SSM has also named Joe Hodges, president of St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, interim regional president/system vice president of SSM Health Care of Oklahoma.
About SSM Health Care-St. Louis
With over 11,200 employees and 2,500 staff physicians, SSM Health Care - St. Louis is one of the largest, full-service health care networks in the St. Louis area. SSM Health Care-St. Louis includes seven hospitals, a SSM Managed Care Organization, and a Physicians' Organization with over 150 employed physicians in three medical groups: SSM Medical Group, SSM St. Charles Clinic Medical Group and SSM DePaul Medical Group. Other services include Cardinal Glennon Close to Home pediatric services and SSM Home Care.
About SSM Health Care
SSM Health Care is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system with an international reputation as a pioneer in the use of quality measures to improve care. With 5,400 physicians and 23,000 employees in four states, SSM is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. It is located in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri. In every region, SSM facilities forge creative relationships in the community to foster healthier people and healthier neighborhoods. Through these relationships and at its various sites, SSM serves more than 2 million people annually.
For media inquiries, contact:
Chris Sutton
Corporate Communications Manager
314-994-7886 (office)
chris_sutton@ssmhc.com