ST. LOUIS – SSM Health Care has named Chris Howard president/chief executive officer of SSM Health Care – St. Louis. Howard replaces Jim Sanger who retired in December 2011. He will oversee the mission, vision and strategic focus for an integrated health care network of seven hospitals, 2,500 physicians and more than 11,200 employees with a net revenue base that exceeds $1 billion. Howard also is a regional president/system vice president for SSM Health Care – St. Louis.
Howard, 47, formerly served as regional president/system vice president of SSM
Health Care of Oklahoma. He has been in health care for 23 years, specializing in physician relations, and 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/chief executive officer 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.”
Howard began his career with SSM Health Care as vice president of 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 Health Care, 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 a fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives and served on the Oklahoma Hospital Association Board of Directors. He was most recently appointed to the Missouri Hospital Association board and the St. Louis Regional Health Commission.
About SSM Health Care – St. Louis
SSM Health Care – St. Louis’ mission statement — “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God” — is embodied by 11,000 employees and 2,500 staff physicians. Sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, the health care network offers comprehensive health care services, but specializes in heart, cancer, neurosciences, pediatrics, weight-loss, sleep, imaging, behavioral health, rehab and fetal surgery. A winner of the Missouri Quality Award and multiple Best Places to Work awards, SSM Health Care – St. Louis includes seven hospitals ― Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, DePaul Health Center, St. Clare Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center – Wentzville, St. Joseph Hospital West and St. Mary’s Health Center ― a free-standing ambulatory care center (St. Joseph Medical Park), plus a Managed Care Organization (MCO), and a Physicians' Organization (PO). Go to www.ssmhealth.com for more information.
For media inquires only, contact:
Kristen Johnson
Media Relations Specialist
SSM Health Care – St. Louis
314-989-2208 (office)
314-908-0225 (pager)
kristen_johnson@ssmhc.com