Larry Mathis sees some parallels between one of his first jobs-a captain in the Army during the Vietnam War-and his long career in healthcare management. And the former certainly had a profound effect on the latter."You get bullets shot at you as a CEO," he says. "But luckily they are not the ones that can kill you."Mathis' wartime experiences ultimately helped steer him in an unexpected direction: spending 12 years in various leadership positions at Methodist Health Care System in
FULL STORY »

The plan seems to be working for James Springfield and Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen, Texas.In 2001, a succession plan was set up for Springfield to take over the system from its longtime chief. Springfield was hired as vice president and chief operating officer with the intention that he would take over as president and chief executive officer after Ben McKibbens retired.In early 2003, McKibbens retired after about 25 years at the helm of the system, and
FULL STORY »