Petasnick stepping down at Froedtert

William Petasnick, the longtime CEO of Froedtert Health in Milwaukee, will step down in July and will be replaced by Catherine Jacobson, the organization's president.

July 1 is the scheduled final day of his 19-year run, which started in 1993. Petasnick remains the vice chairman of Froedtert's board. Froedtert includes the 500-bed hospital, staffed by the faculty of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Officials launched a succession plan 18 months ago to replace Petasnick, 66.

“We've been told to say that he's absolutely not retiring,” Froedtert spokeswoman Carolyn Bellin said.

Petasnick plans to continue working in healthcare by serving on public and private boards and “working with other organizations to help them improve their strategic performance and continuing as a strong advocate for healthcare reform,” according to a Froedtert news release.

“I take satisfaction knowing we have put in place an effective leadership transition plan and that the stride to achieving our long-term vision will not be broken,” Petasnick said in the release. “Cathy Jacobson, as president and CEO, is ready to lead the transformation needed to a more integrated system of care and I am pleased to be in a position to support her as a board member.”

Before Froedtert, Petasnick was deputy director and COO at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He's still an adjunct associate professor of health management at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He served in 2008 as chairman of the board at the American Hospital Association.

Jacobson, 48, joined Froedtert 18 months ago as chief financial and strategy officer. She was promoted in July to president. Before leaving in 2010, she spent 14 years with Rush University Medical School in Chicago, most recently as senior vice president for strategic planning and finance and CFO.