One of Chicago's largest safety net hospital systems Thursday named its choice to replace longtime CEO Alan Channing.
Sinai Health System selected Karen Teitelbaum, current executive vice president and COO for the system, as its next president and CEO, effective July 1.
In March, Channing announced he was retiring after 10 years in the post. During his tenure, he oversaw Sinai's resurgence from a system that was at one time in financial trouble into one of the leading safety net hospital systems in the country with estimated annual revenue of more than $500 million.
“We are very fortunate to have a proven leader in Karen, already profoundly invested in Sinai and the community,” said Gary Niederpruem, chairman of the Sinai Health System board in a written statement. “Her strong healthcare experience and business acumen, coupled with a deep passion for making a difference in the communities we serve, make her the right person to lead Sinai forward during this dynamic period of change and transformation in healthcare delivery.”
Serving predominantly low-income communities on the city's South and West sides, Sinai Health was founded by Jewish immigrants in 1919. Today the system, with 695 licensed beds, includes Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Children's Hospital, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and historically Catholic Holy Cross Hospital, which the system acquired in 2013. A large proportion of the system's patient population is either uninsured or covered by Medicaid.
“We know that quality healthcare has the power to transform communities,” Teitelbaum said in a written release. “What distinguishes Sinai is our work to make lives better by also addressing the nonclinical issues that impact healthcare disparities like access to jobs, interrupting violence and improving neighborhood safety.”
Teitelbaum, 57, has served in her current position since 2007. Her previous work includes strategic planning, medical staff development, and managed-care contracting at teaching and community hospitals. She also previously served as a senior executive for a network of 12 Catholic hospitals. She has worked in marketing for a pharmaceutical company, and led business development and operations for several Chicago area hospitals.
Originally from New York, Teitelbaum earned a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York, and holds a Master of Arts in speech and pathology and a Master of Management degree from Northwestern University.
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