Katen-Bahensky to retire as UW Hospital and Clinics CEO

Donna Katen-Bahensky said last week that she will retire this year as CEO of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison.

UW Hospital and Clinics said Ron Sliwinski took over her duties as interim CEO, effective Friday, but Katen-Bahensky's official retirement date is Sept. 1. Sliwinski has been with the academic medical center since 2009, most recently serving as COO.

Eventually, the CEO position for 530-bed UW Hospital and Clinics will be eliminated, the system said, as UW Health restructures its hospital and physician divisions. No details on the system's future executive team were given.

“I am proud of what we have done,” Katen-Bahensky said in a statement. “I feel I have set the stage for this organization to continue its success as a high-performance hospital, an outstanding workplace and an environment where physicians and staff can thrive and grow their careers.”

Katen-Bahensky has led UW Hospital and Clinics since 2008. Before then, she was CEO of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, and COO of Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond.

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