Who: Sandra Bruce, 69
Retiring as: President and CEO of Presence Health, roles she has held since the Chicago-based system was created through the November 2011 merger of Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care. Presence is the largest Catholic healthcare system based in Illinois. She will step down at the end of the year.
Previous roles: Bruce was president and CEO at Resurrection Health for three years before Presence was formed. Before working at faith-based hospitals, she was the first female CEO to be appointed at Berrien General Hospital in Berrien Center, Mich., and the youngest, at age 29.
Working at faith-based hospitals: “There's a deep desire to make sure that we are assisting people who are on the margin. Whether you're in a public hospital or a faith-based hospital, everyone will have equal access to quality care. I think there's a good future for faith-based healthcare because in many ways, at least in Catholic healthcare, it is getting back to its roots.” Bruce has served on the boards of the Catholic Health Association and the Illinois Catholic Health Association.
Proposed cuts to Medicaid in Illinois: “These are huge dramatic moves that we are making with Medicaid, and we have to make sure that (Republic Gov. Bruce Rauner's) administration understands the implications of those moves. They go beyond cutting dollars.”
