Northwestern appoints new hospital and medical group presidents

Julie Creamer has been named president of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and Dr. Howard Chrisman has been named president of Northwestern Medical Group, which includes doctors in the Greater Chicago area.

Both Creamer, 57, and Chrisman, 50, began their new roles on Oct. 12. They replace former hospital President Rick Gannotta and former medical group President Dr. David Mahvi.

The hospital and medical group operate under Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, which is affiliated with the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Creamer and Chrisman will report to the system's CEO, Dean Harrison.

Creamer, a nurse by background, has served on Northwestern Memorial HealthCare's senior leadership team since 1996. She most recently served as senior vice president of administration for the health system and chief transformation executive for Northwestern Medical Group, and has also served as Northwestern Memorial Hospital's chief nurse executive.

Chrisman, an interventional radiologist, has been a physician with Northwestern since 1997, most recently as vice president of clinical operations for Northwestern Medical Group. A professor of radiology and surgery in the medical school, he also serves as vice chairman for clinical operations for the department of radiology and vice president of the regional medical practice for the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation.

Northwestern Memorial HealthCare reported a $60.4 million operating surplus in unaudited results for the quarter ended May 31, up 11% from the same period the prior year, mostly due to increased expenses. Revenue was $972.2 million, up 57% from the same time last year, thanks to its 2014 acquisition of Cadence Health.