University Hospitals has appointed Robert G. David as president of UH St. John Medical Center in Westlake, Ohio, effective April 1.
David will lead St. John's growth and integration as a wholly owned hospital in the UH system. Last fall, UH took full ownership of the Catholic hospital, which it co-owned in a 50-50 joint venture with the Sisters of Charity Health System since 1999.
"St. John represents a wonderful opportunity for me from a professional standpoint," David said. "It's a wonderful hospital with a wonderful history of faith-based care."
David has most recently been president of UH Bedford and Richmond medical centers, where he restructured the organization's strategic plan and recruited new physicians.
He takes over for William A. Young Jr., who left to take over as CEO of Southwest Community Health System — the parent organization of Southwest General Health Center and the Southwest Community Health Foundation in Middleburg Heights. A search is underway to fill the vacancy David leaves at UH Bedford and Richmond medical centers.
Though it will be difficult to say goodbye to the great friends and wonderful people he's met working at UH Richmond and Bedford, the transition is the next step in his career, he said.
"St. John medical center has an excellent team of physicians, of nurses, clinicians, staff members, who really have an unwavering commitment to excellence in patient satisfaction and patient care each day," David said.
He plans to focus on patient satisfaction and employee engagement. He wants to hear ideas and suggestions from employees and see how to move them forward, he said.
“Rob has demonstrated his leadership ability throughout his career and complemented University Hospitals' mission, vision and values with his unyielding dedication and service to the growth of our community hospitals,” Richard Hanson, President, University Hospitals Community Hospitals, said in a statement. “Under his stewardship, UH St. John Medical Center will surely continue to grow and thrive.”
David also served as president of UH Conneaut and Geneva medical centers from 2008 through 2013, during which the hospitals earned more than 15 national recognitions for care quality and patient satisfaction. He helped obtain the Critical Access Hospital designation for both facilities from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
"I feel very honored to have been chosen," David said. "And look forward to working with folks — everyone on the Westside, in the Westlake and surrounding communities — I look forward to the opportunity to work with them."
David has been with UH since 1996, when he joined as a senior financial analyst. He was promoted to director of finances at UH Geneva Medical Center in 1997 and assumed the same role at UH Conneaut in 1999.
David received his bachelor's degree in business administration from West Virginia University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Before UH, David worked at KPMG and Lakewood Hospital.
"Robert G. David named president of UH St. John Medical Center" was originally published in Crain's Cleveland Business.