New CEO at LMH

New CEO Russell W. Johnson

| 2016 Q2 | story by JANICE EARLY, MBA, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Lawrence Memorial Hospital

Gene Meyer hands the keys to Russell W. Johnson

Russell W. Johnson has been named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH), succeeding Gene Meyer, who retired after 19 years. Johnson, 57, comes from the Centura Health system, in Englewood, Colorado, where he most recently served as senior vice president of network development and outreach. He grew up in Merriam, Kansas, graduating from Shawnee Mission Northwest high school, and still has strong family ties to the area.

Cindy Yulich, chairperson of the LMH Board of Trustees, says trustees are gratified that the extensive search culminated with Johnson’s selection. “We are extremely pleased to have on board a health-care executive with the leadership skills Russ Johnson demonstrates,” Yulich says. “He is experienced in formulating, communicating and executing strategies for improved patient care, physician engagement, operating effectiveness and community partnerships. As importantly, his character and integrity impressed the entire board of trustees.

“His expertise will help lead our organization as we face an increasingly challenging, and exciting, future. We are confident he will build upon the strong foundation established at Lawrence Memorial during Gene Meyer’s tenure and advance the continued vision for LMH to be the best community hospital in the nation.”

LMH launched a national search for a new CEO in August, 2015, following the announcement that Meyer would be retiring in May after serving as CEO for 19 years. The search attracted more than 150 candidates. A board-appointed search committee composed of trustees, physicians and community members has been assisted by the executive search firm of Witt/Kieffer, Oak Brook, Illinois, in narrowing the applicant pool. Andrew Ramirez, of Lathrop and Gage LLP, served as counsel to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Johnson is a seasoned health-care executive with 30 years of successful senior leadership in hospitals and health systems, in both the urban and rural setting. Prior to his present role, Johnson served as CEO for San Luis Valley Health Regional Medical Center, in Alamosa, Colorado, for 12 years.

He began his health-care career in 1984 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he was an assistant administrator and administrative fellow for a 540-bed regional medical center. He also served as vice president of operations for VHA Iowa before returning to the Kansas City area in 1989 to become assistant administrator of operations for Saint Luke’s Northland, a position he held for eight years. He was chief operating officer for Edinburg Regional Medical Center, a 169-bed hospital, in Edinburg, Texas, from 1997 to 2000.

Johnson is active in many professional, civic and community organizations. He served 12 years on the board of directors for the Colorado Hospital Association and was a board member for the American Hospital Association (AHA) for three years. In 2007, he was awarded the AHA’s Shirley Ann Munroe Leadership Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of small or rural hospital leaders who have improved health-care delivery in their communities through innovative and progressive efforts. He also received the Rural Healthcare Excellence Award by the Colorado Rural Health Center in 2007 and was the Colorado AHA Grassroots Champion for 2008.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He received a bachelor’s degree in management and economics from the University of Tulsa, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a master’s degree in health-care administration from Washington University, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Johnson and his wife, Isabel, will be relocating to the Lawrence community in the near future. They have a son, 27, who is in the fine arts program at the University of Colorado, Denver, and a daughter who lives in New York City and is a choreographer and dancer for her own dance company.

Johnson is expected to be on the job by Aug. 1. LMH Chief Operating Officer Karen Shumate will serve as interim CEO from June 1 until his arrival. “The trustees look forward to working with Karen to provide a smooth transition to new leadership and thank her for agreeing to serve in this role,” Yulich says.