Catholic health system taps CommonSpirit executive as next CEO

Healthcare Dive· Industry Dive

Name: E.J. Kuiper

Previous title: CEO, CommonSpirit Health's Midwest division

New title: President and CEO, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS)

The CommonSpirit executive will take the reins of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Catholic health system May 1, FMOLHS announced Monday. He succeeds Richard Vath, who will retire in June.

Kuiper brings 20 years of experience as a healthcare leader and a “commitment to Catholic healthcare” delivery to the chief executive position, according to the nonprofit health system. In his role, Kuiper will oversee FMOLHS’ nine main campus hospitals and more than 1,100 active medical staff.

Most recently, Kuiper served as CEO of the Midwest Division of CommonSpirit Health, where he was responsible for overseeing 28 hospitals across four states, as well as a clinically integrated network and accountable care organization.

Kuiper previously held leadership roles at Catholic healthcare providers in Illinois — at Hospital Sisters Health System and OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center — according to his LinkedIn.

FMOLHS was assigned a negative credit outlook from S&P Global Ratings in May, after the rating agency determined its operational performance was “deteriorating” on weakened balance sheets and inpatient market share losses.

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