Kathryn Correia will step down as president and CEO of Legacy Health after nearly six years leading the Portland-based hospital chain.
The retirement announcement came after Correia had been on medical leave for months, the length of which had sparked speculation that a transition could be on the way.
Legacy will bring back its well-respected former President and CEO, George Brown, a former physician, to succeed Correia, taking over full-time by July 1, according to a press release. Until then, Chief Financial Officer Anna Loomis — who has been there almost as long as Correia and who was serving as acting CEO while Correia was on leave—will continue to lead the system. She then is leaving Legacy to take a job with another, unidentified health system.
Legacy's announcement comes after years of financial losses and amid a surge in labor organizing among its employees. Moreover, the system’s management has been exploring a potential merger with Oregon Health & Science University, adding uncertainty to Correia’s future with the system.
In an internal email obtained by The Lund Report shortly before the official announcement, Correia cited difficulties recovering from an injury she suffered last autumn as well as stress from the job.
“When I was injured last autumn, I thought I would quickly bounce back and return to work as I have done before,” she wrote. “However, as often happens when life forces us to pause and reflect, I realized that my normal resiliency was suffering from the accumulated stress of the last four years. So, when I fell, I had no reserves upon which to heal, and my recuperation took a long time, and in fact, is still ongoing.”
Correia continued that she wanted to return to her job but reconsidered after an unidentified “friend” suggested that retirement might be a better option. She wrote that, “Upon reflection, I came to terms with that although this is not how I wanted to end my career, it would be unwise and unfair to the organization, to my family, and importantly to myself to resume the president and CEO position without the strength that this job requires, and that our employees deserve.”
She wrote that she will retire on June 30.
Legacy issued a press release Wednesday announcing Correia's retirement and its transition plan, noting that Correia will serve in an advisory capacity until her retirement.
Charles Wilhoite, chair of the Board of Legacy Health, praised Correia for leading the hospital system during what he described as a challenging time that included the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are confident that Dr. Brown is the right person to lead at this time, as we build on our recent efforts to strengthen Legacy’s financial and operating position and enhance the level of care we provide for our patients,” he said in the statement.
What follows is a copy of Correia’s announcement:
Legacy colleagues,
Today, I am writing to share with you that I will be retiring from Legacy Health on June 30.
This was not an easy decision for me. I truly love working in healthcare — but while I was on medical leave, I had an opportunity to reflect on my career and my tenure at Legacy. When I was injured last autumn, I thought I would quickly bounce back and return to work as I have done before. However, as often happens when life forces us to pause and reflect, I realized that my normal resiliency was suffering from the accumulated stress of the last four years. So, when I fell, I had no reserves upon which to heal, and my recuperation took a long time, and in fact, is still ongoing.
I wanted to come back, but a friend asked me if, in fact, retirement would not be a better decision for me. Upon reflection, I came to terms with that although this is not how I wanted to end my career, it would be unwise and unfair to the organization, to my family, and importantly to myself to resume the president and CEO position without the strength that this job requires, and that our employees deserve.
It has been an incredible six years, and I am fortunate to have worked alongside, and received care from, such dedicated and passionate colleagues who embody Legacy’s mission and continue to rise to the many challenges facing the healthcare industry each day. We are all here because we care about our patients, and that is what makes Legacy special and what has made leading this organization such an immense privilege.
I want you all to know that I have the utmost confidence in Legacy. I know that this organization will continue to thrive in its next chapter, advancing Legacy’s commitment to high-quality care across our communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Over the next few months, I look forward to working closely with our leadership team, Senior Vice Presidents, and Hospital Presidents in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition.
Shortly, you will receive an email from the Chair of Legacy’s Board of Directors, Charles Wilhoite, who will share more information about the Board’s process for selecting a new president and CEO. We will also announce the news of my retirement publicly, but I felt it was important to let you all know ahead of time.
As I prepare to step away from Legacy, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for every one of you. Your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care to our communities has inspired me every day. The incredible work we have accomplished together is a testament to the strength of our teams, and I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved.
Thank you all for your excellent work and commitment to providing exceptional care to our communities — it has been an honor to work alongside you.
Sincerely,
Kathryn
Jake Thomas is the legislative reporter for The Lund Report, an independent, nonprofit online news site dedicated to in-depth coverage of Oregon’s health care industry. You can reach him at jake@thelundreport.org or on X @jakethomas2009. This article is published with permission of The Lund Report. Read more stories at thelundreport.org .
Most Popular
Comments / 0