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After nearly 10 years in the position, Gwen MacKenzie will be stepping down next month as president & CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, the hospital has announced. MacKenzie will be returning to her home state to assume a leadership role with the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health system," Ascension Health, where she will have oversight of the organization's Michigan Ministries, a news release points out. MacKenzie will remain at Sarasota Memorial through the month of May. She will start her new job on June 1, the release adds. In the latter role, MacKenzie will be responsible for the administrative direction, strategic posi- tioning and operations of Ascension Health's five health systems in Michigan — Borgess Health, Genesys Health System, St. John Providence Health System, St. Joseph Health System and St. Mary's of Michigan –— which collectively have 31,000 employees and more than 150,000 patient discharges and 4 million outpatient visits throughout the state, the release notes. "Sarasota Memorial is a very special organiza- tion with outstanding doctors and staff, and it's been an honor to serve this community," MacKenzie said in the release. "It will be hard to leave so many good friends and colleagues." Marguerite Malone, chairwoman of the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, announced MacKenzie's resignation to staff and physicians on Wednesday, April 23, the release points out. The board has appointed Sarasota Memorial Chief Operating Officer (COO) David Verinder as interim CEO, effec- tive June 1. Verinder joined Sarasota Memorial in 2006 as chief financial officer and has served as COO since 2010, the release adds. "Thanks to Gwen's outstanding leadership and vision, she is leaving Sarasota Memorial in an exceptionally strong position, from both a quality and financial perspective," Malone said in the release. Since joining Sarasota Memorial in 2005, MacKenzie "has successfully implemented numerous patient care and operational improvements," the release continues. "Indeed, the organization has been repeat- edly honored by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (Magnet designation), [U.S. News & World Report], Thomson Reuters, HealthGrades and numerous other national organizations for our excellent care and robust operational performance," it adds. "The organization's positive financial results paved the way for bond-rating upgrades and our $250 million campus improvement proj- ect," it notes. MacKenzie "also led the organization through a period of unprecedented growth and improved access to care, opening seven outpatient cen- ters in the past nine years, including Sarasota Memorial's freestanding Emergency Room and Health Care Center in the medically under- served community of North Port," it says. SARASOTA MEMORIAL CEO ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION AS OF JUNE 1 Gwen MacKenzie/Photo contributed by Sarasota Memorial Hospital Sarasota News Leader April 25, 2014 Page 70