The Woodward News

Local News

March 9, 2010

Hospital names interim CEO

Michelle Seeber Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Charles Nasem, chief operating officer at Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, has been named interim CEO at Woodward Regional Hospital (WRH) effective immediately.

The announcement came Monday that Nasem had replaced former CEO Lavah Lowe who resigned last month to accept a position in Poplar Bluff, Mo., her hometown.

Nasem has been involved with hospitals for most of his life and said, "I'm just really passionate about health care."

"I started working in hospitals when I was 17-years-old and have worked in hospitals for 30 years," he said, noting that when he started, he "was working in the warehouse of a big hospital where I grew up in Virginia."

He eventually obtained an undergraduate degree in biology from George Washington University and went on to work with cardiovascular technology.

"In hospitals, we tend to move up," Nasem said, noting that he has spent half his career in hospital administration, including spending the last five years at hospitals in Oklahoma.

He noted that he is excited to be continuing his career in Oklahoma by serving as the interim CEO at Woodward Regional Hospital.

“I really like Woodward," he said, noting he has "worked in towns about this size" and understands how important hospitals are in smaller communities.

"Hospitals are a cornerstone in small communities. It’s different in Oklahoma City; there are seven hospitals," Nasem said. "Everyone in Woodward supports Woodward Regional Hospital and that makes it fun."

Monday was Nasem's first day on the job and he noted that he will "meet with management teams the first week and get to know the hospital and community to learn what they do great, and where there’s opportunity for growth.  I look forward to doing that this week."

Members of the hospital's board of directors are looking forward to meeting Nasem as well, including WRH Board Chairman Roscoe Hill, who said, “I have an appointment to meet him (today).”

Hill noted Nasem would be at the hospital until Community Health Systems (CHS) finds a permanent CEO.

CHS, which owns Woodward Regional Hospital, is an operator of acute care hospitals in non-urban markets located throughout the United States. CHS also owns Deaconess Hospital in Oklahoma City, Hill said.

“He’s not our final guy,” Hill said. “He’ll just run this hospital until they find a new one. (But) he’ll probably be here a month or two."

During that time, Nasem said he still hopes to work on "improving the hospital here in Woodward . . . so it best meets the needs of the community."

“We appreciate Charles’ assistance during the transition while the search for a new CEO is underway. We’re hopeful that the right candidate will be identified quickly,” Hill stated in a press release.  “However, more important than a quick selection is finding the right person who will be a good fit for our hospital and our community for the long-term."

According to the release, a national search for a new administrator is ongoing, and senior management, board and medical staff leaders will be involved in the selection.

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