Print Issue: August 22, 2002

Saint Joseph's Health System Announces Bonnie Phipps As New CEO

ATLANTA - Bonnie Phipps, chief executive officer of Promina Health System, has accepted the position of president and CEO for Saint Joseph's Health System. Phipps will begin her new leadership role on Sept. 3.

Saint Joseph's Health System, a member of Catholic Health East and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, includes 346-bed Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, the city's oldest hospital; Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services, which serves metro-Atlanta's homeless, uninsured and immigrant populations; and Saint Joseph's Foundation, the fund-raising organization for the hospital and Mercy Care Services.

Prior to accepting the role as CEO for Promina in July 2001, after the retirement of Bernie Brown, Phipps was chief executive officer of Promina's managed care division. Before joining Promina in 1996, she was the chief financial officer of DeKalb Regional Healthcare System.

"Saint Joseph's is experiencing excellent growth right now, so I am not going to go in and immediately make major changes," Phipps said. "But health care is a dynamic arena that changes rapidly, and I am excited about working with Catholic Health East and the Sisters of Mercy, as well as Saint Joseph's excellent community-based medical staff and award-winning nurses, to continue the health system's success."

Saint Joseph's is currently expanding its Mercy Care Services which just moved into new headquarters and opened a primary care clinic downtown across from King Memorial MARTA station, and there have been improvements to the hospital campus.

"We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Ron Hogan for his inspired and steady leadership during very challenging times in health care," said Sister Jane Gerety, senior vice president of Saint Joseph's Health System. "He is turning over a strong institution, capable of fulfilling and expanding its mission to the Atlanta community. We look forward to Bonnie Phipps carrying on the tradition of fine leadership at Saint Joseph's."