NEW ORLEANS: Interim Slidell Memorial Hospital CEO tapped to keep position

If an agreeable contract can be worked out, Slidell Memorial Hospital's interim chief executive officer will keep his position for the long term, hospital officials decided Monday. The community hospital's governing board unanimously approved offering Bill Davis the chance to succeed former CEO Robert L. "Bob" Hawley Jr., who after 11 years at the helm was fired in July following a second-drunken driving arrest. Davis has more than 23 years of health care financial management experience; landed the job of chief financial officer at Slidell Memorial in January 2001; and had been acting CEO since Hawley lost his job. Previously, Davis oversaw network development and provider relations for SMA Health Plan Inc.