LeCates Steps Down as President, COO of Bassett Medical Center

William LeCates, MD, FACP, also served as a northern region executive for the health system.

William LeCates, MD, FACP, has stepped down from his role as president and chief operating officer of Bassett Medical Center, a role he assumed in March 2018.

LeCates' leadership skills have been utilized throughout his almost two-decade tenure with Bassett Healthcare. As president of Bassett Medical Center, he was instrumental in guiding the hospital through the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the corporate restructuring taking place at the same time. In 2021, he began overseeing the operations in another of the system's facilities, Little Falls Hospital in Little Falls, New York

"Dr. LeCates is a steady and thoughtful leader with many years of clinical expertise, deep knowledge about our organization, and steadfast devotion to serving Bassett's communities and supporting our practitioners and caregivers," Tommy Ibrahim, MD, MHA, CPE, FHM, FACHE, Bassett Healthcare's president and CEO, said in a statement.

Ibrahim, in addition to his role as president and CEO, is now serving as president of Bassett Medical Center. Jeff Joyner, who serves as EVP and COO of Bassett Healthcare Network has assumed the role of chief operating officer role for the hospital. Henry Weill, MD, who recently was named SVP and chief clinical officer in addition to his tenure as chief academic officer, will work closely with the hospital's practitioners and quality, safety, and patient experience teams.

LeCates will remain with the system as part of their medical staff and serve as a strategic advisor to Ibrahim.

"We cannot thank Dr. LeCates enough for his many contributions to Bassett, our communities, and our country," Ibrahim added. "On behalf of all of Bassett Healthcare Network, our caregivers, leaders, directors, trustees, and the countless patients Dr. LeCates has touched, we express our deepest gratitude for his incredible commitment to our organization and congratulate him on his accomplishments."

LeCates began his career with Bassett Healthcare in 2003 as a nephrologist and is currently a senior attending physician. In addition to his clinical experience, LeCates is also a clinical professor of medicine at the Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons. He also served as program director for the system's Internal Medicine Residency Program and was a medical director and vice president of medical affairs at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, New York.

LeCates is a colonel in the New York Army National Guard, and currently serves as the Army National Guard State Surgeon. According to his LinkedIn, he also now serves as executive director of health services for JPMorgan Chase & Co.