Henry Ford Allegiance Health Names New CEO

Paula Autry replaces long-serving CEO Georgia Fojtasek, who retires on July 31.

Henry Ford Allegiance Health has named Paula Autry as its new president and CEO.

Autry, will join Henry Ford Allegiance Health on July 15, and will take over for long-serving CEO Georgia Fojtasek, who will step down on July 31 after 25 years at the helm of the Jackson, Michigan-based, 475-bed teaching hospital and health system.

Autry will also serve as senior vice president for Allegiance's seven-county Central Michigan market.

Autry most recently served as CEO of the tertiary care Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne. The Henry Ford Allegiance job is a homecoming of sorts for Autry, who before her tenure at Lutheran Hospital served as CEO of the Detroit Medical Center's Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit.

"I could not be more excited to return to Michigan and join a storied organization like Henry Ford," Autry said in a media release.

"Henry Ford has long been dedicated to clinical innovation and improving the health and wellness of the community, and I am simply thrilled for the opportunity to create a lasting impact on the well-being of the people of Jackson and the surrounding community," she said.

Bob Riney, COO of parent Henry Ford Health System, said Autry was picked for the top job because "she shares our passion for improving the overall health of the communities she serves and is excited to become a member of the Jackson community. "

"This commitment, along with her proven ability to lead strategic direction and operational improvements, and build lasting relationships with physician and community leaders, makes her a perfect fit for Henry Ford," Riney said.