By hiring two internal candidates, the organization is breaking up a three-part position that had admittedly run 'counter to common practice.'
Larry J. Goodman, MD, who is CEO for both the Rush University System for Health (RUSH) and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, will retire within the next several months, the organization's board announced this week.
Rather than passing his role on to a single successor, Goodman's duties will be split between two internal hires.
The new CEO of RUSH will be K. Ranga Rama Krishnan, MB, CHB, who is currently dean of Rush Medical College and a senior vice president of the medical center. The new CEO of Rush University Medical Center will be Omar B. Lateef, DO, who is currently chief medical officer for both the system and the medical center and senior vice president of medical affairs for the medical center.
This decision comes after Goodman's other title, president of Rush University, was handed to Sherine E. Gabriel, MD, MSc, last fall.
"It is unusual, and runs contrary to common practice, for a single leader to run a university, a flagship hospital, and a health care system with the exceptional skill and vision Dr. Goodman has demonstrated," Susan Crown, chairperson for the RUSH and Medical Center boards, said in a statement. "As we continue to pursue our long-term vision of being nationally recognized for transforming health care, it is clear that Dr. Krishnan and Dr. Lateef are the leaders we need to continue the System and Medical Center transformation."
The three positions held by Larry Goodman, MD, (left) are being divided among three successors (top to bottom): Ranga Krishnan, MB, CHB; Omar Lateef, DO; and Sherine Gabriel, MD, MSc. (Images provided by RUSH)
The board spent more than a year going through a succession planning and evaluation process that reviewed candidates from inside and outside the organization, according to the board's announcement.
"It has truly been a special honor and a privilege to be a part of the extraordinary transformation at Rush and to serve alongside the Rush community, with a singular focus on improving health," Goodman said in the statement. "I came here as a resident in internal medicine in 1976 and met my wife here, so Rush has always been like a family and like home to me."
Steven Porter is an associate content manager and Strategy editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The longtime CEO of Rush University System for Health had served simultaneously as CEO of Rush University Medical Center and president of Rush University as well.
With his retirement, the organization will divvy his responsibilities among two more executives after having selected a new university president last fall.