PORTLAND, Ore. – April 17, 2024 – Legacy Health today announced that Kathryn Correia will retire from her role as president and chief executive officer. To support the transition, Correia will continue to serve in an advisory capacity through June.  

“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as Legacy’s President and CEO, working alongside such a dedicated, passionate group of professionals who value patient care and wellbeing above all else,” said Correia. “This was not an easy decision for me, but over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to consider how I can best serve Legacy at this time, and I am confident this is the right decision for me and the organization. I remain committed to contributing to Legacy through this transition period to make it as seamless as possible. Legacy has a highly capable team in place and remains well positioned to advance our mission, improve patient outcomes and support our communities.”  

“We are incredibly grateful to Kathryn for her years of leadership and commitment to Legacy, our patients and our communities,” said Charles Wilhoite, chair of the Board of Legacy Health. “In the face of a rapidly evolving health care industry, Kathryn’s leadership has been invaluable as our organization navigated unprecedented challenges including the COVID pandemic. She has been an integral part of the Legacy culture and family, and we wish her all the best in her retirement.” 

With Correia’s planned retirement, the Legacy Board of Directors has selected George Brown, M.D., who previously served as Legacy’s CEO from 2008 to 2018, as president and CEO. Dr. Brown will join Legacy to begin the transition before starting in full capacity as president and CEO by July 1. In the interim, Anna Loomis, Legacy’s CFO and current acting CEO, will continue to lead the organization ahead of her planned departure to join a health system outside of Legacy. 

Wilhoite continued, “I am thankful for Anna’s significant contributions to the organization, particularly for stepping in to guide Legacy during her time as acting CEO. I am also pleased to welcome Dr. Brown back to Legacy as we begin this next chapter with a continued focus on strengthening our role as the region’s trusted provider of high-quality care. We are confident that Dr. Brown is the right person to lead at this time, as we build on our recent efforts to strengthen Legacy’s financial and operating position and enhance the level of care we provide for our patients.”  

During Dr. Brown’s previous tenure as CEO of Legacy Health, he successfully led the organization through a dynamic health care environment, while driving record organizational growth. Dr. Brown serves as a Senior Advisor at Juniper Advisory, a consulting firm focused on nonprofit healthcare partnerships, mergers and acquisitions. He is also the Board Chair of the Marshfield Clinic Health System, a large integrated health system serving Central Wisconsin and Western Michigan. Dr. Brown is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, who retired from active-duty service in February 1999 as Brigadier General in the Regular Army. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1973 and was a practicing gastroenterologist until 2006. Dr. Brown retired from his role at Legacy in 2018. 

“I’m honored for the opportunity to return to Legacy at such an important time for the organization,” said Dr. Brown. “I have tremendous respect for all that Kathryn has accomplished in her tenure and how well she has positioned Legacy during a very challenging time. This is an organization that I know well – and I truly believe is one of the world’s leading health systems. With the strength of our people and compassionate culture, Legacy continues to deliver on our mission of good health for all.”

 

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About Legacy Health

Legacy Health is a local nonprofit health system driven by our mission to improve the health of those around us. We offer a unique blend of health services – from wellness and urgent care to dedicated children's care and advanced medical centers – to care for patients of all ages when and where they need us across the Portland/Vancouver metro area and mid-Willamette Valley. With an eye toward a healthier community, our partnerships tackle vital issues such as housing and mental health. Legacy strives to help everyone live healthier and better lives, with the vision of being essential to the health of the region.