In a unanimous move, members of the Skiff Medical Center’s Board of Trustees appointed Steve Long as the new president and chief executive officer at Skiff.
Long, who was one of three finalists for the job which has been vacant since Kris Baumgart left in January, will take over the reins at Skiff in mid-January 2010. The board has selected Jan. 18, 2010, as the tentative start date for Long. Francie Jahn, who has acted as interim CEO since Baumgart’s departure, will remain in place “for now,” according to Debby Pence, board chair.
“They all came with the experience,” said Pence of the finalists, “but Steve, we felt, had the trustworthiness, compassion, honesty and integrity that really stood out and went right along with our mission of compassion and care.”
Pence said the board also heard positive things from Skiff staff who met with Long over the weekend before the appointment was made official.
“He came this weekend to meet with physicians to make sure they’re on board and open up that communication with employees,” she said today after the board meeting.
An Iowa native, Long currently serves as chief administrative officer at Aurora Medical Center in Wisconsin. He is a graduate of University of Iowa and a fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives. Long served in the United States Air Force before moving into leadership at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and Select Hospital in Davenport.
Long was appointed to the CEO position at Skiff during an open meeting where newly appointed board members Dr. Gary Richardson and Lois Vogel were in attendance. Although Richardson and Vogel did not vote due to Iowa Code 392.36A, which gives them voting privileges 10 days after appointment — which would be noon on Sunday — both vocally supported the board’s decision to hire Long.
“I was completely involved with interviews and feel strongly Steve Long is a good choice, a very good choice,” Vogel said.
Richardson echoed Vogel’s sentiments.
“(Physicians) came to basically 100 percent consensus that this is our man and he will have full support of medical staff,” Richardson said.
Long will relocate from Wisconsin to Newton with his wife, Dorothy, and his four children.
Jessica Lowe can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 426 or via e-mail at jlowe@newtondailynews.com.