Advocate Health appoints regional nursing leader, and more | MED MOVES

Janice Walker has been named the chief nursing officer of Advocate Health’s Southeast Region.

Janice Walker (Advocate Health)

Walker will oversee nursing at Atrium Health, part of Advocate Health, the system created by the merger of Atrium and Advocate Aurora Health. She will lead more than 18,000 nurses at Atrium Health’s 40 hospitals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

She will begin her new role on Jan. 29.

“I have long admired the work of nurses at Atrium Health, now part of Advocate Health, and I’m honored to become part of this transformative organization that is focused on providing high-quality, equitable and safe care – for all,” Walker said in a statement. “Nursing plays a vital role in helping drive clinical outcomes and eliminate barriers and disparities in health care.”

Walker brings more than 25 years of experience to the position. She spent 13 years at Baylor Scott & White Health, where she has served as system executive vice president, system chief nursing executive and the executive lead of the BSW Healthcare System Nursing Institute.

Mary Beth Kingston, Advocate Health’s executive vice president and chief nursing officer, says Walker has “a well demonstrated commitment to nursing excellence.”

“With Janice’s decades of experience advancing clinical practice leading the way, we’re raising the bar yet again,” Kingston said in a statement.

Drew Dostal (Corewell Health)

Corewell Health expands role of regional leader

Drew Dostal is taking on a bigger role at Corewell Health.

Dostal is now the new regional market leader overseeing the Michigan system’s hospitals in seven counties, including a host of rural communities. He is now overseeing five hospitals and an integrated care campus.

He is now leading Corewell Health Reed City Hospital, Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital and Corewell Health Greenville Hospital. Since 2020, he has been serving as president and regional market leader of Corewell Health Ludington Hospital, Corewell Health Gerber Hospital and the Corewell Health Integrated Care Campus at North Muskegon.

Andrea Leslie, Corewell’s senior vice president of hospital operations, said in a statement that Dostal has “a deep understanding of the local communities.”

“Drew is a remarkable leader who has demonstrated a passion and commitment for advancing the health of Michigan’s rural communities,” Leslie said.

Dostal has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare. Previously, he was the CEO of Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, New Mexico.

Scott Wooten (Sanford Health)

Sanford Health selects new CFO

Scott Wooten has been named chief financial officer of Sanford Health.

He begins his new role Jan. 15.

Wooten previously served as executive vice president and CFO at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Fla. for eight years.

Wooten also held executive finance roles with Alegent Creighton Health in Nebraska, AdventHealth Central Florida and AdventHealth North Texas.

“Sanford Health is a role model for delivering exceptional care to patients in rural America, and I am looking forward to being a part of the voice that advocates for accessible, high-quality health care for all those we serve,” Wooten said in a statement. “Sanford Health has the rare combination of being financially healthy and incredibly visionary, and I am excited to join the team and committed to ensuring we continue to drive strong financial stewardship well into the future.”

Wooten succeeds Bill Marlette, who came out of retirement to fill the CFO position until the system found a permanent replacement.

Deb Anderson (Endeavor Health)

Endeavor Health names new CIO

Deb Anderson has been named the new chief information officer of Endeavor Health.

Anderson began her new role on Jan. 8. She’ll oversee all information technology strategies and report directly to J.P. Gallagher, Endeavor Health’s president and CEO.

“Deb is a dynamic leader who is joining Endeavor Health at a pivotal time,” Gallagher said in a statement. “Her ability to foster collaboration, galvanize teams, develop talent and communicate effectively will be invaluable as we unify our systems, further strengthen our capabilities and drive innovation that transforms the experience for our patients and team members.”

Anderson possesses more than 25 years of technology experience. Most recently, she served as the chief information officer for Advocate Health’s Midwest Region.

Anderson succeeds Steve Smith, who retired at the end of 2023 after 32 years with the organization.

Based in the Chicago area, Endeavor Health includes NorthShore University HealthSystem, Edward-Elmhurst Health, Northwest Community Healthcare and Swedish Hospital.