Risant Health searching for second CEO | MED MOVES

Risant Health, part of Kaiser Permanente, is now looking for its second CEO.

Dr. Jaewon Ryu, the inaugural CEO of Risant Health, announced in late July that he’s stepping down to focus on his family.

Dale Maxwell, former president and chief executive officer of Presbyterian Healthcare Services, is serving as interim CEO. Risant Health’s board is undertaking a national search.

Greg Adams, chair and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente and chair of the board of Risant Health, praised Ryu’s leadership.

"Jaewon has been instrumental in turning the vision for Risant Health into reality," Adams said in a statement. "He built an exceptional leadership team, established the organization's operating model, and positioned Risant Health to help more communities benefit from value-based care."

Kaiser Permanente first announced the creation of Risant Health in 2023, saying the goal was to expand value-based care. Kaiser acquired Geisinger Health in Pennsylvania and placed it under the Risant banner. Risant later acquired Cone Health in North Carolina.

Ryu, the former CEO of Geisinger, said it has been “the privilege of my career” to help turn the vision of Risant Health into a reality.

“I remain deeply committed to this mission and have every confidence that Risant Health's greatest impact is still ahead,” Ryu said in a statement.

Risant is looking to acquire other community-based hospital systems, Adams has said.

Maxwell spent eight years as president and CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare Services, New Mexico's largest nonprofit integrated health system, a role he held from 2016 until his retirement in 2024.

Summa Health names CEO

Jennifer Eslinger has been named the next president and chief executive officer of Summa Health in Ohio.

Eslinger will begin her new role on Sept. 21. She most recently served as president and chief operating officer of Rochester Regional Health, a role she has held for about four years.

She possesses more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience. Eslinger has also held senior leadership roles with Henry Ford Health, Mobile Infirmary Health System, HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare.

Eslinger was chosen after a national search, following the retirement of Dr. Cliff Deveny, who moved from CEO to CEO Emeritus on Jan. 1.

Health Assurance Transformation Company, (HATCo), a subsidiary of General Catalyst, acquired Summa Health in October 2025.

"I'm honored to join Summa Health at such an exciting moment in its history," Eslinger said in a statement. "I am energized by the opportunity to expand access, improve outcomes and advance the future of healthcare together while staying grounded in what matters most – serving Summa Health’s consumers and members, providers and team members, and communities across Northeast Ohio."

Eslinger will succeed Daryl Tol, CEO of HATCo, who has been serving as Summa Health’s acting president and CEO.

"Jennifer combines operational rigor with strategic vision and a collaborative leadership style,” Tol said in a statement. “I look forward to working with her as she leads the next chapter of our transformation.”

Allegheny Health names president of two hospitals

Duke Rupert has taken on a new role as president of two hospitals in the Allegheny Health Network.

Rupert is now the president of AHN Beaver and AHN Sewickley hospitals, which are both based in western Pennsylvania. He began his new role on August 17.

Allegheny just added the two hospitals to the network with the system’s acquisition of the Heritage Valley Health System last month. Rupert succeeds Norm Mitry, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving as president and CEO of Heritage Valley for 25 years.

Rupert most recently served as chief operating officer of WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, but he spent more than two decades with Allegheny. He served as senior vice president of operations for the Allegheny Health Network, chief operating officer of AHN Allegheny General Hospital, and president and CEO of AHN Forbes Hospital and AHN West Penn Hospital.

“The opportunity to help build upon Heritage Valley's incredible history of service to its communities is a great privilege and honor, and as someone who also knows very well the equally caring and compassionate culture that exists within AHN, I can say unequivocally that these organizations are indeed stronger together and that the future has never been brighter for Heritage Valley and its caregivers," Rupert said in a statement.

PeaceHealth names chief financial officer

Matt Swafford has been named the next executive vice president and chief financial officer of PeaceHealth in Washington state.

Swafford will begin his new role on Sept. 21. He succeeds Ric Magnuson, who has served in an interim capacity since last year.

He brings well over three decades of experience to the post, including years advising nonprofit health systems. He currently serves as chief financial officer and senior VP of strategy and finance at St. Charles Health System in Bend, Oregon.

Sarah Ness, PeaceHealth president and chief executive officer, said Swafford is coming to PeaceHealth “at an important moment.

“We are creating a stronger PeaceHealth, one that is easier for patients to navigate, better connected for caregivers and positioned to meet the needs of our communities well into the future,” Ness said in a statement. “Matt has shared with me that he sees every financial decision through that human lens, which makes him a strong fit for our Mission and our commitment to put people first.”