April 11, 2017

Mary Elizabeth O’Brien named interim president of Mercy Medical Center

REGIONAL 
Staff report

(IObserve photo courtesy of Trinity Health-New England)

SPRINGFIELD – Trinity Health-New England has named Mary Elizabeth (Beth) O’Brien president of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates for an interim period while a national search is conducted. In this role, she will be responsible for the operational performance of Mercy Medical Center, provide leadership in the execution, management, financial performance and oversight of all hospital operations, and explore opportunities for growth through strategic development initiatives across the system.

With health care leadership experience that spans almost four decades, O’Brien has held a number of executive positions including president and chief executive officer, chief operating officer, executive vice president and vice president of nursing in a variety of predominately Catholic health systems across the country. Most recently, she served as chief executive officer/chief operating officer for Vancouver, Washington-based PeaceHealth, a $2 billion not-for-profit Catholic health care organization that operates 10 hospitals, medical clinics and laboratories within Alaska, Oregon and Washington.

O’Brien has also served as senior vice president of operations and group executive officer for Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), a Colorado-based health care organization with 12 hospitals in four states. While at CHI, she developed a Clinically Integrated Network in four markets, created the system’s first managed care strategy and operations group, and served as national leader for integration for all CHI growth initiatives. Prior to CHI, O’Brien served as managing director for health care at Navigant Consulting in Chicago, Illinois, as president and chief executive officer for Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Alabama, and as a senior vice president for CIGNA HealthCare in Hartford, Connecticut.  

“Beth is a proven leader with the skills to realize the vision of our organization and achieve our financial goals through creative and collaborative partnerships,” said Christopher M. Dadlez, president and chief executive officer, Trinity Health-New England. “Her expertise and experience will allow her to work collaboratively with colleagues throughout Mercy to provide the best in health and healing for our communities and with the Trinity Health-New England executive leadership team to support the entire region.”

O’Brien received her registered nurse certification from Phoenix College School of Nursing in Phoenix, Arizona. She also holds a bachelor of science degree in health administration and a master’s in business administration from the University of Phoenix in Arizona. O’Brien’s numerous professional and civic affiliations include serving on the boards of directors of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Alabama; Covenant House, Los Angeles; Seton Institute, San Francisco; and Catholic Health Association, St. Louis. In 2004, she was named to Modern Healthcare magazine’s list of the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare.”