St. Clare’s CEO departing for St. Peter’s
St. Clare’s Health System President Leslie D. Hirsch is leaving to become president of the St. Peter’s Health system in New Brunswick.
St. Peter’s CEO Ronald C. Rak announced the hire Monday. Hirsch will assume his new duties on Aug. 24, Rak said. A St. Clare’s spokesperson said Hirsch’s last day in Denville will be July 31, the same day that St. Clare’s expects to close its sale to Prime Healthcare Services.
Morris County Superior Court Judge Stephan Hansbury last month approved the $62 million sale of St. Clare’s Health System, a nonprofit that operates hospitals in Denville, Dover and Boonton, to Prime, a for-profit health care company based in California.
A search for Hirsch’s replacement at St. Clare’s is underway.
“We are currently conducting our selection process and will make an announcement once a decision is made,” Prime Healthcare Services spokesperson Fred Ortega said. “We want to thank Les for his service to St. Clare’s Health System and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
“Les Hirsch and I share the same vision and values,” Rak wrote in a statement announcing the hire. “We are privileged to have such a transformational leader join our team. Given his extensive experience in faith-based healthcare, Les is also mindful of the special role played by our Catholic hospitals.”
The separate position of president was created in late 2014 by the St. Peter’s Board of Governors at Rak’s request, and Hirsch was retained following a national search.
Hirsch will report to Rak and be responsible for the daily management of St. Peter’s Healthcare System, including organizational and clinical structures; inpatient and outpatient programs; strategic initiatives; financial performance; physician relations and practices, and healthcare facilities.
“I am very excited to be joining the team at St. Peter’s,” Hirsch said. “It is my hope to build many relationships within and outside of the organization that help St. Peter’s forge even stronger bonds with its key constituencies, especially employees, the physician community, fellow healthcare organizations, area and state governmental entities, and the communities we serve.”
Hirsch has 16 years of experience as a healthcare CEO. At St. Clare’s, Hirsch oversaw a 400-bed, 2,800-employee, Catholic hospital system that generates $310 million in annual revenue, according to the St. Peter’s statement. The system also includes a 100-bed regional behavioral health hospital, a continuing care retirement community and the St. Clare’s Foundation.
Hirsch previously served as president and CEO of Touro Infirmary, a faith-based healthcare system of Jewish heritage located in New Orleans, from 2005 to 2008; St. Joseph Hospital, Denver, a member of Exempla Healthcare, from 2002 to 2005, and Cooper Health System, Camden, from 1999 to 2002. He started at Cooper in 1988, serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer for those first 11 years. Hirsch implemented major clinical, strategic and financial initiatives at each institution.
Hirsch is chairman of the New Jersey Hospital Association Board of Trustees and served on the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Boards.
Rak will continue to be responsible for leadership of the healthcare system as a whole, particularly with regard to its faith-based mission, system-wide strategies, business development, fund raising, government affairs and overall external relationships.
“I have known Ron Rak professionally for many years and I look forward to working with him,” Hirsch said. “I am equally excited to work with the St. Peter’s physicians and staff, who are among the best in the industry, as shown by the many clinical, quality and patient care awards earned by St. Peter’s.”
St. Peter’s Healthcare System Inc. is comprised of St. Peter’s University Hospital, a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital; St. Peter’s Foundation, the fundraising arm of the hospital, and St. Peter’s Health and Management Services Corp., which oversees the system’s outpatient facilities.
Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.