James Ross, the CEO of MU Health Care, will retire Dec. 31, officials announced Aug. 23.Ross is credited with leading the system to embrace cutting-edge technology and information services. Under his direction, MU Health Care opened the state-of-the-art Missouri Neurosciences Center, initiated tobacco-free policies at its facilities and grounds, and started the Healthy U initiative designed to improve community health.
“Thanks to Jim Ross, MU Health Care is well positioned to continue meeting our mission of improving the health of all Missourians,” Chancellor Brady J. Deaton said in a news release.
Ross joined MU Health Care in 2004. Prior to that, he served as president and CFO of the University Health Systems of East Carolina in Greenville, N.C.
“Jim’s retirement will be a loss to the central Missouri community as well as to the health system and the state of Missouri,” said Harold A. Williamson Jr., vice chancellor of the University of Missouri Health System.
Mitch Wasden, MU Health Care’s chief operating officer, will begin as CEO and COO Jan. 1.
“He and our new interim dean, Dr. Les Hall, are good partners for our continuing efforts to closely align our hospitals, clinics and physicians,” Williamson said.