Mercy Health Youngstown Names Kline Its New CEO

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mercy Health Youngstown has named Donald Kline to succeed Robert Shroder as president and CEO.

Mercy Health Youngstown’s director of marketing and communications, Kristin Craig, announced Kline’s appointment in a memo to employees Thursday morning, on behalf of Brian Smith, executive vice president, operations, for Mercy Health’s Northern markets. A news release followed at noon.

Shroder told Mercy Health employees in July that he planned to step down in February 2016.

Kline, who has more than 28 years of health-care experience, including eight with Mercy Health, most recently served as chief financial officer for all seven of Mercy Health markets.  In this role, “He was instrumental in providing leadership for operations, and enhancing integration between system and markets, including service as interim chief operating office for the Cincinnati Region, co-chairing the operations advisory committee and contributing as a member of the Lead the Ministry operations committee,” the memo states.

He will transition to Youngstown in January and assume his new role effective Feb. 21.

“I am pleased and honored to lead and work with Mercy employees and physicians in Youngstown to enhance our mission of improving the health of our community,” Kline said in a prepared statement. “I am confident in our ability to strengthen our presence in the market and meet the changing needs of the community. My goal is to enhance the nimbleness of our organization to respond to the continued changes in the health-care industry and empower employees, leaders and physicians to enhance our culture of service and quality for which Mercy Health is known.”

Smith cited Kline’s “wealth of experience in leading strategy, operations and finance, ” in his prepared statement, Smith said Kline has “solid knowledge of the Youngstown market. His collegial leadership style, business acumen and physician relations skills will move us forward in changing our care and operating models to enhance quality and provide value to our patients, payers and community.”

Added Betty Jo Licata, chairman of the Mercy Health Youngstown board of directors, in her prepared statement: “Don is well known and respected by physicians and leaders in the Youngstown area. His record of success will enable us to build upon the strong position the organization has in the market and to continue to transform healthcare in the Mahoning Valley. We look forward to working with Don to advance the mission of the ministry and serve the health care needs of the region.

Kline began his career with Mercy Health as divisional chief financial officer for the Northern markets. Before this, he served as vice president and chief financial officer for Heritage Valley Health System, in Beaver, Pa., and held similar roles with Trinity Health System in Steubenville and Allegheny University Medical Centers, Pittsburgh. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Duquesne University.

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