St. Rita's parent promotes COO

LIMA — St. Rita's Health Partners Chief Operating Officer Brian Smith knew about a promotion he would receive in May, succeeding retiring Jim Reber as the company's CEO.

That will still happen, but effective Saturday, Smith will now also become CEO of parent organization Catholic Health Partners' North Division, which includes eight hospitals in Lima, Northwest Ohio and Lorain and other interests.

“Our health care system will continue to change over the next five years, and we're all working together to craft that new future,” Smith said. “My new role gives me the opportunity to work with some real talented people in Toledo and Lorain and within CHP in Cincinnati to try and craft that new vision.”

The North Division includes:

•St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima

•The Mercy system in Northwest Ohio: Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, Mercy Children's Hospital, Mercy St. Charles Hospital, Mercy St. Anne Hospital, Mercy Willard Hospital, Mercy Tiffin Hospital and Mercy Defiance Hospital.

•Mercy hospitals Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain and Mercy Allen Hospital in Oberlin.

St. Rita's Health Partners is a newly formed umbrella organization that manages St. Rita's Medical Center and other interests, such as St. Rita's Professional Services, which manages about 80 physicians. St. Rita's now has its own ambulance company, medical equipment and home health services, as well as partnerships in orthopedics, dialysis, cancer services and neurosurgeons.

In 2010, Reber, who had served as the medical center's CEO for more than 20 years, became St. Rita's Health Partners first CEO; a succession plan put in place called for Smith to succeed Reber upon his retirement.

Smith, 47, has been with St. Rita's since 1990. He has worked directly with Reber for 17 years and said he owes a debt to him.

“I've learned a great deal working with him,” Smith said. “I look forward to carrying on the strong tradition of excellence Jim has started here in the Lima region.”

Smith will report to Steven Mickus, CHP's president of Healthcare Operations and chief operating officer. He fills a vacancy created by the departure of John Starcher to Health Management Associates.

A native of Jackson, Smith earned his bachelor's degree from Ohio Northern University and a master's degree from Ashland University. He and his wife, Becky Smith, have three children. Smith said the two positions will allow him to remain in Lima and active in the community.

Catholic Health Partners is the largest health system in Ohio and one of the largest nonprofit systems in the country. It is the fourth-largest employer in Ohio, employing than 32,000 associates in Ohio and Kentucky. With $5.4 billion in assets, CHP operates more than 100 health facilities, including 24 hospitals, 15 senior living communities, five hospice programs, eight home health agencies, and a health insurance plan.