Strong named interim Hospitals and Health Centers CEO

Doug Strong has been named the interim chief executive officer of the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers (UMHHC), effective Oct. 1. Strong will replace Larry Warren, who recently announced his retirement.

Strong (Photo courtesy UMHS Public Relations)

Currently the chief financial officer for the Hospitals and Health Centers and associate vice president for U-M Health System (UMHS) Finance and Strategy, Strong has played an integral role in sustaining the financial health of the institution, says Dr. Robert P. Kelch, executive vice president for medical affairs and UMHS CEO.

"Doug has demonstrated both the broad-based financial expertise and sound strategic background we need in this interim post," Kelch says. "He has steered the integration of hospital and health center business processes and cultures with those of the U-M Medical School and the M-CARE managed care organization.

"Likewise, his participation in the Operations Improvement Council to innovate new business processes and help contain costs, as well as membership on our senior management team to help steer the direction of the institution, have provided him with the solid foundation needed to quickly step into his new role and keep us moving forward without hesitation."

Adds Medical School Dean Dr. Allen S. Lichter: "Doug has been an excellent CFO and has worked well with all parties in the Health System. The Medical School looks forward to continuing this relationship."

Strong says the efforts that have brought UMHHC to its current position as a high-quality, safe, financially sound and highly ranked institution must be continued.

"No significant course corrections are needed. I will work with other members of the leadership to keep the initiatives of the Hospitals and Health Centers moving forward," he says.

UMHS leaders are launching a nationwide search to find a permanent CEO of the Hospitals and Health Centers. The process will be thorough but will move at a vigorous pace, Kelch says, starting with the naming of a search committee and the selection of a search firm within the next several weeks.

"I anticipate that we will have a number of fine internal candidates for the CEO post and expect that they will compete well with candidates we attract from across the country," Kelch says. "We are on a wonderful course, and this is an exceptional opportunity for a person who is a strong, visionary and highly collaborative leader. We want someone who shares our values and who can take the strategic direction we've laid out and get us there even faster."

As he takes on the interim CEO title, Strong will retain his UMHS title but temporarily will relinquish his CFO position. Tom Marks, director of accounting and reimbursement services for UMHHC, has been named interim CFO.

Strong was hired in 1998, soon after the creation of UMHS, and was named interim CFO in 2002. He was given the permanent position in 2004.