THE CLIENT: Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Holy Cross Hospital is a private Catholic, non-profit community hospital that opened in 1955 to serve the sick and injured without regard to race, religion or nationality. Owned and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy for decades, the hospital is now sponsored by Catholic Health Ministries and is a member of Trinity Health. Its medical staff consists of more than 600 highly skilled physicians representing nearly every specialty in medicine. Their skills attract patients from around South Florida, across the United States and around the globe.
The challenge: find a CEO that embodies the principles and values of the faith based, non-profit hospital, while building relationships with doctors and donors.
Ane McNeil, Chief Human Resources Officer for Trinity Health Michigan and National (Michigan/Florida/Georgia) was the primary contact with Ivan Bartolome and Laura Conley with HealthSearch Partners. She described the collaborative effort in the CEO search:
“From the beginning, it was apparent that HealthSearch was committed to finding the best candidates for our position. Ivan and Laura arranged their schedules so they were able to meet with over 50 of our doctors, making sure they had a complete list of responsibilities and a sense of challenges that the CEO might face.”
The list of skills needed was long. McNeil explained:
“We were looking for a leader who would influence change and drive us to a strong financial outcome. Additionally, we needed someone with strong community connections to interface with donors and a person with interpersonal skills to relate to our doctors. We asked HealthSearch to present us with a diverse panel, and they delivered.”
Sr. Joanne Courneen, RSM, chair of the Holy Cross Hospital Board of Directors, served on the search committee. She described the working environment:
“It was immediately clear that they had done their homework and that they understood our culture. They knew we needed someone who understood our vision and values and who would work with compassion for others. I was grateful that they were sensitive to the thoughts of the committee. The lines of communication were seamless, and they worked diligently to keep the process moving within our tight timeline.”
After a four-month search, Mark Doyle was named the CEO at Holy Cross Hospital.
“Mark is a trusted leader who has spearheaded financial turnarounds, growth initiatives and quality improvements around the country,” said Rob Casalou, President and CEO, Trinity Health Michigan and Southeast Region. “The Trinity Health leadership team is confident he will bolster our position as this community’s trusted health partner for life.”
“I appreciate the confidence Trinity Health, the Holy Cross Hospital Board and Physicians have displayed in selecting me to be the CEO of such a reputable and outstanding organization,” Doyle said. “I am extremely excited to get started and continue Holy Cross’s commitment to high quality and patient centered care.”
McNeil summed up the experience:
“HealthSearch became an extension of our team. There was never a gap between our expectations and their deliverables. We would not hesitate to contact them again for recruitment needs.”
