PFITZER NAMED ST. JOSEPH COO

BRYAN - Following a national search, St. Joseph Regional Health Center CEO Jack Buckley announced that Anthony "Tony" Pfitzer will join the leadership team as Chief Operating Officer for SJRHC.

Pfitzer has served in leadership roles for hospitals in Illinois, Montana, and Missouri during his 25-year healthcare career. For the past 13 years he has been in leadership positions with the Hospital Sisters Health System of Springfield, Illinois, serving as the Chief Executive Officer for St. Anthony’s, Effingham; St. Mary’s, Decatur and St. Francis, Litchfield. He holds an MBA from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and a Masters of Health Administration from St. Louis University Medical Center.

"Tony is a tremendous individual who brings a lot of energy and experience to our team," said Buckley, who also serves as President of St. Joseph Health System. "He has worked in Catholic healthcare organizations for most of his career and will dedicate himself to fulfilling the Mission that the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio brought to our community 70 years ago."

Buckley will remain the CEO of the Regional Health Center, but Pfitzer will oversee all day-to-day operations of the 286-bed Regional Health Center, including St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center in Bryan, and the Behavioral Health Unit at Grimes St. Joseph in Navasota. "I’m enthusiastic about joining the leadership team at St. Joseph," said Pfitzer. "I was impressed with the outstanding medical staff, the great leadership, and the hospital’s dynamic plans for the next several years."

During his career Pfitzer has worked closely with physicians in a variety of settings, including community hospitals, clinic operations, and behavioral health units. "During our visits with Tony it was clear he understands the importance of physician relationships and is committed to advancing our quality goals," said Dr. Jim Kirby, Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Immediate Past Chairperson of the SJRHC Governance Council, who served on the search committee.

"Looking at Tony’s accomplishments and talking to those who work with him made it clear he would be a great leader for our organization," said Caroline McDonald, Chairperson of the SJRHC Governance Council. Pfizer is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and recently served as President of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of Decatur, IL. Pfitzer will start at SJRHC on Feb. 27.

Pfitzer and his wife, Glenda, have two teenage children who will relocate to the community this summer.

St. Joseph Regional Health Center has been owned and operated by the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio since 1936. It is a part of the St. Joseph Health System of Bryan, Texas, which includes four hospitals, eight rural health clinics and two long term care centers.