Laura Kaiser joins Intermountain as new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

"I'm very pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Kaiser to Intermountain's Management Committee as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer," said Charles Sorenson, MD, Intermountain's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Laura succeeds Joe Horton, who retired at the end of December. She will report to me and will oversee healthcare delivery at Intermountain, including services at our 22 hospitals and more than 185 Medical Group clinics."

Laura will join Intermountain in late March. She is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Sacred Heart Health System based in Pensacola, Florida, and Ministry Market Leader for the Gulf Coast/ Florida region of Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic nonprofit healthcare organization.

"Laura brings a wealth of experience as a healthcare executive," said Dr. Sorenson. "She has held leadership positions in a variety of settings including health systems, community hospitals, physician clinics, and national consulting firms. Her background includes experience in clinical quality improvement and integration, physician engagement, strategy and operations, financial management, information technology, and change management."

Dr. Sorenson added, "One theme that stands out in Laura's career is her strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of the organizations she's worked for-missions that are similar to Intermountain's in many respects. Laura will be an effective advocate for delivering high-quality clinical care at costs that are sustainable. She's been a voice for achieving greater access to healthcare, not only through financial assistance but also by finding best practices operationally and clinically that reduce costs while meeting the needs of patients and communities."

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Kaiser earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Services Management from the University of Missouri. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on several boards, including those of the American Red Cross, Daughters of Charity Foundation, Florida Hospital Association, and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the Regional Vice Presidents over our hospital regions, Kaiser's direct reports will include Linda Leckman, MD, Chief Executive Officer of our Medical Group; Brent Wallace, MD, Intermountain's Chief Medical Officer; Kim Henrichsen, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations; and Brent James, MD, Chief Quality Officer and Executive Director of the Intermountain Institute for Healthcare Delivery Research.

"What impressed me most about Intermountain was its people and their unrelenting focus on mission, combined with the strategic vision I believe is necessary for the future delivery of healthcare and the organizational strengths to deliver on that vision," Kaiser said. "I look forward to becoming part of the team, to working with new colleagues and friends, and to exploring Utah's beautiful geography with my family."

Published in January 2012. For electronic email subscription, please contact Intermountain's Communications Department at 801-442-2836, or email to trusteefeedback@imail.org.