Allegheny Health Network announces new President of St. Vincent Hospital

Allegheny Health Network announces new President of St. Vincent Hospital: Allegheny Health Network (AHN), today announced the appointment of Christopher Clark, DO, MHA, as President of Saint Vincent Hospital.  Dr. Clark will assume his new position in early June.      Born at Saint Vincent and a lifelong resident of the Erie community, Dr. Clark is a practicing family physician who has served in a number of leadership roles at the hospital over the past decade, including Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Chief Quality Officer, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Director of Continuing Medical Education.      For the past two and a half years, Dr. Clark has worked in Erie as a medical director for Highmark Inc., responsible for helping guide strategy, product development and interventions designed to optimize the health and well-being of the insurer’s member populations.   Cynthia Hundorfean, President and Chief Executive Officer of AHN, said Dr. Clark’s depth of experience with both the delivery and financing of healthcare makes him uniquely qualified to lead Saint Vincent at a transformative time in the hospital’s history and as the industry transitions to a value based model.  Last week, AHN broke ground on the initial phase of a $115 million capital investment strategy for Saint Vincent, including construction of a new, state-of-the-art emergency department and operating room suite.   “Saint Vincent and the Erie community are critically important to our Network, and we are thrilled to have such an exceptionally talented, dedicated and community-oriented physician leader accept this important role for our organization,” Hundorfean said. “Dr. Clark has demonstrated a profound commitment to his hometown, his patients and this hospital, and we look forward to how that passion will help further drive our growth and success as Erie’s leading provider of comprehensive, high-quality healthcare services.”     Dr. Clark is the third physician hospital president appointed by AHN since 2016, joining Mark Rubino, MD, and Jeffrey Cohen, MD, who currently serve as President of Forbes Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital, respectively.   This Network’s physician -led model mirrors that established by some of the Nation’s preeminent medical centers, including the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, and is viewed as a leadership structure that promotes higher quality, high-value, patient-centered care.    “AHN and Highmark Health are at the forefront of building a new paradigm for integrated health care delivery, based on convenient access to well- coordinated services, superior quality, efficiency and affordability.  It is an incredible honor to be able to help further shape and accomplish that vision for our patients in the Erie region,” said Dr. Clark. “It is also a great privilege to have the opportunity to lead the outstanding team of caregivers, support staff and volunteers who make Saint Vincent such a special and vital resource for this community.”     A graduate of Cathedral Preparatory School and Boston College, Dr. Clark received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his post-graduate clinical training with a residency in family medicine at Geisinger Medical Center.  He earned his Master of Health Administration degree from the Pennsylvania State University.      Active in many community and professional organizations, Dr. Clark serves on the Board of Directors for Family Services of Northwestern PA and is the current Chairman of the March of Dimes Signature Chef’s Auction in Erie.  He is a past President and board member for the Erie County Medical Society, and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Healthcare Executive and Pennsylvania Medical Society.      Dr. Clark resides in Erie with his wife Caitlin Clark, DO, a family physician with the Saint Vincent Family Medicine Group, and their three children.      About Saint Vincent Hospital: Saint Vincent Hospital is part of Allegheny Health Network, a Highmark Health owned integrated healthcare system serving the greater western Pennsylvania Region.  Founded in 1875 as Erie Pennsylvania’s first hospital, Saint Vincent offers a full spectrum of primary and specialty healthcare services to patients who live in the northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York areas. With 371 beds, 2,900 employees and 425 physicians, Saint Vincent’s commitment to superior patient care quality and service has earned the hospital national recognition. According to the 2017 Quantros CareChex® quality report, Saint Vincent is ranked #1 in Erie for Medical Excellence in Overall Hospital Care, Overall Medical Care, Overall Surgical Care, Cancer Care, Cardiac Care, Major Cardiac Surgery, Heart Attack and Heart Failure Treatment, Stroke, Women’s Health and Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage care.   For more information about Saint Vincent, visit www.ahn.org.