Stephanie Duggan
Chief Clinical Officer
Kevin Smith
Chief Financial Officer
John Nguyen
Chief Administrative Officer
Joan Bachleitner
Chief Strategy Officer
ST. LOUIS, MO (Oct. 3, 2023) – SSM Health announces transitions within its Senior Leadership Team that will further the organization’s work to advance health equity and drive value through its integrated health care delivery model serving communities across the Midwest.
Stephanie Duggan, MD, FACEP, FAAPL, CPE, has been named Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) – joining SSM Health from Ascension Michigan, where she has led strategic growth and operations as president and CEO of Michigan’s northern region for the past 5 years. A board-certified emergency medicine physician, Dr. Duggan previously served as Ascension Alabama CCO and worked as the dyad leader with the chief operating officer to oversee all medical and operational components of the six-hospital health system. Prior to that, she held various leadership positions at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, including chief medical officer. She earned her medical degree and completed her residency at Wayne State University. She succeeds Todd Shuman, MD, who will transition to a part-time advisory role at SSM Health in 2024.
Kevin Smith will join SSM Health as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). An experienced finance leader with a strong track record of operational excellence and strategic transformation, he most recently served as CFO of Luminis Health in Annapolis, Md. Prior to joining Luminis, Kevin served in CFO roles at Lehigh Valley Health Network and Universal Health Services, Inc. and as director of finance for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from Drexel University. He completed post-baccalaureate studies in accounting and economics at the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree specializing in finance and real estate through the Harvard University Extension School. Smith succeeds Randy Combs who has served as SSM Health’s CFO since 2019. Combs will take on an advisory role in 2024, in addition to maintaining accountability for several key strategic programs and initiatives.
Dr. Stephanie Duggan and Kevin Smith will both join SSM Health in early November.
“I’d like to sincerely thank both Todd and Randy for their extraordinary leadership to advance our Mission, Vision and transformation. Their impact will be lasting.” said President & CEO Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE.” At this time, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Stephanie Duggan and Kevin Smith who will each bring their skillset and gifts to SSM Health as excellent additions to our senior leadership team.”
The not-for-profit Catholic health system will move Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) John Nguyen into the newly created role of Chief Administrative Officer, to help drive key initiatives across the organization, with accountability for advocacy, governance, marketing and communications and philanthropy efforts. With this transition, Joan Bachleitner has been named CSO. Bachleitner has served as SSM Health’s Chief Growth Officer since 2021. In this new role, she’ll be responsible for SSM Health’s short- and long-term strategic positioning, which includes business development, new ventures, affiliations, and ongoing transformation. She will also lead digital health, and data and analytics.
“With these leadership transitions, we remain well positioned to advance our call to serve those who are counting on us to do so every day,” said Kaiser.
About SSM Health
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system. The organization’s 40,000 team members and more than 12,800 providers are committed to providing exceptional health care services and revealing God’s healing presence to everyone they serve.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 300 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 13 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. It is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. For more information, visit our website or find us on Facebook and Twitter.