Bon Secours Health System, a Catholic health ministry serving residents across the East Coast, and Mercy Health, a Catholic health ministry serving Ohio and Kentucky, today announced that John M. Starcher, Jr. will serve as president and CEO of their new organization – Bon Secours Mercy Health – when the two organizations are combined this fall. Starcher currently serves as president and CEO of Mercy Health.

"Our new ministry has an exciting future before it. It is positioned to be more successful than Mercy Health and Bon Secours ever could be as separate entities. We will expand our services and programs, provide greater access in our markets to help and serve more people. We will be able to do even more for people who are poor, dying or underserved, providing almost two million dollars each day in community benefit as a combined entity," said Starcher. "I count myself blessed to be part of Catholic health care, furthering the legacy of the courageous women who began our ministries more than 100 years ago. I am truly honored that I'm being entrusted with leading our new, integrated ministry."

Bon Secours President and CEO Rich Statuto will continue to serve Bon Secours Mercy Health as an advisor for the next year, primarily focused on strategic growth and innovation. He will retire in 2019 after a lengthy career in health care that includes serving for 24 years as the CEO of multi-state health systems, including 13 years as president and CEO of Bon Secours Health System. Statuto was an early advocate for electronic medical records and affordable health care, and extended his leadership to the Board of Trustees for the Catholic Health Association of the United States, as well as Premier, where he currently serves as chair. In 2017, he was awarded the Sister Concilia Moran Award by the Catholic Health Association in recognition of his enormous contributions to the health care industry and to Catholic health care.

"I am confident in John's ability to lead Bon Secours Mercy Health as we combine our health care ministries to form a new organization. While I look forward to retirement and spending time with my family, I am fully committed to the success of our newly formed ministry. I have committed to helping over the course of the next year to ensure a robust start for Bon Secours Mercy Health as we bring together two incredibly strong organizations. John and I have been working closely throughout this process and we are both fully committed to ensuring a smooth transition."

Starcher is a seasoned health care leader who was named president and CEO of Mercy Health in 2016 after 13 years with the ministry. During his time at Mercy Health, John was CEO of three of four divisions within the ministry and also served as the organization's senior vice president of Human Resources and assistant general counsel. His work helped to ensure that the ministry's faith-based Mission and Values were at the heart of every decision. He served on the Bon Secours Health System Board in 2017.

"John is passionate about simplifying health care and making our ministry a place where patients want to be treated, physicians want to practice and employees want to work," said Sr. Pat Eck, CBS, chairperson of Bon Secours Ministries. "He believes in empowering employees to make decisions and take action to achieve our shared goals. We are confident that his leadership and vision for the future of Catholic health care will help us fulfill our Mission in the communities we serve."

"John views his leadership as a true calling, a calling rooted in faith," said Carol Anne Smith, HM, co-chair of Partners in Catholic Health Ministries. "John has a deep and profound commitment to Catholic health care, and he has the expertise of years of experience in leading health care ministries."

Bon Secours Mercy Health – Name and Governance

The ministries also announced today that their new combined name effective this fall will be Bon Secours Mercy Health. This name will be used when referring to the overall ministry.

Because both entities have strong brand equity and name recognition in the communities they serve, current names and brands will continue to be represented in signage, uniforms and badges. At this time, all Bon Secours facilities will maintain current names and signage, as will Mercy Health facilities.

Bon Secours Mercy Health will operate under the governance of one board of directors, led by chairperson Chris Allen, who currently serves as chair of the Bon Secours Board of Directors. Katherine W. Vestal, PhD, current chair of the Mercy Health Board of Trustees, will serve as vice chair. The overarching governing entity or public juridic person (PJP), which has canonical oversight for the system, will be called Bon Secours Mercy Ministries and will be chaired by Sister Pat Eck, CBS.

Together, Mercy Health and Bon Secours rank in the top performing quartile of Catholic health systems for low-cost, high-quality patient care, promoting healthier lives and creating more affordable health care for residents across an expanded footprint. The combination of the two ministries creates the fifth largest Catholic health system in the country, allowing the new entity to leverage economies of scale by integrating resources and teams across the ministries. The combined ministry will create future opportunities for deepening its commitment to the communities it serves and expanding into complementary service areas across the United States. Further alignment of the ministries offers an opportunity within the United States and outside of its borders to bring healing and hope to those most in need.

About Mercy Health

Mercy Health is the largest health system in Ohio and among the top five employers in the state, with more than 33,500 employees serving communities throughout Ohio and in Kentucky. Mercy Health provided care for patients more than 6.8 million times in 2017. The system includes assets of $6.8 billion and nearly 500 care facilities including 23 hospitals and 26 post-acute care facilities including senior living communities, hospice programs and home health agencies. Its clinically integrated network of more than 2,700 health care providers coordinates more effective and efficient care for more than 350,000 patients, saving money for taxpayers through the Medicare Shared Savings Program. In keeping with its mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the health of its communities, Mercy Health provides more than $1 million per day in community benefit services. For more information, visit www.mercy.com or connect with Mercy Health on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram and Twitter (@mercy_health).

About Bon Secours Health System

Bon Secours Health System is a not-for-profit Catholic health system sponsored by Bon Secours Ministries and founded by the Sisters of Bon Secours. With operations in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and New York, Bon Secours owns, manages, or joint ventures 20 hospitals and 27 post-acute care facilities or agencies including skilled nursing facilities, home care and hospice services, and assisted living facilities. Consistent with its commitment to alleviate human suffering, Bon Secours has developed more than 800 affordable housing units for low income families. Bon Secours has more than 24,000 employees and has been recognized as a Gallup Great Workplace for seven consecutive years. The Mission of Bon Secours is to bring compassion to health care and to be Good Help to Those in Need, especially those who are poor and dying. For more information, visit www.BonSecours.com or connect with Bon Secours on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter (@BonSecours).