Hershey Med CEO had told PinnacleHealth board he wouldn’t be staying to see merger through
By Barbara Miller, The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The regulatory review process needed to bring the Hershey-PinnacleHealth merger to fruition is expected to take several years, which may have contributed to Paz's decision to leave, said PinnacleHealth board member
"Hal had some concerns about whether he could make the multi-year commitment to seeing that through. This would give the opportunity for a new person to come in from the ground floor and make a maximal contribution to its final design and implementation," Grode said.
"So from that point of view, Hal's decision to move on to Aetna at this time may actually serve his successor well, since they'll have the opportunity to begin from the startup," he said.
News that Paz would be leaving the top job at
But Grode said he knew before the Pinnacle board voted on the consolidation "that there was a possibility Hal would be not in a position to see it through the multi-year period it deemed optimal."
He only learned that Paz was going to Aetna Tuesday, and said he was not at liberty to divulge that sooner.
Paz's wife practices in
While Paz was "a key participant in the vision" planning the merger, Grode stressed that he was one of many.
"The fact the governance group from
"One person's departure doesn't change the vision or soften the commitment in that regard."
Grode, however, said he was disappointed to see Paz go. He said he thought Paz would make a good team with PinnacleHealth CEO
"I think he (Paz) and
It was Paz's health care expertise that landed him the job of executive vice president and chief medical officer at Aetna, said
"Dr. Paz has a clear vision for establishing growth platforms based on integrated care delivery, clinical evidence, training and outcomes-based goals," Bertolini said. "His clinical expertise and leadership will support the ongoing transformation of health care delivery."
The announcement Paz is leaving comes as a surprise, said
Of Paz's new job at Aetna, Foreman adds, "I see that as a big-time promotion.
And, he said, Paz's departure could make the
"Usually the best method is for both CEOs to go and bring someone new in," Foreman said. "Although if Paz was instrumental in the merger, it could also create a void."
The state attorney general's office declined to comment on Paz's departure. The department's public protection department reviews hospital mergers.
At the Hospital and
"The CEOs at our hospitals would not always advise us in advance depending on agreements they made with a prospective employer," Kissinger added.
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