Former Summa CEO Tom Strauss is named CEO of Sisters of Charity Health System

Jan. 10--Thomas J. Strauss, who led Summa Health System for 15 years before retiring in 2014, has been named the president and CEO of another regional health system.

Effective Tuesday, Strauss, 64, of Cuyahoga Falls, will be president and chief executive of the Sisters of Charity Health System.

The Cleveland-based organization owns two Catholic hospitals, Mercy Medical Center in Canton and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, in addition to two elder care facilities, three grant-making foundations and five outreach organizations in Ohio and South Carolina.

The Sisters of Charity's Mercy Medical Center is not affiliated with Mercy Health, the Cincinnati-based minority owner of Summa.

In a phone interview Monday evening, Strauss said he's always loved the missions of the Sisters of Charity and affiliates. After retiring and doing consultant work, he recently did some strategic planning for a Northeast Ohio hospital system and realized he missed the work.

"I got really excited about the idea of helping another health system succeed," Strauss said.

He replaces Terrence Kessler, who retired in December.

Strauss said his new contract is not "term-limited."

"I'm looking for ways [for a health system] to succeed in this age of health care reform and the Trump presidency. I'm excited about what could be for the Sisters of Charity and how they can continue to live their mission in the future and excel under this turbulent time in health care," he said.

In a statement, board Chair Dr. Robert Spangler said: "The Sisters of Charity Health System selected Tom because of his commitment to continuing the health system's Catholic mission, his record of transformational health care leadership and his ability to strategically position our hospitals for future growth."

Said Sister Judith Ann Karam, congregational leader of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and chair of CSA Health System Ministries, the owner of the Sisters of Charity Health System: "We look forward to Tom's leadership, strategic guidance and expertise to strengthen the Sisters of Charity Health System's mission in health care, while also supporting the growth of our many diverse ministries."

Strauss takes over Sisters of Charity at a time when his successor at Summa, Dr. Thomas Malone, is facing no-confidence votes by more than 230 physicians and another no-confidence vote from its resident physicians.

Doctors are asking for the resignation of Malone and his leadership team following the abrupt change in emergency room doctors over New Year's Day.

Doctors have also said the failed emergency room contract was the last straw in a series of failures by Malone and the culture of fear he has created, with many physicians afraid to publicly speak out for fear of retribution.

When asked to comment about the Summa situation, Strauss would only say: "I don't want to say anything and wish them the best and hope they can be successful in the future."

Strauss said he would not consider Summa and Sisters of Charity to be competitors.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty

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