Providence Health & Services and the Saint John’s Health Center Board of Trustees has appointed Marcel Loh at new chief executive for Providence Saint John’s Health Center and the John Wayne Cancer Institute.
Loh previously served for 14 years in executive roles with Providence affiliate Swedish Health Services, a five-hospital, not-for-profit system in Greater Seattle.
He replaces Michael Wall, the acting president and chief executive officer who helped guide the transition this year of Saint John’s to Providence.
“Marcel is a skilled leader with a reputation for growth strategies and experience in a complex integrated health system in a competitive marketplace,” said Donna Tuttle, chairwoman of the Providence Saint John’s local board of directors. “His collaboration work style will be an asset with the Westside community, the doctors, the foundation and the Saint John’s Local Board. We welcome Marcel and his wife Jane to the Saint John’s family.”
Loh previously served as chief executive for Swedish’s suburban hospitals and chief executive for the Swedish Health Network, a partnership between Swedish and hospitals on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula.
During his tenure at Swedish, his other roles included chief administrative officer for Swedish’s Cherry Hill campus, senior vice president for major service lines, system facilities, Washington state health care affiliations and telehealth.
“Marcel is a seasoned heath care administrator who is focused on creating a great working environment for physicians and caregivers (employees,) so they in turn can provide great care to our patients and communities. We’re excited about the leadership he will bring to the Saint John’s community,” said Mike Butler, president of operations and services for Providence Health & Services, which assumed sponsorship over Saint John’s earlier this year.
Swedish is the largest health system in Seattle. Founded 104 years ago, Swedish became part of Providence Health & Services in 2012. Providence, based in Renton, Wash., was founded in 1859 and today operates 34 hospitals in five Western states, including six in Southern California. Providence Saint John’s is renowned for cancer research and care through its John Wayne Cancer Institute, and for orthopedics, neurology and numerous other specialties.
“Providence Saint John’s has been recognized for years as one of the nation’s top hospitals, with world-class physicians and great caregivers,” Loh said. “I’m both humbled and honored to lead this medical center as we reach still higher to improve the excellent care we provide to our community.”
Prior to joining Swedish in December 2000, Loh served as president and chief executive officer of Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash. Other past positions include CEO of North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, Mont., and vice president of Operations at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Neb.
Loh holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota and a master’s degree in hospital administration from the University of Iowa. He served as an Army officer in the Medical Service Corps and retired from the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.
In addition to being a past chairman of the Washington State Hospital Association, he is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is the past ACHE regent for the state of Washington.
Loh has also served on numerous boards including the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board; Washington state chapter of the American Heart Association; The Association of Washington Business; United Way; and March of Dimes.
He has mentored students at the University of Washington’s graduate program in health care management, is a past member of Rotary International and a Paul Harris Fellow. He currently serves as an American College of Healthcare Executives governor, which is a board position, and on the Regional Policy Board of the American Hospital Association.
