Ready to Serve

By Michael C. Riordan, president and CEO, Premier Health 

It’s my pleasure and honor to join you in serving Southwest Ohio as Premier Health’s president and CEO. I’m grateful that our health system’s locally led board has chosen me for this role, and I’m also grateful to Mary Boosalis for her warm welcome and her openness in introducing me to Premier Health. Thank you, Mary, for your many years of service to the health system and the communities we serve.

I’ve hit the ground running and ready to serve. I recently took part in my first meeting with the Premier Health board, which includes four physician members, as we work to support ongoing organizational success in achieving our mission. We discussed at length the importance of Premier Health’s alignment with our providers, as well as the importance of considering the implications of any strategic decisions for clinical care. I recognize that our providers are truly the differentiators for us in a competitive health care landscape.

My first few weeks in this role also have been spent getting acquainted with the medical staff structure, as well as family members transferring their medical care from our previous home in South Carolina to Premier Health’s providers. I’m also pleased that Marc Belcastro, DO, Premier Health’s chief medical officer, will be moving his office to the third floor of the Premier Health Center. This is not symbolic; I look forward to seeking Marc’s valued counsel in person on a regular basis.

That said, you can expect me to play a lot of “away games” as CEO and be visible not just out in the community, but across our sites of care. It’s also important for you to know that I’m passionate about diversity and inclusion; through the decades, I’m proud to have been an ally for those who have traditionally been marginalized by society. And I believe that it’s tremendously important for all of our employees to feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work.

I’ve heard a lot about the grit and determination all of you have shown throughout the pandemic, finding your way through some of the most demanding moments of your careers. Know that you are making a meaningful difference for this organization, and I have a sincere appreciation for that – a feeling that I’m quite sure will only deepen as I continue to get to know you better.

Please know that I have this organization’s mission and this community’s best interests at heart. I hope our paths cross soon.

Back to the February 2022 issue of Premier Pulse