This story has been updated to include additional information.
Jerel Humphrey will step into the top job at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Oct. 18. He’s the fourth chief executive officer — and the third person to hold the position on an interim basis at the hospital this year.
On Tuesday, the hospital’s board of directors made the appointment at a special meeting.
Humphrey replaces Kathy Callahan, who came out of retirement to temporarily serve as interim CEO after the abrupt resignation of Rose Lawhorne last month. Callahan’s last day will be Oct. 25.
Lawhorne was named to the position on a permanent basis earlier this year and resigned in September amid news of an inappropriate personal relationship with a subordinate staff member, which violates city policy.
Before Lawhorne took the job, chief financial officer Kevin Benson served as interim CEO after Chuck Bill retired.
In a Wednesday afternoon news release, BRH Board President Kenny Solomon-Gross said that Humphrey would lead the hospital while the board searches for a new, permanent CEO.
[Bartlett Hospital services are stable]
According to Dallas Hargrave, human resources director for the City and Borough of Juneau, BRH will pay B.E. Smith, $9,985 a week for Humphrey’s services.
According to their website, B.E. Smith is part of AMN Healthcare and is the largest workforce solutions company in the market.
“We deliver the depth and breadth of AMN Healthcare and B.E. Smith to help optimize your leadership needs with reduced complexity, increased efficiency, and new and better ways to support your strategic goals,” the site says.
As CEO, Lawhorne earned an annual salary of $320,000.
About Humphrey
According to a hospital news release, Humphrey is an experienced interim leader.
“Respected for his ability to foster collaboration and strengthen relationships with the community, Mr. Humphrey has served as an interim leader across the country, most recently with a hospital in Pennsylvania where he strengthened departments and worked closely with staff in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic,” the release reads.
According to Humphrey’s resume, which Hargrave provided to the Empire, he has served in various temporary positions since 2013. In addition, he’s worked in a variety of health care executive roles since the 1990s. He holds a Masters of Healthcare Administration from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Evansville.
His resume lists stabilizing operations and restoring community trust as an area of “notable strength and contributions.”
[Hospital CEO resigns after 6 months on the job]
In late September, the board agreed to move forward quickly to have a new person in place by the middle of October. The board worked with a healthcare interim executive leadership company to find Humphrey quickly.
“Mr. Humphrey has significant experience as an interim leader and the board of directors is ready to work closely with him during this transition period to a new CEO,” said Solomon-Gross.
• Contact reporter Dana Zigmund at dana.zigmund@juneauempire.com or 907-308-4891.
