The Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH) board of commissioners announced that they have selected Kerry R. Tirman, JD, MBA, FACHE, CPPS, of Moss Point, Miss., to replace long-time SMH leader Bill Davis as chief executive officer.
Tirman, who has 20 years of healthcare leadership experience, will take on the new position beginning Nov. 12.
In addition to being a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), Tirman holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Juris Doctorate (JD) from Tulane University in New Orleans, as well as a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
Under terms of the partnership between SMH and Ochsner Health System, Tirman will become the CEO of the Slidell market, including SMH, Ochsner Medical Center – North Shore and related clinics and outpatient facilities. An executive search sub-committee, consisting of eight members of the SMH/Ochsner Strategy and Oversight Committee, with four board members from SMH and four members of Ochsner Health System’s management team, was formed earlier this year and was actively involved in interviewing candidates. The sub-committee presented its unanimous recommendation before the final unanimous vote by the SMH Board on Sept. 27.
“We have every confidence that Mr. Tirman will be a strong leader for this hospital, our partnership, and our community,” said SMH Board Chairman Dan Ferrari. “Together with our partner, Ochsner Health System, we conducted a six-month national search, in which 278 individuals were initially targeted. Mr. Tirman offers us a unique blend of Hospital CEO/COO experience, legal/business education, healthcare compliance, and leadership experience that we believe will move the Slidell market partnership to the next level of clinical and financial integration, expanded healthcare services, employment growth, and employee cultural integration and flexibility to meet the healthcare needs of St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 (Slidell Memorial Hospital).”