NEWS RELEASE
OPELOUSAS GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM
August 12, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: DEANNA LEJEUNE
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR
(337) 948-5170
FAX: (337) 942-2968
CELL: 351-9097
Opelousas General Health System Selects New CEO
Opelousas, La., August 12, 2010 - Wayne Gilmore, President of the Opelousas General Health System Authority Board of Trustees announced that the Board has selected Gary Keller as the new President/CEO of Opelousas General Health System effective Monday, August 16, 2010.
Keller, most recently CEO of Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital and former CEO of Opelousas General, brings 36 years of hospital administration and senior executive leadership experience to OGHS. Keller replaces Robert Quist, who was serving as interim since the resignation of Gerald A. Fornoff in July.
“ I have personally known Gary for over thirty years. He is a wonderful person and an excellent leader. He excels in organizational and communication skills and has always enjoyed outstanding Medical Staff relations. This will be his third time to serve as CEO of Opelousas General,” said Gilmore. “We are extremely pleased that he is coming home,” he added. David Cecero, regional vice president of Quorum Health Resources (QHR) which provides management services to Opelousas, agreed: “We are thrilled that Gary is rejoining QHR. He made significant contributions to our company, just as he is sure to make an immediate positive impact at Opelousas. As former CEO, he can hit the ground running.”
Keller, who is a native of Baton Rouge, LA, began his career in hospital administration in 1975 at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, California. Prior to his CEO position at Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital, he served as President & Principal at The Schumacher Group where he was an owner and Board Member and led growth of the company from $3 million to $270 million in the first twelve years of operation. Under his leadership, the company expanded from Louisiana into sixteen states. Prior to this position, Keller held two major leadership positions with Quorum Health Resources and Hospital Management Professionals where, as an Operational Vice President (GVP), he led a team of peers that established a new line of business for Quorum in the area of management for Integrated Delivery Systems as well as managed multiple hospitals in two different regions.
Keller earned a BA from Louisiana State University in 1968 where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate. In 1975 he completed his MA in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University. Having a strong interest in law, he also completed several credits at LSU Law School in 1969.
As a consultant, Keller worked with The Lemoine Company, LHC Group and Quality Health Network where he extended his expertise in strategic planning, marketing, business development, new construction, and engagement of medical staff.
His professional affiliations and community service demonstrate his commitment to service. He is a founding board member of Louisiana Physician Hospital Association, a former board member of Louisiana Rural Hospital Association and Louisiana Hospital Association. He has served as past President of the Opelousas/ST. Landry Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Leadership Lafayette Institute and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. He is a youth mentor and assists several local charities with fund-raising initiatives.
He and his wife Rita, who is a speech pathologist, have 3 children (Kym, Greg and Erin) and 2 grandchildren (Andrew 8, Caroline 6).
Opelousas General Health System’s commitment to excellence provides the highest quality healthcare services to the patients we serve.
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