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New president, CEO named for Catholic Health

Rose Weldon
Dr. Patrick O'Shaughnessy has been named the new president and CEO of Catholic Health. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Health)

The Catholic Health system announced this week that its longtime executive vice president and chief medical officer will be elevated to serve as president and chief executive officer.

Dr. Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, who has served more than seven years as Catholic Health’s executive vice president and chief medical officer and another four years as executive vice president and chief clinical officer, will replace system’s retiring president and CEO, Dr. Alan D. Guerci, next month, the system’s Board of Directors said in an announcement on Mar. 16.

“In addition to embracing our Catholic Health culture, commitment to Catholic moral teaching and mission, and our innovative strategic plans, O’Shaughnessy will help lead and guide us in providing compassionate, high-quality care, while serving the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of patients,” said Salvatore F. Sodano, chairman of Catholic Health’s board of directors.

Prior to choosing O’Shaughnessy, Sodano said the system conducted a nationwide search for the organization’s leader, and that both the board and Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre unanimously chose him.

“Dr. O’Shaughnessy is an accomplished physician executive with more than 18 years of administrative leadership experience in strategy, innovation, operations, and design in health care organizations,” Sodano said. “He is well known, trusted and respected by the Long Island medical community, and has established a favorable reputation with clinical leaders nationally and in the tri-state area.”

Beginning in 2006, O’Shaughnessy served as assistant director of emergency medicine for Catholic Health’s St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson.

Later, he became director of emergency medicine for St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown and was promoted to chief medical officer for the institution. O’Shaughnessy continued on a steady path of growth, assuming system-wide responsibilities, and ultimately being promoted to Catholic Health’s executive vice president and chief clinical officer.

Prior to joining Catholic Health, O’Shaughnessy held physician and faculty appointments at Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center, and The Valley Hospital in New Jersey. He earned his medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and has two master’s degrees, one in business administration from Adelphi University, and a second in population health management from Thomas Jefferson University.

Guerci, a  cardiologist who has been Catholic Health’s CEO since 2013, previously announced his intention to retire on June 30, 2020, but agreed to stay on until the board could find his successor.

“Dr. Guerci has provided steady leadership throughout his tenure and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has presented historic challenges to all health care organizations,” Sodano said. “We will always be grateful for his outstanding leadership and commitment to our organization. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Dr. Guerci for all that he has done for Catholic Health.”

O’Shaughnessy will take the reins from Guerci beginning on Apr. 16.

“Thank you to our Bishop, Fr. Eric Fasano, Vicar General, our Chairman of the Board Mr. Sodano and our entire Board of Directors for this incredible opportunity,” O’Shaughnessy said. “I am humbled, honored and excited to assume the role of President and CEO at Catholic Health, which has been a leader for decades in providing high-quality health care to the communities of Long Island. I am inspired every day by the exceptional team of caregivers at Catholic Health, who truly live our mission, and I am committed to build upon Dr. Guerci’s legacy and position the organization for future growth and success in the years ahead.”

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