Summa Health System has eliminated the position of president of Barberton and Wadsworth-Rittman hospitals, effective today.
Tom DeBord had been serving in the role since 2010.
In a prepared statement, Summa Health System President and Chief Executive Thomas J. Strauss said the decision to eliminate the position followed “a thorough review of the needs of the company as we move into a new era of health care.”
“We currently are in the process of filling a system role that includes site administration for the two hospitals and look forward to sharing additional information in the near future,” Strauss said.
Kathy Jobe, chief nursing officer for Barberton and Wadsworth-Rittman hospitals, will serve as site administrator until the new system role is filled.
Barberton Hospital has 190 beds and about 1,200 employees.
Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital has 50 beds and about 360 employees.
Strauss praised DeBord’s leadership, adding, “It was my hope that he would remain with the organization.”
DeBord declined to comment Monday through a Summa spokesman.
He began his career at Barberton in 1988. He was named chief operating officer of Barberton in 2002 and added Wadsworth-Rittman to his oversight in 2008.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/CherylPowellABJ.
