Dr. William Jackson Named Erlanger’s New CEO; Spiegel Gets Year's Salary, Continuing Insurance

  • Wednesday, September 18, 2019

During a specially-called meeting of the Erlanger Health System Board of Trustees, Chairman Mike Griffin announced that Chief Medical Officer Dr. William L. Jackson Jr., has been appointed as the health system’s new president and chief executive officer.

 

Also a settlement was reached with former president Kevin Spiegel, who resigned last week under pressure from the board. The separation agreement and release provides payment to Mr.

Spiegel of 12 months’ salary and cash equivalent for the cost of continuing health insurance benefits. 

 

Officials said, "Mr. Spiegel came to lead the Erlanger Health System in 2013 in a challenging time. His accomplishments include the addition of a new patient tower and services at Erlanger East Hospital, The Erlanger Kennedy Children’s Outpatient Center, Heart & Lung Institute, The Orthopedic Institute, The Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital and the acquisition of Western Carolina Hospital. During his tenure the hospital achieved upgrades & stable outlooks form Wall Street, and significantly invested in IT System EPIC, to enhance overall patient quality."

 

Mr. Griffin said, “On behalf of the Board, I want to express our appreciation for Kevin’s vision and efforts surrounding our impressive growth and presence throughout the region. He has made many valuable contributions over the past six years and, on behalf of the Board, we wish him, his wife and their family all the best going forward.”

 

As Erlanger's Chief Medical Officer for almost four years, Dr. Jackson was responsible for oversight of Quality, Safety, Erlanger Medical Group, Physician Services, Research, Medical Affairs, and inpatient and outpatient care delivery for the health system. In this role, he also focused on advancing a clinical agenda that supports Erlanger’s Medical Staff and outcomes critical to their success.

 

“On behalf of Erlanger’s Board of Trustees, we welcome Dr. Jackson during this period of transition,” Mr. Griffin stated.  “We have every confidence that he will continue Erlanger’s movement in a positive direction and strengthen relationships inside the health system and in the many communities we serve.”

 

Dr. Jackson previously served as Chief Medical Officer for Alexandria Hospital at Inova Health System in Virginia, as well as Associate System Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Effectiveness. During his tenure at Inova, Dr. Jackson had several roles, including practicing as an intensivist at Inova Fairfax Hospital, the System’s 833-bed tertiary hospital. He also led the Inova Telemedicine Institute as Medical Director, and served as the first System Director for Adult Critical Care.

Dr. Jackson received his medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA, and completed his postgraduate training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He completed his MBA at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine, and he is a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians.

Wednesday’s board meeting was recorded and will be available on Erlanger’s website and YouTube Channel. 

 

Following a closed-door session, the board members emerged and chose Dr. Jackson in a unanimous vote.

 

Trustee Gerald Webb proposed a motion to make the next CEO a full-time one, rather than an interim figure. He would receive a one-year contract to “prove himself” on. 

 

“We have issues here that we need to resolve, and do it immediately. I think that Erlanger needs some certainty, and in a one year contract, it gives us the ability to move forward,” said Judge Webb, adding that if the situation turned sour, the hospital could easily sever ties with the short-term CEO.

 

 

 

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