The St. Tammany Parish Hospital Board of Commissioners announced recently that President/CEO Patti M. Ellish FACHE has notified them of her intention to retire in 2018. The board has engaged Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm for healthcare and not-for-profit organizations, to identify replacement candidates.

Ellish has led the hospital for 18 years, helming such initiatives as the Millennium Project, tripling the size of the hospital, and most recently, the hospital’s groundbreaking partnership with Ochsner Health System, elevating the level of care in the service district. Just this month, under Ellish’s leadership, the hospital was among only 45 hospitals nationwide to be named a Leapfrog Top General Hospital, a reflection of quality and safety.

“We are fortunate to have had Patti Ellish in the CEO position for such a significant era of our hospital’s history,” said John Evans, board chairman. “Since 2000, we have transformed from a small community hospital to the largest health center in St. Tammany. We have forged a truly unique collaboration with our state’s largest and most accomplished health system. We will miss Patti’s leadership, her sage way of striding boldly forward while also shrewdly studying and examining each strategic step and its impact way down the road.”

“It is my honor to pass on my dedication to the mission of this organization to the next generation of leaders and innovators,” Ellish said upon her announcement to the board of her intention to retire. “As a board, you took a chance, many years ago, on a young but experienced nurse with a passion to do what is always right for patients. For this opportunity, I will always be grateful. Your faith and confidence in me enabled me to excel in this profession I love so much, and to lead this amazing team of professionals, physicians, staff, trustees and volunteers.”

Ellish’s last day will be April 30, 2018. Professionals interested in the opportunity should contact Witt/Kieffer directly at wittkieffer.com​.