Health System Leadership Group
Paul K. Whelton, MB, MD, MSc, president and chief executive officer and vice president, Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Whelton joined Loyola University Health System (Loyola) in 2007. He has overall responsibility for Loyola and senior oversight of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and Niehoff School of Nursing. Most recently, he was senior vice president for health sciences at Tulane University Health Sciences Center as well as dean of the Tulane University School of Medicine (Tulane). Dr. Whelton has held faculty positions at both Tulane and Johns Hopkins University. A native of Cork City, Ireland, Dr. Whelton received his medical degree from the National University of Ireland, University College Cork, and a master of science degree in epidemiology from the University of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He completed residency training in internal medicine and a nephrology fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a post-doctoral fellowship in epidemiology at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology and Clinical Care Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Middlesex, England. Dr. Whelton has conducted a series of groundbreaking studies on the prevention and treatment of hypertension for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Institute on Aging. Well-published and a frequent presenter and lecturer at scientific meetings, Dr. Whelton has served as a consultant to numerous national and international health agencies and governments.
Karen Lewis Alexander, senior vice president, Development & External Affairs. Ms. Alexander joined Loyola in 2008 as vice president of Development to oversee the planning, management and implementation of the fund-raising program and long-term development goals for Loyola University Health System, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and the university's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. In her current role, she has overall responsibility for Development, Marketing and Planning. Prior to joining Loyola, Ms. Alexander was associate vice president for alumni and development communications and advancement initiatives at the University of Chicago, where she had worked for seven years in progressive roles. Before joining the University of Chicago, Ms. Alexander had worked in various capacities at InterArt Distribution in Bloomington, Ind., and at Union Theological Seminary in New York. She earned her bachelor of arts degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. She is a member and voting judge of The University & College Designers Association and a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Ms. Alexander has been a guest speaker at conferences, and has earned myriad awards for her work on design, writing and marketing education campaigns for higher education.
William Cannon, MD, AAP, ACP, associate professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; chief of staff and associate dean, Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Cannon is responsible for the oversight of the medical-dental staff as well as the oversight of graduate medical education. He also has oversight of Loyola University Health System quality & patient safety, risk management and patient relations. He continues to practice internal medicine and pediatrics. Dr. Cannon received a bachelor of arts degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and his doctor of medicine degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch). He completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC). Dr. Cannon also is an associate professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at Stritch. He has held a variety of positions at LUMC and Loyola University Health System, including medical director of primary care and managed care and program director for the combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency program. Dr. Cannon is chairman of Loyola University Chicago Insurance Corp. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Cannon has received several awards for teaching, including two Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching and an Inspirational Faculty Award from the Department of Medicine, Stritch. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha.
Patricia Cassidy, president, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, and senior vice president, Strategy. As president of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Ms. Cassidy is responsible for creating a strategic plan for the future of Gottlieb. She also represents Gottlieb at the Loyola University Health System (Loyola) leadership table. Ms. Cassidy also serves as senior vice president responsible for Loyola strategic planning. Serving in that strategic planning role since 1998 as the senior vice present for System Development & Strategy, Ms. Cassidy had responsibility for overall strategic planning, marketing and public relations, quality and patient safety, managed care contracting, and government and community affairs for Loyola and Loyola University Physician Foundation (LUPF). Prior to this, Ms. Cassidy served Loyola and LUPF in many capacities including vice president for managed care for the health system. Prior to Loyola, Ms. Cassidy worked in both the health-care insurance and marketing industries. Ms. Cassidy is a cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois and received her master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University Chicago. She serves on the boards at RML Specialty Hospital and Leaders Bank and holds an honorary appointment on the faculty of Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and is a co-course director at Stritch.
Richard L. Gamelli, MD, FACS, dean, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch); Robert J. Freeark, MD, Professor of Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stritch; professor, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Stritch; director, Burn & Shock Trauma Institute and medical director, Burn Unit, Loyola University Health System (Loyola). Dr. Gamelli was named dean in April 2009. He is responsible for overseeing Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch) and graduate school education and research programs for both students and faculty. He joined Stritch in 1990 as professor of surgery; he was named chair of the Department of Surgery five years later. During his tenure, he has held numerous leadership positions within the institution, including vice president and board member of the former Loyola University Physician Foundation; he is a member of the Loyola University Health System/Loyola University Medical Center Board of Directors. Dr. Gamelli is one of the nation's leading authorities on burn injury and its treatment. His research centers on the effects of burn injury and infection on myelopoiesis, which has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the past 20 years. He is a member of the NIH Center for Scientific Review's Surgery, Anesthesia and Trauma Study Section. The number of his publications in peer review journals, books and abstracts exceeds 400. Dr. Gamelli earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He completed both a surgical internship and surgical residency at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont. He held a number of positions during his tenure at the Vermont medical school, including professor of surgery and vice chairman of the Department of Surgery. He holds membership in dozens of medical and scientific societies, including the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, the American Board of Surgery and the American Burn Association (ABA). He is past president of the ABA; he has been an active member since 1979. He also is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Gamelli is the current editor-in-chief for the Journal of Burn Care and Research, and he is a member of several additional editorial boards including Shock, The Practice of Surgery and Contemporary Surgery. He has earned many teaching awards and also has been named to assorted top physician lists both locally and nationally.
David W. Hecht, MD, IDSA, professor and chair, Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; co-director, Infectious Disease & Immunology Institute. Dr. Hecht was named chair of the Department of Medicine in January 2009, with administrative responsibility for the largest department within Stritch. He is a renowned infectious disease clinician and researcher who has been a member of the Stritch faculty for more than 20 years. He is the immediate past division director of the Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine. Dr. Hecht earned his medical degree from Stritch; he completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and a fellowship in infectious disease and geographic medicine at Tufts University, Boston. Dr. Hecht is certified by the American Board of Medicine. His current research focuses on antibiotic resistance in bacteria, and he has been a leader in the development of international testing guidelines for anaerobic bacterial strains. Dr. Hecht is a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Society for Microbiology and the Anaerobe Society of the Americas, among others, and a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America. He has published myriad scholarly articles and has been a guest lecturer at dozens of medical symposiums and conventions worldwide.
Paula Hindle, RN, MSN, MBA, vice president, Health Care Services and chief nurse executive. Ms. Hindle joined Loyola University Health System in 1997 as vice president. In 2004, she was named chief nurse executive of ambulatory services as well. She is responsible for nursing education and support services, social work, quality resource management, infection control and patient education. She has functioned in a nurse executive position for health-care providers for two decades. She received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts, her master of science degree in nursing from Duke University and her master’s degree in business administration from Simmons College in Massachusetts. Ms. Hindle has been an active member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives, Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives, the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders and Sigma Theta Tau. In 1990, Ms. Hindle received the Outstanding Alumna Achievement Award from Simmons Graduate School of Management.
John P. Mordach, Senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mr. Mordach joined Loyola University Health System in 2009, bringing 24 years experience in managing the finances of complex health-care systems. Mr. Mordach previously was chief financial officer of Edward Health Services Corp., and held financial management positions at University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System, New England Medical Center Hospitals in Boston and three other Massachusetts hospitals. Mr. Mordach graduated summa cum laude from Merrimack College in North Andover, MA., and earned a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago.
Sharon O'Keefe, president, Loyola University Hospital. Ms. O'Keefe joined Loyola University Hospital in April 2009. She is responsible for hospital operations management and financial performance. Most recently, she was chief operating officer for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a member hospital of BJC Healthcare in St. Louis. Ms. O'Keefe has served in senior management roles at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical System and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, a major teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Her experience also includes health-care consulting with Ernst & Young and service as an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Ms. O'Keefe began her career as a critical care nurse at Loyola University Medical Center. She holds a master of science degree in nursing from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Northern Illinois University.
Daniel Post, senior vice president, Ambulatory Programs and interim chief operating officer, Loyola University Hospital. Mr. Post, who became senior vice president in 2008 is responsible for all ambulatory practice operations including more than 20 primary and specialty facilities. Additionally, he is responsible for radiation oncology, outpatient rehabilitation, occupational and employee health, outpatient radiology, outpatient psychiatry, satellite cancer centers. Mr. Post also leads a team of 17 specialty medical directors who are responsible for the medical leadership within all specialty ambulatory practices. Prior to this, he served Loyola in positions of increasing responsibility including vice president for ambulatory services, and administrative director, Primary Care and Occupational Medicine. Mr. Post also has served as a part-time faculty member at the College of DuPage, Triton College, Moraine Valley Community College and for the American Heart Association. He received his bachelor of science and master of business administration degrees from Loyola University Chicago; he is a cum laude graduate of Moraine Valley Community College (respiratory care). Mr. Post has held board positions on the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation, Plymouth Place and the Perinatal Association of Illinois.
Charles E. Reiter III, Esq.,senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, Loyola University Health System (Loyola) and Loyola University Medical Center. Mr. Reiter is responsible for the legal affairs of the corporations. Mr. Reiter, who assumed his current position in 1997, also is responsible for government & community affairs and compliance/auditing for Loyola. Since receiving his Illinois attorney license, he has concentrated his practice of law in health-related areas including contracting, reimbursement and litigation. He served as outside counsel to Loyola University Chicago and Loyola University Medical Center from 1983 to his appointment in 1997. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his juris doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. He is admitted to practice in the Illinois state and federal courts. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State and Chicago Bar associations, American Health Lawyers Association, Appellate Lawyers Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and American Society of Corporate Secretaries.