New OSF Saint Francis leader chosen
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 17 December 2014 16:06
- Written by Paul Gordon
Michael Cruz, MD, will be the next president of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, OSF HealthCare and The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis announced Wednesday.
Dr. Cruz, currently vice president of the hospital, will replace Keith Steffen, who will retire in January after serving 18 years as president and CEO of OSF Saint Francis and 34 years with OSF HealthCare. OSF Saint Francis is the parent company’s flagship hospital. Cruz will assume his new role Jan. 26. 2015, working with Steffen on the transition in the meantime.
“I am honored to accept this position and thank the Sisters, Mr. Keith Steffen, and Ministry executives for entrusting me with this key leadership role at OSF Saint Francis,” said Dr. Cruz in accepting the position. “There are many new challenges ahead in health care, but as long as we follow the Sisters’ Mission, we will succeed.”
Cruz started with OSF Saint Francis in 1987 as a resident in the emergency medicine program. He was hired as an emergency medicine attending physician in 1990, was vice chairman of the department for a decade, and continues there in a limited role to stay better connected with caregivers and patients.
In September 2007, Cruz was appointed vice president of Quality & Safety for OSF Saint Francis and began serving as the Associate Chief Medical Officer. He chairs the OSF Saint Francis Quality & Safety Board and the OSF Saint Francis Professional Staff Quality Improvement Committee.
As president of OSF Saint Francis, Cruz will ensure the organization operates with the highest clinical excellence and compassionate care while being fiscally responsible, to fulfill the Mission of the OSF HealthCare Ministry.
Cruz earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign – Urbana and medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine – Chicago. He has been involved with research projects at the University of Illinois College of Medicine – Peoria and three times was named outstanding UICOMP teacher.
Additionally, Cruz is on the OSF Saint Francis and Community Institutional Review Boards and is a board member for the Saint Francis Community Clinic and Easter Seals. He and his wife, Donna, and their three children live in Peoria and are members of Holy Family Parish.
OSF HealthCare, an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Peoria, includes the OSF Healthcare System consisting of 10 acute care facilities and two colleges of nursing. OSF also has a physician organization, employing 692 physicians in various specialties and more than 300 advanced practitioners who are part of the OSF Medical Group.
With 616 beds, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is the fourth-largest medical center in Illinois. A major teaching affiliate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, it is the area’s only Level I Trauma Center, the highest level designated in trauma care. It serves as the resource hospital for emergency medical services for north-central Illinois. It is home to Children’s Hospital of Illinois and the Illinois Neurological Institute.
