OhioHealth names new president at O’Bleness Hospital. New leader has deep roots in Athens

COLUMBUS, Ohio — OhioHealth announced today that Mark Seckinger has been named president of OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, effective April 26.

Seckinger is currently president of OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital in Kenton and has served in that capacity since 2001. In those years, he has improved patient satisfaction scores, reduced the associate turnover rate, achieved a 99^th percentile for physician satisfaction and turned the hospital around financially. Because of these and other accomplishments, Seckinger was recognized twice with the OhioHealth President’s Award.

Prior to his years at Hardin, he served as senior operations officer at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital in Columbus from 1998 to 2001 and before that, as president, CEO and Nursing Home administrator of Doctors Hospital-Nelsonville (before it was owned by OhioHealth) from 1983 to 1998. Seckinger is a native son of southeastern Ohio and excited to be coming back.

“I was born at the Sheltering Arms Hospital,” (the hospital that preceded O’Bleness), said Seckinger. “I grew up in Nelsonville and graduated from Ohio University so it is an honor to be named president of O’Bleness Hospital and to be able to make a difference in the community where I spent the majority of my life.”

“Mark’s experience as a hospital administrator and his roots in the community combined with his ability to connect with people make him an ideal candidate for this position,” said Cheryl Herbert, senior vice president, OhioHealth Regional Operations.

LaMar Wyse, current interim president at O’Bleness Hospital will remain onboard at the hospital for Seckinger’s first 90 days to ensure a smooth leadership transition and to keep the current momentum around operations and culture moving forward.

“LaMar has provided great leadership for our care sites in Athens and Nelsonville over the past five years,” added Herbert. “He’s been with OhioHealth since 1985 and officially retired in 2009 but graciously returned when we needed him. He has provided his leadership expertise as well as shared his knowledge of our system, processes and culture and we are grateful to him for that.”

Ron Snyder, current chief financial officer at Hardin Memorial, will serve as interim president of Hardin. During his 34 years at Hardin, Snyder has been instrumental in driving its financial stability, assisting the hospital in obtaining Critical Access status in 2002 and was part of the team that led Hardin into full membership with OhioHealth in 1992.

Once the 90 day transition period at O’Bleness is complete, Wyse will go to Hardin to provide similar support to Snyder and the Hardin leadership team. Wyse previously served as president of Hardin so he understands the community and has positive relationships with Hardin associates, physicians and community members.

“OhioHealth is blessed with an abundance of talented people who are committed to our mission,” said Herbert. “I am pleased that we are able to make these new appointments from within OhioHealth in a way that matches the right expertise with the right role.”

About OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization with Methodist roots. Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is currently recognized as one of the top five large health systems in America by Truven Health Analytics and has been for five years in a row. It is also recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” and has been for nine years in a row, 2007-2015.

Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 28,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 11 hospitals, 50+ ambulatory sites, hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 40-county area.

OhioHealth hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth MedCentral Mansfield Hospital, OhioHealth MedCentral Shelby Hospital and OhioHealth Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at www.ohiohealth.com.