Member News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 19, 2006

Lake Forest Hospital Announces New CEO

Lake Forest Hospital (LFH) Foundation Board of Directors has announced Thomas J. McAfee as its new president/chief executive officer.

McAfee, 41, has been vice president of operations & professional services for Hillcrest Hospital – Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, Ohio, for the past six years. McAfee also served as corporate/executive director of the Cleveland Clinic eastern region oncology service for four years prior to becoming vice president. He will begin his responsibilities at Lake Forest Hospital March 15.

LFH Chairman of the Board Thomas Swarthout said, “This is an exciting time for Lake Forest Hospital. We have found someone to lead us into the next decade. Tom McAfee is up to that task.”

McAfee most recently has been responsible for leading all Hillcrest Hospital support and ancillary departments such as medical imaging, cardiopulmonary services, maintenance & engineering, logistics, clinical engineering, nutritional services, security and environmental services. He also has overseen the oncology, cardiothoracic, vascular, neuroscience and orthopedic service lines.

In other experience, McAfee has been oncology service line administrator at Good Samaritan Hospital/Catholic Health Initiatives in Dayton, Ohio; and vice president at Frankford Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

He has been an adjunct instructor for undergraduate students in a health services administration class at Pennsylvania State University, Ogontz Campus.

McAfee has a master’s degree in hospital and health administration from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. His bachelor’s degree with a concentration in neurophysiology is from Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.

McAfee is a diplomat in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a board member, Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland.

McAfee and his wife, Robin, and their three children will be relocating to the Lake County area.

McAfee will work for a brief transitional period with LFH President/CEO William G. Ries, who announced his retirement last July. Ries joined the hospital in 1975 and has served as president/ CEO since 1986.

LFH has been named the #1 Consumer Choice hospital in Lake and Kenosha counties for 2005-2006 by the independent firm National Research Corporation. LFH earned the honor for having the best doctors, best nurses, best overall image & reputation and best overall quality.

Lake Forest Hospital is a fully licensed and accredited 215-bed community hospital offering a complete range of services that are staffed by nearly 600 physicians, with offices conveniently located throughout Lake County. For information about the hospital, call 847.234.5600; for a physician referral call 847.535.6171.