New president at AMITA Saint Joseph

A new president has been named for AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet.

AMITA Health announced on Wednesday that Christopher Shride will head the Joliet hospital effective Saturday.

Shride comes from AMITA Health St. Mary’s Hospital Kankakee where he now is president. He will replace Herb Buchanan, who is leaving to become chief operating officer for affiliated AdventHealth Midwest Region.

Buchanan became president of the Joliet hospital after Robert Erickson left in September 2019.

Schride has held leadership positions in healthcare-related areas for 24 years, AMITA said in a news release announcing his appointment. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee. He has a master’s degree in health administration and a Juris Doctor degree specializing in health law from Saint Louis University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the board of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, and the executive board the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce.

At St. Mary’s Hospital, Karen Gallagher, currently chief nursing officer and vice president of operations, will take on the new role of administrator while reporting to Shride, AMITA said.

“We’re so happy to have Chris and Karen take on these additional responsibilities within our system,” Polly Davenport, senior vice president and regional operating officer for AMITA Health’s Northwest Region, said in the release. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to see leadership talent expanded and promoted internally. I’m sure both will quickly dive into their new roles and build upon what’s already been accomplished over the past several years.”

Gallagher has been with AMITA Health since 2007 and had previously held a position of director of nursing at Saint Joseph Medical Center.