Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1482623
2 | Health Matters: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center P rovidence Saint Joseph Medical Center is thrilled to have Karl Keeler join the family as our new chief executive. "Throughout the chief executive selection process, Karl demonstrated excellent experience in hospital operations, growth and strategy, and a passion for continuous process improvement that made him the ideal candidate for Providence Saint Joseph," says Kevin Manemann, chief executive of Providence South. "Equally important were Karl's strong communication skills, his dedication to building trust through transparency and his personal alignment with our mission, vision and values and the Providence Promise: 'Know me, care for me, ease my way.' " We asked Keeler some questions so readers can get to know him. What was your previous role? Most recently, I served as president of MercyOne Central Iowa Region. MercyOne owns and manages 43 hospitals with a total of 20,000 employees. Prior to that, I was president and chief executive officer of Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Centers in Oregon and Idaho. How did you get started in health care? My first job in health care was in the dietary department in a hospital in Utah. Then I obtained certification as an emergency medical technician. I considered becoming a doctor but first wanted to experience what it was like on the hospital side of health care. That ended up influencing my career path in operations, and I went on to hold positions in business development, physician partnerships and service line administrative management at health care organizations in several states. How would you describe your approach to health care? I'm dedicated to what I call the mother principle, which says that when we're treating patients, we need to care for them like they 're a much-loved member of our own family. What attracted you to Providence Saint Joseph? I've been part of faith-based health care since 2004 and was attracted to Providence's ministry, which is so deeply rooted in its mission and values. The Providence Promise aligns with my personal mission of doing the right thing by being present and listening to understand. That's how you build trust, which is a priority for me. What are your goals for the medical center? Providence Saint Joseph has a long-standing reputation for delivering high quality care. My goals are to continue to enhance that reputation and focus on bringing needed services to this community to ensure world- class care is available close to home--just as we have just done with the opening of the new Emergency Department. Who made the move from Iowa with you, and what are your thoughts about living in Southern California? I relocated with my wife, Kristen, a recovery room nurse, along with three of our five children: Ashton, 17, Addyson, 14, and Brecklyn, 10. Our two oldest, Jackson, 22, and Cameron, 19, are enjoying on-campus college life in Utah. We're avid sports enthusiasts, so we're looking forward to an active lifestyle that includes skiing, golfing, hiking and tennis, as well as school sports. Meet Our New Chief Executive Karl Keeler is steeped in the culture of faith-based health care. I'M DEDICATED TO WHAT I CALL THE MOTHER PRINCIPLE, WHICH SAYS THAT WHEN WE'RE TREATING PATIENTS, WE NEED TO CARE FOR THEM LIKE THEY'RE A MUCH-LOVED MEMBER OF OUR OWN FAMILY.