Summa Health revamps senior leadership. Which positions are staying and which are going?

Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read

Summa Health is reorganizing and shaking up its top executive team.

The Akron-based health organization on Tuesday announced it is creating a new chief operating officer position and others, while eliminating some senior manager jobs. Among the positions being eliminated are the presidents of the Akron, St. Thomas and Barberton campuses.

Summa also announced it will be moving maternity services from its Barberton campus to Akron next month.

The changes are being made to better align Summa with ongoing changes in health care, to become more efficient, and to streamline decision making, said Dr. Cliff Deveny, Summa president and chief executive officer.

In some cases, Summa has named people to fill the new roles. In others, the system system will be seeking candidates with the hope to fill openings by the end of the year.

The new senior leaders are:⋅

  • Ben Sutton, new chief operating officer, providers, effective immediately. He previously was chief strategy officer and president of ambulatory care and clinical service lines. He will be responsible for overseeing inpatient, outpatient and ambulatory operations for Summa Health, including the Summa Health System Akron, Barberton and St. Thomas campuses, outpatient medical centers, Summa Health Medical Group, medical education, research and service lines.

  • Bill Epling, former president of SummaCare, is the new president of insurance and networks effective Oct. 9. He will be responsible for overseeing the operations of SummaCare, NewHealth Collaborative, Summa Health Network and Ohio Health Choice. He also will help develop and execute strategy around population health and associated networks and infrastructure.

  • Michelle Bisson, vice president of marketing, has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing and business development effective Oct. 9. She will expand on her current marketing and communications responsibilities to include a key leadership position in growth, business development and consumer engagement.

New positions being created include:

  • President of Summa Health System Hospitals, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Akron, Barberton and St. Thomas campuses.

  • Vice president of hospital operations, providing support for ensuring the strategic priorities of the hospital campuses are identified and executed, with a specific focus on the Barberton Campus.

  • Chief nursing officer, hospitals, responsible for managing the day-to-day nursing operations across the organization.

The following positions are being eliminated:

  • President of Summa Health System Akron and St. Thomas campuses, currently held by Dr. David Custodio. He will remain in his position through Nov. 18.

  • President of Summa Health System Barberton Campus, currently held by Dr. Michael Hughes. He will remain in his position through Nov. 18.

  • Chief nursing officer of Summa Health System Akron and St. Thomas Campuses, currently held by Lorie Rhine, whose last day at Summa is Oct. 26. Rhine recently accepted a new position outside of Summa.

  • Chief nursing officer of the Summa Health System Barberton Campus, currently held by T.J. DeAngelis. DeAngelis has accepted the new position of vice president of hospital operations effective Nov. 20.

Beacon Journal reporter Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summa Health revamps top leadership, creates new jobs and cuts others