Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago CEO Resigns
Interim President/CEO Named as RIC Board Committee Begins Nationwide Search for Replacement
June 8, 2006
CHICAGO - The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) announced on Thursday the resignation of its president and chief executive officer, Wayne M. Lerner, DPH, FACHE, effective on August 31, 2006. Joanne C. Smith, MD, MBA, most recently the president of the RIC's national operations, will serve as interim president and chief executive officer.
'RIC has continued to expand its reach and to provide a growing number of patients the country's best physical medicine and rehabilitation care during Dr. Lerner's nine year tenure,' said King Harris, Chairman of the RIC Board of Directors. 'During this time of transition, we have great confidence in Dr. Smith's ability to carry our success forward.'
Dr. Smith completed her medical training at RIC in 1992 as Chief Resident of Northwestern University Medical School's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program. That same year she joined RIC as an attending physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation, beginning a steady progression of responsibility and achievement in clinical and administrative roles. She became Director of Medical Planning in 1994, Medical Director of RIC's expanding Day Rehabilitation Center programs in 1995, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Partnerships in 1997, Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Business Development in 2002, and President, RIC National Division in 2005.
Dr. Smith has been responsible for the nationwide market penetration strategies that support RIC's advancement of its mission and overall growth. In addition, Dr. Smith has overseen all RIC operations outside the Chicagoland area. Dr. Smith also has had accountability for the departments of Corporate Strategy & Business Development and Information Technology. She is the founder of RIC's Women's Health Rehabilitation program and holds the academic position of Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University. She also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. In the last two editions of Chicago magazine, Dr. Smith was noted as one of Chicago's top doctors and was and was one of seven profiled in the 2006 edition.
RIC's Board of Directors has appointed a committee that, under the leadership of incoming board chairman Michael Keiser, President, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, will conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for the position of CEO. The search will focus on identifying the strongest external and internal candidates.
About the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) is dedicated to helping people with all levels and types of physical disabilities regain or improve their physical functions and empowering them to participate more fully in family, social, vocational and leisure time pursuits. The Institute has been ranked the 'Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America' by U.S. News & World Report, every year since 1991 and is the first independent rehabilitation hospital in the country to receive the Magnet award for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
RIC operates a flagship hospital in Chicago as well as a network of Day Rehabilitation Centers and outpatient centers located throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. RIC recently opened the new RIC Spine & Sports Rehabilitation Center in River Forest, and maintains strategic alliances with other high-quality health care providers throughout the state of Illinois, including Advocate Illinois Masonic, Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, Blessing Hospital, RML Specialty Hospital and Southern Illinois Healthcare. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.ric.org.
Journalists contact: mediarelations@ric.org, 312-238-6044.
All others contact: webmaster@ric.org.
