Ruscitto Planning Retirement From St. Joseph’s Health

March 11, 2016 (Syracuse, NY) – Kathryn Howe Ruscitto, President & CEO at St. Joseph’s Health, today announced her decision to retire at the end of 2016. After 16 years of service, Ruscitto will leave St. Joseph’s with a legacy of continuing the heritage of the courageous women who founded the hospital 147 years ago.

With Ruscitto’s leadership since 2000, St. Joseph’s has built a stronger connection with the community and a better care delivery system overall. She inspired colleagues to serve as passionate stewards who protect the organization’s mission at every step. She reached out to the community with innovative programs that engage people and demonstrate how health care is central to an environment of growth and opportunities. New and stronger facilities are in place for cardiovascular care, orthopedics, maternal and child health, and general surgery.

Today, 40 percent of St. Joseph’s patients are from outside of Onondaga County – demonstrating the growing influence of St. Joseph’s in the region and across New York.

By the end of 2016, St. Joseph’s transition to Trinity Health will be substantially complete, ensuring the stability of St. Joseph’s future. St. Joseph’s will continue to build its regional system of community-based, compassionate care throughout its 17-county service area, and will continue to provide outstanding, award-winning health care programs to hundreds of thousands of patients.

“I am extremely proud to have had the chance to share in the stewardship of St. Joseph’s 147 year mission – to be passionate healers dedicated to honoring the Sacred in our sisters and brothers,” Ruscitto said. “The dedication of each of our colleagues, volunteers and affiliated professionals has made my turn at this role an absolute privilege.”

A national search for a new president of St. Joseph’s will begin later this month, led by St. Joseph’s local Board of Trustees and representatives from St. Joseph’s constituent groups, including physicians and nursing. Ruscitto will work closely with the Board of Trustees and the Trinity leadership team as they identify the next president, and she has offered to remain in her position until a new leader is in place.

Richard J. Gilfillan MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Health, said: “During Trinity Health’s relatively new relationship with St. Joseph’s, Kathy has been a trusted partner and friend. She worked tirelessly to include St. Joseph’s in the Trinity Health family, and has also been an advocate for synergy and operational excellence across our entire system. We will miss her leadership and commitment to our mission.”

Ruscitto remains focused on transforming St. Joseph’s operations as the organization continues to respond to the demands of health care reform, and on launching St. Joseph’s Capital Campaign to celebrate the organization’s coming 150^th anniversary.

St. Joseph’s Health is a non-profit regional health care system based in Syracuse, N.Y., providing services to patients throughout Central New York and northern Pennsylvania. From primary to specialty to home care, to our Magnet-recognized hospital, and in collaboration with our community partners, St. Joseph's Health is advancing the health of the communities we serve through an expanding range of healthcare services to ensure our patients achieve optimum long-term health. Ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, U.S. News “Best Regional Hospital” and a 15-time winner of the National Research Corporation Consumer Choice award, St. Joseph’s is widely recognized for quality, value and delivering the highest patient satisfaction. St. Joseph’s Health is affiliated with Franciscan Companies and St. Joseph’s Physicians and a part of Trinity Health.

# # #