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11/1/2009
Vicki A. Darnell has been designated as CEO-elect for Ephraim McDowell Health at the end of Clark Taylor's tenure in October 2010.
As the not-for-profit health system having primary responsibility for services in Boyle and contiguous counties, it is most important that leadership changes take place without interruption of services. At Ephraim McDowell Health, the Board of Directors has fiduciary responsibility for succession planning and ensuring there will be a smooth transition when leadership changes take place.
More than two years ago, during the annual self-evaluation process, the board charged Clark Taylor, president and CEO, with creating a succession plan for senior level roles within EMH. The Board also recognized that 'best practice' required a formalized succession planning process for the CEO. The EMH Board took upon itself to develop such a process and displayed the discipline to create a succession plan to the CEO role. After being engaged in the process for eighteen months, the Board has voted unanimously on the plan for CEO succession. They determined there will not be a need to search for a new CEO at the end of Taylor’s tenure and have designated Vicki A. Darnell as CEO-elect.
Taylor came to EMH in July 2002 and has led the organization in an exemplary fashion, including that of creating a culture of mission and values as EMH associates and physicians engage in health care service delivery. This past summer Taylor was ordained as a clergy within the United Methodist Church and plans to in the future to return to Tennessee in a role aligned with being a minister.
Darnell came to EMH from Southeast Alabama Medical Center more than two years ago and has embraced her roles as Executive Vice President, EMH and Chief Operating Officer, EMRMC.
“During her tenure, Vicki has demonstrated her preparedness for assuming the CEO role,” said Barton L. Ramsey, III, M.D., EMH Board Chair.
Dr. Ramsey added, “We are in an enviable situation. We have a current CEO who is doing a wonderful job and are grateful to have within our organization a CEO in waiting that we have confidence will take this organization to the next level. No time table has been established for the transition of leadership; however, when it occurs it will be seamless and without interruption of services.”
“It has been my pleasure to serve this wonderful organization for the past two years,” Darnell said. “In that time, I have grown to value our associates, medical staff, volunteers, board members and the community. While every healthcare organization has many challenges, Ephraim McDowell is fortunate in that we have a strong foundation laid by the vision and leadership of our current President and CEO, Clark Taylor. I am honored - and humbled - to be appointed as CEO-elect and I look forward to working with the Board, medical staff leadership and Clark during this transition period,” said Darnell.
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