CHW’s President-CEO Steps Down

Catholic Healthcare West announced the departure of President and Chief Executive Richard Kramer, under whose direction CHW grew from 12 hospitals to become one of the largest religious health-care systems in the country. Kramer will be replaced Sept. 7 on an interim basis by Sister Phyllis Hughes, a former CHW vice president. A statement from the board of directors said only that the board and Kramer “have mutually agreed that Mr. Kramer will step aside as CHW moves forward to build on the solid foundation he’s created over the last 10 years.” The system has 48 hospitals, including 14 in Southern California. Three local CHW hospitals--St. Francis in Lynwood, Robert F. Kennedy in Hawthorne and St. Vincent in Los Angeles--have been embroiled in a bitter labor dispute that has drawn the attention of local and national church leaders.