Wendy Disbrow, MBA, RN, has been appointed interim president & CEO of St. James Hospital in Hornell as of March 12, 2022
February 25, 2022…Hornell, NY…The St. James Hospital board of directors announced today that Wendy Disbrow, MBA, RN, has been named interim president and CEO effective March 12, 2022. Disbrow is taking the position currently held by Bryan O’Donovan, who is resigning as of March 11.
“The St. James board unanimously approved the appointment of Ms. Disbrow as interim CEO,” said Shawn Hogan, St. James board chair. “She has extensive experience in rural healthcare and understands the challenges of small community hospitals.”
Disbrow currently serves as vice president, physician network for Finger Lakes Health, which operates Geneva General Hospital and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital (Penn Yan), among other community healthcare services. Her previous positions include chief administrative officer for FLH Medical P.C., a multi-specialty physician group, and administrator for Interlakes Orthopaedic Surgery, both in Geneva. She has more than 15 years of experience in nursing staff and nurse-manager roles.
“Ms. Disbrow has a proven track record as an effective healthcare leader,” said Steven I. Goldstein, senior vice president of the University of Rochester Medical Center who oversees UR Medicine regional hospitals, and also serves as president and CEO of Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals in Rochester. “We are delighted she has agreed to step in to the leadership role at St. James during this time of transition.”
Ms. Disbrow will begin working with Bryan O’Donovan on February 28 to transition to her new position as interim CEO. This coincides with St. James Hospital’s conversion to Epic, a fully integrated electronic medical record system, on March 5. She will continue to serve in her current role at Finger Lakes Health on a half-time basis.
“We are very grateful to Bryan O’Donovan for his invaluable service and contributions to the success of our new St. James Hospital during the last three and a half years, and wish him well in his new endeavor,” said Hogan. “Our board looks forward to working with Ms. Disbrow as St. James continues to provide high-quality health care close to home for residents of Hornell and Steuben County.
The St. James board and UR Medicine are collaborating on the search for a permanent CEO.
