Penn State Hershey CEO leaves for Aetna
HERSHEY — Penn State Hershey will have a new leader later this month after the current CEO takes a job at Aetna.
Aetna announced Wednesday that Dr. Harold L. Paz will join the company as its executive vice president and chief medical officer. Paz has served as the CEO of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Hershey’s senior vice president for health affairs and dean of its College of Medicine since April 2006.
Paz will be replaced by Dr. A. Craig Hillemeier at Penn State Hershey. Hillemeier joined the health system in October 2001 as chair of pediatrics and medical director for the Children’s Hospital, a role he still holds. He later became vice dean for clinical affairs in 2006 and chief operating officer of the Medical Group at its inception in 2008. He also served as interim executive director and COO of the medical center in 2006.
With his Hillemeier’s new position as CEO when Paz leaves, Penn State Hershey noted that Hillemeier will also serve as the CEO of the new health enterprise that Penn State Hershey and PinnacleHealth announced in late June. Penn State Hershey said the terms agreed upon by both health systems was that the Penn State Hershey senior vice president for health affairs will serve as CEO and would be a voting member of its board of directors.
Michael A. Young, president and CEO of PinnacleHealth System, will still serve as the president of the new health enterprise and oversee its day-to-day operations. Young Wednesday said in a statement that the two health systems will continue on its path as he says farewell to Paz.
“I have been fortunate to work with Dr. Paz on many projects,” Young said. “In addition to his extensive knowledge and experience, he has always shown a deep-felt concern for his patients, staff and students. I’m sure he will do an outstanding job at Aetna. While we will miss Dr. Paz’s support, PinnacleHealth System and Penn State Hershey will continue on our path to create a new health enterprise that will be better positioned to improve the health of area residents and find new opportunities to deliver high quality, cost-effective care.”
Date: 10 July, 2014