FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Niki Burgdorf, 314-628-3603

Sisters of Mercy Health System Names Future CEO for St. John's Regional

St. Louis (September 31, 2009) – The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) has announced that Gary W. Pulsipher will assume the role of president and chief executive officer of St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, upon completion of St. John’s transfer from its current sponsoring organization, Catholic Health Initiatives, to Mercy. Until the transfer is complete, which is expected by the end of the year, Pulsipher will serve as a member of Mercy’s transition team.

Pulsipher was a leader within Mercy from 1994 to 2002, serving in the roles of president/CEO of St. John’s Hospital in Lebanon, Mo., and regional vice president of St. John’s Health System with executive responsibility for five regional hospitals. Since 2002, Pulsipher has served as president/CEO for Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Nebraska, and administrator of Silverton Hospital in Silverton, Oregon.

Pulsipher has a master’s degree in public administration–health care from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and German from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

“Gary’s abilities and his past experience with Mercy position him as the ideal person to lead the long-term future of St. John’s Regional as a member of the Mercy health ministry,” said Lynn Britton, Mercy president and chief executive officer. “We are pleased to welcome him back to Mercy, and we look forward to introducing him to St. John’s and the Joplin community.”

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About Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy Health System (Mercy) operates hospitals, physician practices, outpatient clinics, health plans and related health and human services in a seven-state area including Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Its members include 19 acute care hospitals providing more than 4,000 licensed beds, two heart hospitals, a managed care subsidiary (Mercy Health Plans), physician practices, outpatient care facilities, home health programs, skilled nursing services and long-term care facilities. Services are provided by approximately 31,000 co-workers and 4,600 physicians who are employed or practice at Mercy facilities. Mercy is the 8th largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S. based on net patient service revenue. It is sponsored by Mercy Health Ministry, an entity established by the Catholic Church to oversee the healing ministry and Catholic identity of Mercy. For more information, visit www.mercy.net.    

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