Currans to succeed Root as hospital CEO
Root announces retirement in January 2009The Harrison Memorial Hospital Board of Directors approved a recommendation from its Succession Planning Committee and has selected Chief Operating Officer Sheila Currans to succeed Chief Executive Officer Darwin Root when he retires in January 2009. Root announced his retirement to the board several months ago, and the Succession Planning Committee presented its recommendation at the March board meeting.
Root, 61, has decided to retire effective January 2009 due to health issues. He has served as hospital CEO for the past 12 years. Root said, “Having three heart-related incidents in the past three years has been a wake-up call for me. Perhaps the good Lord is trying to tell me something.”
Root is pleased with the board’s decision to name Currans as the next CEO. He said, “Sheila is a very bright, dedicated individual who already commands the respect of the board, medical staff and employees at HMH. She is also recognized as a leader by the Kentucky Hospital Association.”
Currans, who holds an associate nursing degree from the University of Kentucky School of Nursing and a bachelor’s degree from Midway College, has dedicated her life to HMH. She was born at HMH’s Pike Street facility and worked at the hospital as a candy striper while in high school. After earning a degree in registered nursing, she worked as a staff nurse and assistant head nurse on the medical and surgical floors. During her 34-year tenure at HMH, she has served as ICU/CCU head nurse and supervisor, Director of Quality and Director of Nursing. For the past five years, she has been the Chief Operating Officer, reporting to the CEO. Currans is also a certified professional in healthcare quality and an advanced cardiac life support instructor for the American Heart Association.
Currans states that she is grateful for the confidence expressed by the board. She is eager to lead HMH over the next several years as it continues to evolve as a regional hospital. Currans said, “We have committed and caring employees, outstanding physicians and a progressive board. I truly look forward to our continued working relationships. Together, we have the unique challenge of preserving our timeless core values of compassionate care, while we stimulate progress and growth.”
Greg Cooper, M.D., HMH Board Chairman, says, “Health care is a very dynamic field, with major changes happening almost every day. HMH has been able to meet the challenges and remain strong. With Sheila’s promotion to the CEO position, we expect growth and progress to continue as it has under Darwin’s leadership.”
Currans is the daughter of Bettye Marshall and the late Harry M. Marshall. She attributes much of her passion for health care to her mother, who dedicated 43 years to HMH and the care of countless patients.
Sheila and Gregg Currans have been married for 35 years and live in Cynthiana. They have three children—Kristn, Stacy and Russ—and are anticipating the arrival of their fourth grandchild in June.
