Thomas L. Werner, who has served as president and CEO of Adventist Health System (AHS) since 1999, has announced his plans to retire effective Jan. 1, 2007. Werner turned 60 on Dec. 8, 2005.
Werner has more than 37 years of service to Seventh-day Adventist institutional work. He served as president and chief executive officer of Florida Hospital and the Florida Hospital Division from 1984–1999, and executive vice president of AHS. Werner also previously served as president of Walla Walla Hospital in Walla Walla, Wash., and administrator of Tillamook General Hospital in Tillamook, Ore. His denominational career started in 1968 as a business professor at Union College in Lincoln, Neb.
During his tenure at AHS, the largest not-for-profit Protestant healthcare system in the nation, Werner has been instrumental in solidifying the financial growth and stability of the corporation while remaining committed to the healthcare work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
While addressing AHS employees, Werner said, "Because of your hard work, AHS has enjoyed significant success over the past six years, and the opportunity to retire when things are going well is most attractive. It will be rewarding to be able to stand on the sidelines and cheer your future successes."
The Board of Directors will elect a new president at the full board meeting on Feb. 23, 2006. Werner expressed his commitment to serve as CEO until such time as the new CEO is ready to assume the responsibility.
Speaking to members of the Executive Board during their quarterly meeting, board chairman Walter Wright said, "I want to thank Tom for his leadership and also for his unwavering faithfulness to the principles of the [Adventist] Church." In commenting about Werner's successor, Wright said, "Adventist Health System is blessed to have many capable and dedicated leaders and the future of the organization is secure."
Adventist Health System, based in Winter Park, Fla., was established in 1973 and currently operates 38 hospitals in ten states, 19 nursing homes and extended-care facilities, along with a host of home health agencies, outpatient clinics, and emergency care centers that care and touch more than 4 million patients each year.
Kevin Edgerton, Adventist Health System communication director
