South Peninsula Hospital CEO Joe Woodin is resigning just over a year since he took over the position. Woodin announced his resignation on Tuesday.
Hospital spokeswoman Derotha Ferraro said Woodin resigned due to quote “unanticipated circumstances.”
Ferraro says he helped the hospital through a transition.
“He was quickly loved by many, came to town, jumped right in and the board and staff really appreciate his service and his many contributions,” she said.
In a press release, David Groesbeck, president of the hospital’s board of directors applauded Woodin for his time overseeing the hospital.
Woodin moved to Homer from Massachusetts where he was fired from Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in 2017. According to the Martha’s Vineyard Times, Woodin and the hospital reached a settlement after he filed a grievance alleging wrongful termination.
The SPH Operating Board is appointing Noel Rea, a senior director of a healthcare consulting group as interim CEO, effective immediately.
Ferraro says Rea has over 20 years of experience in Alaska with similar sized organizations and is an expert in helping organizations through transitions.
“So we're fortunate that he happened to be available right now to serve as interim, which gives the board some breathing room to begin planning for and begin their search for their next CEO.
Rea was the director of the Alaska Rural Hospital Flexibility Program and served as the CEO of the Wrangell Medical Center for four years.
According to KSTK, Wrangell, the Wrangell hospital’s board of directors fired Rea in 2012 without cause.
KSTK also reported that Rea was given more than $520,000 in a severance package. The City and Borough of Wrangell filed a lawsuit against Rea and hospital board members who were recalled, seeking the repayment of the severance in addition to legal fees.
In a settlement agreement, Rea was required to pay back roughly half of his severance money to the city and borough.
South Peninsula Hospital says it will begin planning the search for a permanent CEO soon.