Highly-accomplished professional takes on broad administrative responsibilities

Indianapolis, July 10, 2017 – Eskenazi Health announces that after a nationwide search, Neil Johnson has been named the organization’s chief operating officer (COO).

This is Johnson’s second tenure with Eskenazi Health. He first joined as an intensive care and emergency department nurse in 1995, ultimately serving as the administrative director of the Michael & Susan Smith Emergency Department at Eskenazi Health from 2001 to 2003. From there he moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he served in leadership roles of increasing responsibility for Bronson Healthcare Group, recipient of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

“As a proven leader, Neil is eager to return to Eskenazi Health. Neil has expressed his admiration for the way Eskenazi Health has evolved in the last 15 years and his enthusiasm about coming home to be part of our progress,” said Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO of Eskenazi Health. “He is well-prepared to join our team and to contribute to our collective energy as we continue our forward momentum.”

While at Bronson, Johnson’s roles included director of trauma and emergency services, executive director of nursing, and vice president of patient care services and chief nurse executive. In 2011, he was recruited to EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, Wash., where he served as executive vice president and system chief operating officer. In this role, Johnson helped lead a team driving EvergreenHealth to achieve top performance in numerous national quality, patient satisfaction, and employee and provider engagement indicators.

In 2017, the organization received Healthgrades’ America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award, an honor bestowed on only the top 2 percent of hospitals in America, and in 2016 EvergreenHealth was named one of the Top 100 Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics. In addition, during Johnson’s time at EvergreenHealth, the organization was named “Workplace of the Year” by The Advisory Board Company and this year was named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare, a distinction also earned by Eskenazi Health.

“I am excited to join the talented and passionate team at Eskenazi Health where everyday people come to serve our patients, community and each other with incredible skill and compassion,” Johnson said.

Johnson is a graduate of Hanover College where he earned a degree in political science/management. He then completed a nursing degree from Indiana University and graduate studies in administration at Central Michigan University. He has been professionally involved in a number of organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau, Kirkland Rotary and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

As COO for Eskenazi Health, Johnson will have broad administrative responsibility for operations. He will report directly to Dr. Harris.

For nearly 160 years, Eskenazi Health has provided high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care to the residents of Marion County and Central Indiana. Accredited by The Joint Commission, nationally recognized programs include a Level I trauma center, regional burn center, comprehensive senior care program, women’s and children’s services, teen and adolescent care programs, Eskenazi Health Midtown Community Mental Health, and a network of primary care sites located throughout the neighborhoods of Indianapolis known as Eskenazi Health Center. In partnership with the Regenstrief Institute, Eskenazi Health conducts groundbreaking work that informs health information technology around the globe. Eskenazi Health also serves as the sponsoring hospital for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services. As the public hospital division of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County (HHC), Eskenazi Health partners with the Indiana University School of Medicine whose physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services. In December 2013, Eskenazi Health moved to its new main campus and opened the brand new Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital. The new modern and efficient facility is Central Indiana’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold health care campus and offers unique features like a one-of-a-kind sky farm and extensive art collection. The Eskenazi Health Foundation was the recipient of $40 million gift from Indianapolis couple Sidney and Lois Eskenazi to assist with building the brand new hospital facilities. HHC recognized this generous gift by naming the new hospital and health system in the Eskenazis’ honor.

CONTACT: Tom Surber
Phone: 317.880.4793
Cell: 317.402.9327
Pager: 317.310.5972
Email: thomas.surber@eskenazihealth.edu