Joanne Allen Named CEO of Seton Medical Center/Seton Coastside

(Los Altos Hills, CA – March 25, 2013)-- Daughters of Charity Health System (DCHS) has announced two new leadership appointments. Joanne Allen will take over as President & CEO of Seton Medical Center (SMC) in Daly City, CA and Seton Coastside in Moss Beach, CA on April 2. She will replace James Schuessler who has served as interim President & CEO since April2012. Additionally, Carol Furgurson, MSHA, CPA, will step in as Acting Chief Administrative Officer at Saint Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH). Her first day will be April 15.

For the past five years, Allen has served as President & CEO of SLRH in Gilroy. During her tenure, she improved medical staff, associate and community relationships and led the development of regional strategy for two medical campuses in the South Bay: Gilroy andMorgan Hill. Prior to joining SLRH, Allen served as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Strategic Officer at O’Connor Hospital, another DCHS hospital, where she drove initiatives to improvepatient care along with quality and safety outcomes.

“I am honored to be chosen for this new leadership role, and I look forward to working with the associates and physicians at Seton to position ourselves as a valued community partner in providing exceptional, person-centered care,” says Allen.

Allen holds a master’s degree in Health Care Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, both from San Jose State University. She served as Chair and Board Member of the California Hospital Association CEO Council, and was named a Health Care Hero in 2011 and was recognized as a Women of Influence in Santa Clara County in 2012. Both awards were sponsored by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.

Carol Furgurson, MSHA, CPA, who has served as Chief Operating Officer at SLRH the past five years, brings 14 years of DCHS experience to her new position. Prior to SLRH, she held the positions of Interim Chief Operating Officer; Senior Vice President; Chief Financial Officer; and Vice President, Ancillary & Support Services at O’Connor Hospital. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from The University of Toledo, in Ohio. She also received her master of science in Health Administration from Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia.

Both Allen and Furgurson are graduates of the Sacramento-based Ministry Leadership Programfor executives in Catholic health care.

According to DCHS President & CEO Robert Issai, the sum of Allen and Furgurson’sexperience will be a guiding force in their work at SMC and SLRH. “We are fortunate to havethese two associates with the values and strategic expertise needed in today’s challenging healthcare environment,” he offers. “Their years of experience in our health ministries will serve them well as they identify new paths to providing high-quality, person-centered care.”