Network Management Council

James M. Sanger
President/CEO
James M. Sanger began his duties as the President/CEO of SSM Health Care – St. Louis in November 2007.  He oversees the mission, vision and strategic focus for an integrated health care network with 7 hospitals, 2,500 physicians, more than 11,200 employees and a revenue base that exceeds $1 billion.  Sanger also is a Regional President/System Vice President for SSM Health Care. More

Steven P. Johnson
President/COO, Hospital Operations
Prior to becoming President/COO, Hospital Operations, Steve Johnson was president of the SSM Health Care - St. Louis North Operating Group. In his new role, he is a single point of contact for all SSM entities, helping the network operate as a single organization.

Robert G. Porter
President, Programs and Services/Chief Strategy Officer
Mr. Porter is responsible for developing the overall strategy for SSM Health Care-St. Louis, and individual service lines across the network. He also oversees the SSM Physicians' Organization and ambulatory services. More

Debbie Walkenhorst
Regional VP, Human Resources
As regional vice president of human resources, Debbie Walkenhorst provides strategic direction in aligning talent to organizational needs. More

Mary Sue Embertson
Regional Vice President, Finance/Chief Financial Officer
As regional vice president/Chief Financial Officer for SSM Health Care-St. Louis, Mary Sue Embertson oversees all the financial functions for the health care network and its eight St. Louis-area hospitals. Prior to joining SSM Health Care-St. Louis in 2001, Ms. Embertson owned her own healthcare financial consulting and interim leadership services company, Embertson Consulting, in Madison, Wisc.

Kevin Johnson, M.D.
Regional VP, Medical Affairs/Chief Medical Officer
As regional vice president-medical affairs/Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Johnson oversees the strategic development, direction and management support provided to the health care network's seven St. Louis hospitals and the SSM Physicians' Organization in the areas of clinical quality performance, patient safety, risk management, regulatory compliance and clinical resource management.

Lynn Lenker
Chief Nursing Executive
Nurse Champion, Project Beacon
As Chief Nursing Executive, Lenker has championed the Relationship Based Care program designed to return the nurse’s focus to the bedside and the patient by working as teams to deliver the care and outcomes all patients deserve.

Sean Hogan
President, Ambulatory Services
Sean Hogan's responsibilities include outpatient imaging, ambulatory surgery centers, endoscopy centers, sleep centers, joint ventures and other ambulatory partnerships. This position reports to the Chief Strategy Officer.
 

Hospital/Service Line Leadership

Sherlyn Hailstone
President, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center
Service Line Executive for Pediatrics and Maternal Services

Gaspare Calvaruso
President, SSM St. Joseph Health Center, St. Charles,
SSM St. Joseph Medical Park and 
SSM St. Joseph Health Center-Wentzville
Service Line Executive for Oncology Services

Drew Rector
President, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West
Service Line Executive for Orthopedic Services

Patrice Komoroski, Ph.D.
President, SSM DePaul Health Center
Service Line Executive for Behavioral Health Services

Sherry Hausmann
President, SSM St. Clare Health Center
Service Line Executive for Neuroscience Services

Lee Bernstein
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, SSMHC North Operating Group
DePaul Health Center
St. Joseph Health Center
St. Joseph Hospital West
St. Joseph Health Center-Wentzville

Sharon Dudley
Chief Operating Officer, SSMHC South Operating Group
Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center
St. Mary's Health Center
St. Clare Health Center

William Jennings
President, SSM St. Mary's Health Center
Service Line Executive for Heart and Vascular Services

Vickie Horst
Executive Vice President, Rehab Operations
SSM Rehab

Maggie Fowler, RN, BSN, MBA
Vice President, Patient Care
North Operating Group

Medical Group Leadership

John T. Avants
Executive Director, SSM St. Charles Clinic Medical Group

Rachel Dietz
SSM DePaul Medical Group

Jim E. Bieser
Executive Director, SSM Medical Group