Richard Brown named interim St. John’s Episcopal Hospital CEO

Richard L. Brown, who was St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s chief operating officer, was named by the Board of Trustees of Episcopal Health Services to be the interim chief executive officer.

Brown replaces Nelson Toebbe, who resigned for family and health reasons, according to hospital officials. Brown assumed his responsibilities for St. John’s on July 15. He also oversees the Bishop Hucles and Bishop MacLean nursing homes in addition to the Far Rockaway facility.

An experienced healthcare executive, Brown has a successful track record in both the not-for-profit and profit sectors, hospitals large and small in urban and rural locales. His positions have included chief executive officer, chief restructuring officer along with COO. Prior to coming to St. John’s he served as the interim CEO for Westlake Regional Hospital, a 77—bed facility in Columbia, Kentucky. Before that, for Morgan Memorial Hospital in Madison, Ga.

Increasing revenue, cutting costs, improving quality and productivity, recruiting doctors and community relations are considered his strengths as a hospital administrator, according to St. John’s officials.

He earned a B.A. from the University of Vermont, a M.A. from The George Washington University Program in health care administration. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Brown has served on many committees for such organizations as the American Heart Association, United Way and the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

In Vietnam, Brown was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, where he served in the medical services corp., 2nd Battalion, 47th mechanized infantry.