Gerard Fischer, who served for 16 years on Spokane’s Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital and Providence Holy Family Hospital’s senior leadership team, joined the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle as vice president of clinical ancillary services on July 1.

Fischer says he’s excited about the future. He says he was intrigued about the position when contacted by an executive recruiter and he responded to Group Health to learn more.

“The interview process introduced me to Group Health in greater depth, and the job sounded challenging and exciting; I’m very pleased to have been selected,” Fischer says.

 “I am delighted to be joining Group Health and to be part of their leadership team,” he adds. 

While in Spokane and part of the leadership team at Providence as senior director of ancillary services, Fischer oversaw multiple services and programs including radiology, environmental services, food and nutrition, cardiovascular and transplant services. Previously he spent five years with the Tacoma-based Franciscan Health System.

Joe Robb, Providence spokesman, says, “Under Gerard’s leadership, the Medical Center experienced continued growth in cardiovascular and transplant services.” 

Robb adds, “Throughout his leadership of the transplant program, Gerard has been a champion for organ donation, working not only with internal transplant teams, but external partners including LifeCenter Northwest.  His advocacy for organ procurement has been outstanding, and Sacred Heart has been recognized statewide for its outcomes.”

There are currently no plans to fill the vacancy at Providence created by Fischer’s departure, he says.

In his new post as a member of the group practice leadership team at Group Health, Fischer will contribute to the health cooperative’s performance improvement, service excellence, and cost-management efforts.