Saint Louis University Alum Returns as Hospital CEO
DALLAS — Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) today announced that Saint Louis University Hospital appointed Phillip Sowa as its chief executive officer. Sowa joined the 356-bed academic medical center in St. Louis, Mo., effective Jan. 7, 2011.
“Phil is a seasoned healthcare executive with extensive experience in hospital operations,” said Robert L. Smith, senior vice president of operations for Tenet’s Central States Region. “His successful track record in leadership and development will further Saint Louis University Hospital’s position as a renowned academic medical center.”
Since 2006, Sowa has served as chief executive officer of Park Plaza Hospital, a 444-bed acute care facility in Houston, Texas. Under his leadership, the hospital expanded its award-winning orthopedic program, including the development of a Bone and Joint Pavilion. Sowa cultivated a partnership with Baylor College of Medicine to create fellowship opportunities in several disciplines and entered the hospital into a crucial relationship with the county hospital to serve its overflow cancer patients. In addition, Park Plaza Hospital was a 2010 recipient of Tenet’s coveted Circle of Excellence Award.
Sowa previously served as CEO of Tenet’s Meadowcrest Hospital in Louisiana, where he played a key role in the reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Prior to joining Meadowcrest, he was COO at Forum Health’s Western Reserve Care System, a not-for-profit health system in Youngstown, Ohio. He served as CEO of San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, affiliated with University of California San Francisco and as CEO at Regional Medical Center at Memphis, an academic medical center affiliated with University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Sowa spent four years as COO at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans and has held various leadership roles at Texas Health Resources, Harris Methodist Health System and the Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas.
Sowa received a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in hospital and health care administration from Saint Louis University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation is a health care services company whose subsidiaries and affiliates own and operate acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and diagnostic imaging centers. Tenet’s hospitals and related health care facilities are committed to providing high quality care to patients in the communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.tenethealth.com.
