A message from Brian Helleland, Chief Executive Providence St. Joseph Hospital and Orange County/High Desert, South Division

I’d like to share the following message with you announcing Erik Wexler as Providence’s next president and CEO. I’ve worked with Erik for many years and know that he is dedicated to the Mission of Providence and the success of our organization. Erik started his career with Providence in Southern California, and he remains proud of those roots. I hope you take the time to learn more about Erik’s experience and leadership philosophy in the video and message below.

On behalf of the Providence St. Joseph Health Sponsors Council and Board of Directors, we are pleased to announce that Chief Operating Officer Erik Wexler will serve as Providence’s next president and CEO. For nearly a decade, Erik has proven himself to be a Mission-inspired leader, and we are confident that with Erik’s leadership we will continue to remain faithful to the Mission as we realize our vision of Health for a Better World.

You can read more in today’s public announcement and hear directly from Rod Hochman, M.D., and Erik by watching this video message.

Succession planning is a key accountability of the sponsors and board, and we have been engaged in this process in earnest for the past three years. We have worked closely with Rod in continuous review of internal talent and have engaged in multiple scans of external talent. In the end, we are convinced that Erik’s 30 years of experience in health care and his deep passion for the Mission make him well-suited to lead Providence into the future.

We are confident that Erik is the right leader to inspire and empower Providence caregivers, medical staff and community partners to make good on the promise we’ve made to the communities we serve. Erik will assume the role of president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Selecting Erik to serve is a firm endorsement of our strategy and senior leadership team and will help to ensure a smooth leadership transition when Rod retires at the end of 2024. We are grateful to Rod for his vision and unwavering commitment to Providence and our family of organizations.

In his service to Providence St. Joseph Health, Erik has always paid equal attention to the needs of our communities and to the needs of our caregivers. That commitment will serve our ministry well as we continue our steadfast service to all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable. We look forward to standing with Erik and the leadership team as we work to extend our Mission to more people in need.

And we are grateful to you, our caregivers, for your ongoing commitment to our Mission, vision, values and promise. The sponsors and board are confident that with Erik at the helm and with your support and dedication to the Mission, we will continue to move in the right direction for our caregivers, our communities and for all we serve.

Yours in Providence,

Mike Murphy, Chair
Providence St. Joseph Health Board of Directors

Sr. Sharon Becker, CSJ
Co-Chair, Providence St. Joseph Health Sponsors Council

Sr. Maggie Pastro, SP
Co-Chair, Providence St. Joseph Health Sponsors Council