Legacy Health rehires former CEO after Correia retirement

Legacy Health President and CEO Kathryn Correia is retiring, and Dr. George Brown, her immediate predecessor, will step back into the role, the health system announced Wednesday.

Brown previously served as CEO from 2008 to 2018. Brown was 69 when he announced his retirement. He is beginning the transition before “starting in full capacity” by July 1, the announcement said. In the interim, Anna Loomis, Legacy’s CFO and current acting CEO, will continue to lead the organization ahead of her planned departure.

Correia, who's been on medical leave, will serve in an advisory capacity through June.

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Legacy Health

Charles Wilhoite, chair of Legacy’s board, praised Correia’s leadership throughout the Covid pandemic and said he was pleased to welcome Brown back to Legacy as it begins "this next chapter with a continued focus on strengthening our role as the region’s trusted provider of high-quality care."

“We are confident that Dr. Brown is the right person to lead at this time, as we build on our recent efforts to strengthen Legacy’s financial and operating position and enhance the level of care we provide for our patients,” Wilhoite said.

The move comes with OHSU and Legacy preparing to join forces. Both systems have been struggling financially. The seven-hospital Legacy system lost $172 million in the 2023 fiscal year. OHSU recently announced it could face layoffs as it explores strategies to return to financial health.

Correia and OHSU President Dr. Danny Jacobs signed a non-binding letter of intent for Legacy to become part of the OHSU system, with a definitive agreement expected soon.

During his tenure, Brown expanded Legacy's footprint in numerous ways — Randall Children’s Hospital and the Unity Center for Behavioral Health opened, Legacy affiliated with Silverton Health, it acquired half of PacificSource Health Plans and helped bring disparate and competing health organizations together to build affordable housing with Central City Concern.

In an interview after announcing his retirement, Brown highlighted the need for the U.S. health care system to address economic disparities.

“We know the economic disparities that exist in our society seem to be worsening," he said. When I came to Legacy, one thing I wanted to do is understand the communities within Portland — and there are many — and understand what their needs are, and out of that grew my ideas about how Legacy could best benefit the community."

Brown serves as a senior advisor at Juniper Advisory, a consulting firm focused on nonprofit healthcare partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, according to the announcement.

“I’m honored for the opportunity to return to Legacy at such an important time for the organization,” Brown said in a statement. “I have tremendous respect for all that Kathryn has accomplished in her tenure and how well she has positioned Legacy during a very challenging time. This is an organization that I know well – and I truly believe is one of the world’s leading health systems. With the strength of our people and compassionate culture, Legacy continues to deliver on our mission of good health for all.”