Shircliff, 53, said he has been with the organization for 24 years, “and that is a long time to stay in the same place.”
He said he now wants to “go to the next stage in my career” by working as a consultant to help other hospital groups across the country cope with the effects of the down economy, as well as health care reform.
Shircliff said he didn’t yet know if he would work independently or with a consultant firm, but said he plans to remain in Louisville.
“Louisville’s home and, if at all possible, we want to stay here,” he said.
Shircliff gave a 60-day minimum notice, he said, but told the hospital board that he would remain with the organization “as long as necessary” to ensure a successful transition.
LouAnn Atlas, chairwoman of JHSMH’s board of trustees, said Shircliff’s departure was voluntary.
“When he came to this decision, along with his wife, we certainly supported that and wish him well,” she said.
Atlas said she has assembled a group of trustees to begin the process to identify an interim president and CEO, which they hope to announce in the “very near future.”
A national search will be conducted for Shircliff’s permanent replacement, she said, and they hope to have someone in place “in the next several months.”
JHSMH has seen other departures among some of its top leadership including JoAnne Maamry, who resigned as president and CEO of Our Lady of Peace psychiatric hospital last August, and Mark Carter, who resigned as CFO for JHSMH in April 2008.
But Atlas said no additional changes are expected.
“We have a team that brings to us a wide variety of experiences and time in the health care field,” she said. “We’re very comfortable with the senior team we have.”
