Leadership

E.J. Kuiper joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 2024. Kuiper brings more than two decades of distinguished leadership in Catholic healthcare to his role as president and chief executive officer. Recognized for his visionary leadership and commitment to operational excellence, Kuiper previously served as the CEO of the Midwest Division at CommonSpirit Health, overseeing healthcare operations across four states. With a deep-rooted faith and a track record of success in enhancing physician and team member engagement while driving an improved patient experience, he is leading FMOLHS into its next chapter of growth and service to the Gulf South community.

Originally from the Netherlands, Kuiper’s journey in healthcare began when he was recruited by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in 1991 and rose through the ranks from serving as a physical therapist to COO of two Florida-based HCA hospitals. He holds a doctor of physical therapy from the University of St. Augustine and a master of science in health services administration from Florida Gulf Coast University.

In spring 2006, Kuiper was called to join St. Anthony’s Health System in Alton, Illinois, as its executive vice president and COO. As a devout Catholic, he was drawn to its mission and meaningful impact on healthcare and was soon promoted to CEO. Under his leadership, St. Anthony’s improved performance in a variety of areas, including quality, patient experience and financial viability. He continued his career in Catholic healthcare as the Illinois Division President of Hospital Sisters Health System in Springfield, Illinois, leading a 9-hospital, $1.4-billion division of the system, helping it achieve the state Malcolm Baldridge Award.

Now in his role at FMOLHS, Kuiper is guiding our leaders to oversee all operations for the $4-billion, not-for-profit, integrated healthcare organization serving multiple regional markets in Louisiana and Mississippi. He is keenly focused on advancing the health system’s academic partnerships, including its transformational relationship with Louisiana’s flagship university, LSU, which is setting a new standard for healthcare delivery, research, and education.

Kuiper and his senior leadership team continue to build a culture of excellence at all levels of the organization, fostering commitment among physicians and team members for our ministry work and Franciscan Core Values of Service, Reverence and Love for All of Life, Joyfulness of Spirit, Humility and Justice. The result is a positive work environment with stronger physician and team member engagement and better patient outcomes.

Mike Gleason, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 2023. He is a servant leader with more than 30 years of healthcare experience spanning both the provider and payor sides of the industry. In addition to his direct payor experience, Gleason has led the creation of three health plans under the control of health systems for which he previously worked. Gleason also has considerable experience working with rating agencies and managing both public and private debt issuances.

Gleason oversees the financial and Information Technology (IT) operations of our health system across regional markets in Louisiana and Mississippi. He manages operational efficiencies within the health system, both acute care and ambulatory services. In addition, he is responsible for streamlining financial processes across all system facilities and providing support for the organization's strategic growth and long-term viability.

Gleason has been recognized multiple times by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the top 125 hospital and health systems CFOs in the country. He also received the 2012 Ultimate CFO Award from the Jacksonville Business Journal. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Gleason has served on several not-for-profit community boards and finance committees, with a focus on investment management, cost control and ways to serve the healthcare needs of the uninsured.

Prior to joining FMOLHS, Gleason was senior vice president and chief financial officer for Baptist Health Care in Florida. His career also included roles at University of Florida Health Jacksonville and Humana Medical Plans, Inc.

Kristin Wolkart, Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 1995 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, Louisiana. As Chief Nursing Officer at that facility, her contributions helped propel the community hospital to consistent top performance for patient satisfaction and team member engagement.

Wolkart transitioned to the health system as its Chief Nursing Informatics Officer in 2007 focused on improving the electronic medical record. Leading a growing number of the system’s special projects, Wolkart was tapped in 2014 to serve St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Louisiana, as Chief Operating Officer until being named Chief Executive Officer later that year. In May 2022 Wolkart stepped into her current role as Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer for the health system to lead efforts for best practices of care. From June through November 2023, she took on a dual role as Interim Market President for the health system’s Jackson, Mississippi, Market. During her time in Jackson, Wolkart initiated a turnaround plan and cultural change that helped the market achieve budget targets.

Wolkart holds board certification as a Nurse Executive, Advanced through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 1991 before completing a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Kennedy-Western University in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 2010 she became a Certified Green Belt in Six Sigma and a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute. In 2021 she earned her Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives® (FACHE) Credential.

Tara Haney, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 2012. As Chief Strategy Officer, Haney is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for short- and long-term growth, creation and implementation of the health system’s strategic plan, and identifying new business opportunities and strategic partnerships, as well as directing the organization’s employer-based outreach.

During her tenure, Haney has proven pivotal in positioning the health system for the future. First as Senior Vice President, then as Executive VP, Chief Strategic Integration Officer, Haney helped to facilitate the organization’s move to value-based care, resulting in the creation of Health Leaders Network. Ultimately, she would oversee the system’s physician enterprise and clinically integrated network, including the performance of over 2,300 providers with more than 300,000 covered lives across Louisiana and Mississippi. In addition, Haney shifted FMOLHS to an integrated operating model with a balanced focus on inpatient and population health/outpatient care.

Haney regards the providers, nurses, administrators, and supporting team members working throughout the health system as a transformative force for positive, compassionate health care and the organization's greatest asset. Her engaging, relational approach to leadership and day-to-day interactions helps foster the continued mutual growth of individual team members at all levels and the health system as a whole.

Prior to joining FMOLHS as Member Services Director for the organization’s first population health operations, Haney held various private industry leadership roles in strategic initiatives, development, and government relations. She also served in the policy office of Louisiana Governor Mike Foster and was recognized as a Tomorrow’s Leader by the Catholic Health Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management from McNeese State University and a master’s degree in public administration from LSU.

Hunter Richardson, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 1996 as a member of the Home Health division management team. He held numerous progressive leadership positions with FMOLHS, joint ventures and subsidiaries before being appointed to his current role in October 2022.

Richardson has strategic and operational responsibility for Human Resources, Marketing & Communications, Academic Affairs, Construction, and Advocacy & Governmental Relations. He has led several systemwide centralization projects, merger and acquisition activities, benefit design change management, and team member engagement and recognition initiatives. He is the executive champion for the ministry’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment and activities.

Richardson believes his primary role is to cultivate an inclusive work environment where each team member can achieve personal success. Inspired by individuals with a hunger to learn and make a difference, Richardson achieves his objectives by being present to every interaction and leading by example. He serves as a bridge to build relationships and is a catalyst for change when the opportunity arises. His commitment to more engaged physicians and staff results in better patient experiences and outcomes.

Richardson earned his undergraduate degree in 1994 from Louisiana State University and completed a Master of Business Administration in 2005.

Jennifer DeCuir, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, began her career in healthcare representing providers in medical malpractice litigation, business transactions, licensing, reimbursement, healthcare regulatory, HIPAA compliance and peer review matters. She joined the health system in 2009 as an Assistant General Counsel and was promoted to Regional General Counsel in 2013 before being named General Counsel in 2023.

DeCuir has extensive experience advising the health system on regulatory matters, peer review, labor and employment, long-term care facility regulations, physician contracting and practice acquisitions, as well as a variety of other general commercial and business matters. She has also successfully represented the health system in numerous acquisitions during her tenure. Here current areas of responsibility include Legal, Compliance, Risk Management, Audit, and Governance.

DeCuir holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Tulane, a master's degree in Social Service Administration and a Certification in Health Care Administration and Policy from the University of Chicago. She received her Juris Doctor/Bachelor of Civil Law degree from Louisiana State University's Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

Dr. James Craven, Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Officer, has oversight of Franciscan Health Physicians (FHP), Health Leaders Network (HLN), Quality and Medical Affairs. FHP is the health system’s employed provider group with more than 1,000 providers across Louisiana and Mississippi. HLN is the health system’s clinically integrated network and accountable care organization, comprised of more than 1,400 providers focused on better health outcomes, lowering the cost of care, and providing better overall experiences for all patients. For both FHP and HLN, Dr. Craven is responsible for driving results for clinical affordability, quality, growth, and financial performance, as well as for internal physician relations and external relationship initiatives.

A New Orleans native, Dr. Craven has been a practicing vascular surgeon since 2003, previously working in private practice in the New Orleans region and then with CVT Surgical Center in Baton Rouge before joining Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Vascular Surgery in 2019. He was name president of FHP in 2020 before being named CPO in 2024.

Dr. Craven received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport. He went on to complete his residency in general surgery and a fellowship in vascular surgery from the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. He is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons and has recently earned an Executive Master of Business Administration from Brandeis University in Boston.

Prior to his current positions, he served as Associate Chief Medical Officer and as the Medical Director of Surgical Services at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Dr. Craven also is a member of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center board and serves as chair of the Contracting and Finance Committee for Health Leaders Network. In addition, Dr. Craven is a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans.

Dr. Craven also serves as Vice-Chair of the Community Practice Division of the Society of Vascular Surgery.

Peter F. Guarisco Jr. joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in 2010 and is responsible to see that the health system’s Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Catholic identity are evident in the day-to-day operations of the organization. He provides guidance for health system initiatives, leadership decisions, planning, and the daily tasks of team members and physicians serving the organization. His oversight includes directing the activities of mission leaders across the multiple regional markets in Louisiana and Mississippi. He also cultivates meaningful relationships with each of the Bishops in whose Diocese our facilities reside.

Guarisco fosters a commitment to Catholic healthcare ministry while providing relevance and a strong sense of purpose for roles at every level of the health system. He contributes perspective to the decisions and activities involved in patient caregiving, co-team member work life, organizational collaborations, and community involvement. Internally, his guidance is essential to mission leadership, ethics, pastoral care, formation, and response to community needs.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from University of Louisiana at Monroe, Guarisco earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Bioethics and Health Policy from Loyola University in Chicago and a master’s degree in Health Care Mission from the Aquinas Institute of St. Louis. Prior to his current role, Guarisco served as AVP of Mission Integration and Pharmacy Director for St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales. He is a member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, a board member for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and serves as a member of several other professional, civic, and service organizations.

Dr. Thomas Gullatt serves at the Northeast Louisiana Market President in Monroe, LA. Dr. Gullatt has served the ministry since 2004 when he began the Hospital Medicine Intensivist program at St. Francis Medical Center. As a board-certified Pulmonologist, he has been instrumental in the expansion of the Intensivist role at St. Francis as well as its integration into the overall care model for the hospital and its employed medical group.

Dr. Gullatt most recently served as President of the St. Francis Medical Group, Chief Medical Officer for the medical center, and Designated Institutional Officer for St. Francis’ entry into academic medicine. Dr. Gullatt completed his medical training at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport including Residency in both Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Fellowship.

Dr. Gullatt has been on staff at St. Francis Medical Center since July 1989. He served as a private practice physician for 15 years before becoming employed by St. Francis in 2004.

Stephanie Manson serves as President of the Acadiana Market, which includes Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Heart Hospital along with an employed network of almost 150 providers. Manson has been part of the health system since 1998.

Prior to leading the Acadiana Market, Manson was Chief Operating Officer for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, LA. Her distinguished healthcare career began at Our Lady of the Lake with an administrative fellowship and served in roles with executive responsibilities across both acute and ambulatory areas including the complex planning and implementation for Our Lady of the Lake’s public-private partnership with the state of Louisiana and the LSU School of Medicine.

Manson has also served as Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Operations for the health system where she led successful implementation of the single electronic health record, Epic, across the Louisiana markets.

In 2021 Manson was named as a Baton Rouge Business Report’s Influential Woman in Business. She received the Tomorrow’s Leaders Award from Catholic Health Association in 2011, was named a 40 Under 40 recipient by the Baton Rouge Business Report in 2004 and is a graduate of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Baton Rouge Class of 2002.

Manson received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science Health Administration from the University of Alabama Birmingham. In addition, she is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Jeremy Tinnerello joined Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System in November 2023 as Jackson Market President, leading the teams at St. Dominic Hospital and St. Dominic Health Services, including an extensive network of ambulatory clinics and the St. Catherine’s Village lifecare community. Jeremy is an authentic and committed leader having served more than 30 years in progressive leadership roles during his long-standing tenure in Northeast Louisiana. 

Jeremy began his career at Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe, LA, in 1992 as an orderly, later becoming an emergency room charge nurse where he developed a deep appreciation for compassionate patient care and clinical excellence.  He later served various leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of the facility. He most recently served as its President and Chief Executive Officer, leading the organization through significant financial challenges and multiple growth and expansion projects in the acute and ambulatory space. Under his leadership, several innovative programs to improve quality were implemented resulting in national recognition.

Jeremy earned his first degree in Nursing from Louisiana Tech University where he was later selected as a Distinguished Alumni in 2020.  He also holds both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Master of Health Administration. Jeremy has remained actively involved in the community, serving on numerous boards throughout his career, including the Louisiana Hospital Association, Northeast Louisiana Cancer Institute, Louisiana Tech National Alumni Board, and both the West Monroe and Monroe Chambers of Commerce.

Charles L. “Chuck” Spicer, Jr., FACHE, was named Baton Rouge Market President in October 2022 and assumed additional responsibility for the Northshore Market in late 2023. Collectively, he oversees Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Our Lady of the Lake Ascension, Our Lady of the Lake Livingston, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, and Our Lady of the Angels Hospital along with several ambulatory centers and a group of more than 600 employed providers.

Spicer previously served as President and CEO of University of Oklahoma Medicine, a health system that encompasses OU Medical Center, The Children’s Hospital, OU Medical Center Edmond and Breast Health Network. Spicer was at OU Medicine for 17 years, where he also served as CEO of The Children’s Hospital for five years and chief operating officer for OU Medical Center for two years before assuming his role as CEO of the health system.

Spicer brings with him close to 30 years of knowledge and experience in the field of healthcare administration and has a deep understanding of the emerging healthcare needs of a flagship medical center as well as a growing outpatient and physician clinic footprint. He is also familiar with the necessary elements of value-based care and population health as we continue to make a positive impact for families in Louisiana. He has a strong commitment to the areas he serves and has been active in his community. Spicer has also been recognized for his contributions philanthropically.