E.J. Kuiper Announced as New President and CEO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
February 26, 2024
Health System Leader to Replace Retiring President and CEO Richard R. Vath, M.D.
“E.J. is an accomplished, proven and visionary leader with a commitment to Catholic healthcare,” said Bobby Yarborough, FMOLHS Board Chair. “His extensive experience driving operational excellence and dedication to high quality patient and team member experiences will serve our healthcare system well as we look towards the future.”
E.J. joins FMOLHS from CommonSpirit Health, where he served as CEO of the Midwest Division and was responsible for leading a division of 28 hospitals spanning four states with 14,000 employees, 1,600 physicians, a clinically integrated network and ACO. He looks forward to building upon the continued success of FMOLHS.
“Serving as President and CEO of FMOLHS provides a wonderful opportunity to lead a strong healthcare system dedicated to improving the lives of the patients and communities that we serve across the Gulf South,” said E.J. Kuiper. “I look forward to what the future holds and thoughtfully building upon the strategic vision set forth by my predecessors.”
“E.J. is a man of deep faith. He is an advocate for Catholic healthcare and the unique opportunities we have throughout our entire ministry to be the face of Christ to each person, especially those most in need,” said Sr. Laura Wolf, Chair of Franciscan Calais Ministries, which is the sponsor of FMOLHS. “We are confident that he will bring the vision and strength of service to this role that are essential for the long-term stability and growth of our ministry.”
E.J. will replace retiring President and CEO, Richard R. Vath, M.D., who has spent the last 40 years dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of the people of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Prior to his role as CEO of CommonSpirit’s Midwest Division, E.J. served as CEO of the Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which included 9 hospitals, a nursing college and medical group with $1.4 billion in revenue. Scores in the top quartile for patient and employee satisfaction and quality measures are hallmarks of his leadership.
Originally from the Netherlands, E.J. was recruited by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in 1991to serve as a physical therapist at a hospital in Florida. He was recognized as a rising star in the health system and after serving in progressive leadership roles, he ultimately became COO of the facility.
E.J. received his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in Florida and his Master of Science in Health Science and Health Services Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and was recognized as one of 101 Academic Medical Center CEOs to watch in 2023 by Becker’s Hospital Review.
For more information about Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System visit fmolhs.org.
About the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System is one of the largest healthcare systems based in Louisiana and is the leading healthcare provider for more than half the state’s population. The health system is a non-profit, Catholic organization sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the ministry serves patients in Louisiana and Mississippi through a network of hospitals, clinics, physicians and integrated health systems. The health system’s unified physician organization is comprised of more than 1,100 adult and pediatric primary care physicians and specialists. The system’s nine main campus hospitals include St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Gonzales, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Heart Hospital, and Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of the Angels in Bogalusa, and St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. For more information, visit fmolhs.org.