Adena Health System’s new President and CEO Jeff Graham is now on board and ready to lead the organization.

Graham returns to Adena after more than five years away. He most recently served as president and CEO of Mercy Health’s East Market in the Cincinnati area. Graham was previously with Adena Health System from 2002-2012 in roles including: CEO and administrator for Adena Greenfield Medical Center; chief operating officer; and chief strategy officer.

In June 2017, the Adena Board of Trustees selected Graham to take on the president and CEO job, which had been open since October 2016. Longtime Adena pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Fortney served in an interim CEO role since that time.

With Graham’s return, patients and the community can expect him to hit the ground running, immediately taking on several issues that are known to create frustration for patients. These include: accurate and timely billing; availability of appointment times (access) for some primary care and specialty services; emergency department wait times; and community visibility.

“I want Adena to be the health care provider of choice for people in our region,” said Graham. “We have good providers, the same technology as many larger systems, and caring and compassionate staff – many are our friends and neighbors. To make Adena top-of-mind for health care for people living in our communities, it is important they have a good experience with every encounter, every time. I know we can make that happen.”

A native of Portsmouth, Graham earned a master’s in business administration degree from the University of Findlay and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University. He and wife, Brenda, are excited to be back in Chillicothe near friends and family, including three grandchildren.

Adena Health System is an independent, not-for-profit and locally controlled health care organization serving the needs of 10 counties in south central Ohio. Adena provides specialty services including: robotic surgery, open heart surgery, cardiac catheterization, cancer care and advanced orthopedic procedures. Based in Chillicothe, the health system includes three hospitals, six regional clinics and multiple primary care and specialty clinics.

Submitted by Maria Smith, director corporate communications, Adena Health System.