New CEO For St. Catherine Hospital

Community Healthcare System has named Leo Correa chief executive officer of St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago. Correa most recently served as associate vice president of clinical affairs at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Correa has also served in a number of executive roles at University Chicago Medicine and Northwestern University. He succeeds Jo An Birdzell, who retired in July after serving as CEO for 19 years. 

"We are pleased to have identified a strong candidate for the position of Chief Executive Officer, someone who has significant experience from clinical operations, service line development, physician partnerships, patient safety and strategic planning," said Donald Fesko, CEO of Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana, Inc., the parent of Community Healthcare System. "Leo brings to this position a solid understanding of hospital operations and knowledge of how to build on the strengths of St. Catherine Hospital while continuing to develop community partnerships."

Correa began his new role Monday.