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Maui Health names Raleigh executive as interim CEO

Kerry Watson to serve in role once Michael Rembis retires

Maui Memorial Medical Center is pictured in 2019. Maui Health, which operates Maui Memorial as well as Lanai Community Hospital and Kula Hospital, has named a North Carolina health care executive as its interim CEO while it searches for a replacement for outgoing CEO Michael Rembis, who plans to retire in the spring. — The Maui News / Matthew Thayer photo

Kerry Watson, a hospital executive leader with nearly 25 years of experience, will serve as interim chief executive officer for Maui Health, the hospital operator announced Friday afternoon.

Watson will relocate to Maui on Monday to take the place of current CEO Michael Rembis, who announced last month that he plans to retire in the spring.

“I look forward to working with the Maui Health team to continue the important work of fulfilling our mission to provide exceptional health care for the people we serve with compassion, dignity, and respect,” Watson said in a news release.

Maui Health said Friday that no media interviews with Watson would be granted at this time.

The system operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital.

Kerry Watson, a health care executive from North Carolina, will serve as interim CEO of Maui Health while a replacement for outgoing CEO Michael Rembis is sought. — Photo courtesy Maui Health

According to his LinkedIn profile, Watson is principal of Watson Healthcare Management Solutions in Raleigh, N.C., where he provides interim hospital executive leadership, comprehensive operational/work cultural assessment, executive coaching and expert legal consultation.

Watson’s experience includes providing strategic consulting and interim senior executive leadership for several leading U.S. hospital systems, including Wellstar Health System, Centra Health System, Grady Health System, Memorial Health and Arnot Health, a Maui Health news release said.

Watson is also the founder and chairman of the Watson Leadership Development Foundation in North Carolina. The nonprofit develops programs and initiatives that support underrepresented minorities interested in pursuing successful careers in health care leadership, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Watson will be working closely with leadership “to ensure there is a seamless transition of leadership until the new permanent CEO is selected,” Maui Health said.

A national search has begun for a new CEO and the selection process will include key organizational stakeholders such as the Maui Health board of directors, senior leadership and medical staff leadership.

As Rembis announced his retirement last month, Maui state legislators expressed a need for the system to find “someone familiar” with the local health care system.

The state Legislature continues to appropriate millions annually for Maui Health System’s operations as well as for renovations, expansion and improvements at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Maui Health is an affiliate of Kaiser Permanente that was formed to help privatize the three hospitals that were previously run by a quasi-public state agency.

Rembis joined Maui Health a year after the transition and has long dealt with the fallout of the transition, including contracts with unions and staff unhappy about the changes.

He was also at the helm as the COVID-19 pandemic hit and dealt with outbreaks at the hospital among patients and staff.

As cases mounted, the outbreak spurred criticism from health care workers frustrated over hospital policies and community members who called for the removal of top leadership.

After Rembis’ announcement last month, Dr. Stephanie Yan, an outspoken critic of both the administration and Kaiser, called it “one small step, one small victory, but for the health of our ohanas, kupunas, keiki and Maui Nui community, our work is not done and the struggle continues.”

She said there must be more diligence from the community “in vetting and keeping a close eye on who the next CEO will be.”

Yan pointed to a loss of specialist physicians and surgeons at Maui Health, which has impacted the community.

But Maui Health has said that under Rembis’ leadership, there have been “significant improvements” for the three hospitals, along with the Maui Memorial Outpatient Clinic and Kula Clinic.

Maui Health has also consistently received national recognition in heart, stroke and diabetes care.

Maui Health scheduled but then canceled media interviews with Rembis following his retirement announcement.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

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