The Shands
Jacksonville board of directors named Otis Story the interim chief
executive officer of the hospital yesterday.
Story joined Shands last June as the hospital's chief operating
officer. Story will replace Bob Norton, who worked as CEO of the
hospital for three years. Norton is leaving the hospital Dec. 14 to
take a new position as president and CEO of The North Shore Medical
Center in Boston.
"The board's unanimous decision to forego a national search and
appoint Otis interim CEO shows the members' support and confidence
in his ability to lead Shands Jacksonville," said Timothy Goldfarb,
chief executive officer for Shands HealthCare, the parent
organization for the hospital.
As CEO, Story is responsible for the 3,300 employees of the
760-bed hospital that is affiliated with the University of Florida.
Story said he plans to continue the recently launched $275 to
$300 million recapitalization plan for the hospital and other
operational improvements under way.
"I don't see any great need to alter the path we are on," he
said. "We are committed to this plan."
The hospital eliminated 145 positions this week to save money.
The cuts are part of its efforts in the five-year reinvestment plan,
which is intended to stabilize the hospital's financial future.
Prior to Shands Jacksonville, Story worked as executive vice
president and chief operating officer of Memorial Health University
Medical Center in Savannah, Ga. He has more than 20 years of
experience in health care administration.
"I am extremely excited," Story said of his new position. "As far
as my professional life goes, it is a dream come true."
Staff writer Sarah Skidmore can be reached at or
via e-mail at sskidmore.
