Bon Secours Health System Appoints Valinda Rutledge And Peter Bernard To Senior Vice Presidents

Marriottsville, Maryland, April 8, 2008  -- Today, Bon Secours Health System (BSHSI) announced the appointments of Valinda Rutledge and Peter Bernard as Senior Vice Presidents of the Maryland-based, Catholic health system. Both have served as chief executive officers of their respective local BSHSI ministries for several years.

Rich Statuto, BSHSI chief executive officer stated, “During their tenure, Valinda, Peter, and their respective teams consistently have been among BSHSI’s highest performing. Bon Secours Richmond Health System and Bon Secours St. Francis Health System have a sustained track record of meeting or exceeding expectations in the health system’s strategic initiatives. Each has demonstrated an ability to liberate the capabilities of employees to continuously serve the needs of their respective communities, drive growth, and obtain financial success. Their performance in the areas of physician alignment, clinical transformation, and employee engagement continue to be among the best in BSHSI.”

In their new roles, Rutledge and Bernard will continue reporting to Don Strange as CEOs and Market Leaders of their respective local systems. In addition, their responsibilities will be expanded to include key system-wide initiatives. Rutledge will assume responsibility for physician alignment strategies, and Bernard will oversee initiatives focused on improving operational efficiencies.

Rutledge joined Bon Secours in 2003 as CEO for Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, S.C. This past October 2007, she assumed the additional role of Market Leader for Kentucky and South Carolina. She earned a MBA from Butler University in Indiana and her master’s in nursing science from Wayne State University in Michigan. Her previous positions include President of St. Anthony/St. Michael Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK and Associate Chief Operating Officer of Duke University Medical Center.

Bernard joined Bon Secours in 2000 as the CEO for Bon Secours Richmond Health System. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grand Valley State University in Michigan and a master’s degree in hospital and health care administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Prior to joining Bon Secours, Bernard was President and CEO of CARITAS Health Services in Kentucky. He was also Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.


Bon Secours Health System, Inc. based in Marriottsville, Maryland, is a $2.4 billion dollar not-for-profit Catholic health system that owns, manages or joint ventures 18 acute care, 5 long term care, 5 assisted living and independent living and other facilities, primarily on the East Coast. Bon Secours Health System consists of more than 16,000 caregivers helping people in eight states. Its vision is to be recognized for its leadership in justice, transforming the communities in which it serves and works into places of health and hope, and being a prophetic voice for systemic U.S. health reform and a more humane world.