WellSpan Health president and CEO to retire

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Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., Well Span Health president and CEO plans to retire from the role she has held since Jan. 2019. According to a media release, the WellSpan Health Board of Directors has engaged Korn Ferry to conduct a national search for the organization’s next president and CEO.

Ferry will focus on identifying a leader who will continue to advance WellSpan’s vision, mission, values and strategic priorities. According to the media release, Gapstur will continue to serve as president and CEO until a transition is complete.

“Roxanna is a nationally respected leader who has positioned WellSpan for long-term strength in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. She has led with clarity, courage and compassion — never losing sight of our mission or the people who bring it to life. We are fully aligned with the vision she has set for the organization and grateful that she will continue to lead WellSpan through this transition,” said Joe Crosswhite, chair of the WellSpan Health Board of Directors, in the media release.

A nurse by training and a system-level strategist by practice, Gapstur brings a human-centered approach to leadership. Known for advancing culture, removing friction, and developing innovative partnerships, Gapstur consistently credits the team as the foundation of WellSpan’s success, according to the media release.

“The work we do at WellSpan has always been about people — our patients, our team members, and the communities who trust us with their care. I am deeply proud of what we have built together and highly confident in WellSpan’s future,” Gapstur said in the media release.

Gapstur has led WellSpan through a period of growth and transformation — strengthening its position as a high-performing, integrated health system. According to the media release, under her leadership, WellSpan has grown from a $2.5 billion to a $4.7 billion system, expanded from eight to 12 hospitals and extended its reach from five to 12 counties. The organization has also advanced its small format hospital model, bringing care closer to home and improving access across the region.

During her tenure, WellSpan Surgery & Rehabilitation Hospital achieved Magnet designation, and the system earned both the John M. Eisenberg National Patient Safety Award and the American Hospital Association’s Quest for Quality Prize — national recognition of WellSpan’s commitment to exceptional care, safety and quality.

Developed under Gapstur’s leadership, WellSpan’s genomic program brings precision medicine to the bedside by embedding genetic insights into clinical care, enabling earlier detection, smarter treatment decisions and more personalized care across the lifespan.

WellSpan Health encompasses over 2,700 employed providers, over 250 locations, 23,000 team members, 11 hospitals, home care and a behavioral health organization serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.