I am very pleased to share that Gary Fybel has been named the interim chief operating officer (COO) for Swedish First Hill, effective April 30. As interim COO of First Hill, Gary will partner with our medical and campus leadership to achieve the 5 Best Targets and will focus on providing guidance and support for all aspects of patient care.
Gary has over 35 years of health care experience and was the chief executive for Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in La Jolla, CA for the last 17 years where he led a 432-bed Magnet medical center. Prior to that he was with St. Joseph Health System as an administrator and chief operating officer for Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo, CA. Gary is known as a leader who creates an environment of positive caregiver, provider and community relations.
Gary is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the College’s past Regent for San Diego and Imperial Counties. He is also the recipient of the ACHE Regent’s Senior Healthcare Leader award. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach. A native of Southern California, Gary and his wife Eve have been married for 46 years; they have two married children and four grandchildren.
Please join me in welcoming Gary to Washington and to this interim role of COO at First Hill. We are thankful to have Gary lend his extensive healthcare experience and leadership while we begin the search for a permanent hire.
Best,
JR
Jeffery “JR” Robert, MHA
Chief Operating Officer
Swedish Health Services