Two top Erlanger Health System executives have stepped down.
They include Lynn Whisman, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer, and Betsy Chapin Taylor, president of Erlanger Health System Foundations.
Ms. Whisman had joined Erlanger in 2007 as vice president of patient care services. She previously served Memorial Health Care System in Chattanooga as vice president of clinical operations and chief nursing executive. Prior to that, she was vice president of patient care operations for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System in Sarasota, Fla.
Ms. Taylor is now principal consultant for Third Sector Strategy. It is described as "a healthcare philanthropy consulting firm focused on advancing best practices in collaboration with development leaders, healthcare executives and board members to enable healthcare organizations to excel in advancing philanthropy."
Charlsetta Woodard-Thompson, Erlanger CEO, spoke of the two top employees in an email to employees:
Please join me in extending my appreciation to Betsy Chapin Taylor for her seven years of service to the Erlanger Health System as President of Erlanger Health System Foundations. As you may know, today (Nov. 16) is Betsy’s last official day here at Erlanger.
Under Betsy’s leadership, the amount of money raised annually by the Foundations and the number of annual donors has significantly increased. Moreover, the foundation has greatly expanded the number of individual donors giving $1,000 or more in a single year.
We wish Betsy all the best as she continues her journey in philanthropic work, and we thank her for her dedication to advancing the work of the Erlanger Health System during her tenure here.
Also join me in congratulating Yogi Anderson, our Major Gifts Director, who will be leading the Development Department during this transition. Yogi spent many years in development work at the University of the South in Sewanee, and I am confident that the Foundations will continue to flourish under his capable leadership.
Erlanger CEO Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson announced the resignation today of Lynn Whisman, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer
“I am extremely grateful for Lynn’s work at Erlanger over the past five years,” Ms. Woodard-Thompson said. “Her focus has always been on improving the total experience for the patient and their families and her contributions to Erlanger over the years are deeply appreciated.”
Ms. Whisman said she was “particularly proud of her role in leading Erlanger’s system-wide service excellence program.”
“It has been a distinct privilege for me to lead Erlanger’s patient-centered service initiative that has positively impacted patient satisfaction throughout the health system,” she said. "We jump started this initiative with a training session last year which was attended by 4500 employees, physicians, residents and board members. Ms. Whisman joined Erlanger in 2007 as vice president of patient care services. In 2008, she was named senior vice president and chief nursing officer and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer.
She previously served as vice president of clinical services and chief nursing executive at Memorial and as vice president of patient care operations for Sarasota Memorial Health Care in Sarasota, Fla.
Ms. Woodard-Thompson said an announcement will be made in the coming days regarding plans for Lynn’s duties and responsibilities. We are very appreciative of the hard work and dedication that Lynn contributed to Erlanger and wish her all the best.