Fitzgibbon Hospital President, Ronald Ott, Announces His Retirement

Marshall, Mo. – Fitzgibbon Hospital President and CEO Ronald A. Ott announced his retirement from the organization effective May 1 at the Board of Trustees’ regular meeting on Tuesday, March 3.

Ott has been with the Fitzgibbon organization for nearly 28 years, having joined the hospital in April of 1987 as director of marketing, strategic planning and physician recruitment. He was appointed CEO in February 1992. Under his leadership, Fitzgibbon Hospital moved in 1991 from the original building on Brunswick Avenue to the current sight on South 65 Highway, acquired the licensure in 1995 from the former Saline County Rest Home and opened The Living Center 99-bed skilled nursing facility on the hospital campus in 1997. The hospital underwent a $10 million expansion to its diagnostic, outpatient clinics, education center and surgical suites in 2007 and shortly thereafter launched a community-wide capital campaign to construct a cancer center which opened in October 2009. The Community Cancer Center brought radiation therapy and medical oncology to the region. Under Ott’s leadership, the organization has seen a steady expansion of physicians, specialties and services available to the people of Marshall and the surrounding area.

“I never really thought about a time when I would retire, because Fitzgibbon Hospital has been such a big part of my life for the past 28 years. I truly care about Marshall and the surrounding communities, especially when it comes to access to high quality healthcare. I hope we’ve been able to make a difference. I appreciate the board of trustees, the management staff and all the employees through the years who had faith in me and have supported our efforts,” said Ott, adding that he will be celebrating a “big birthday” on March 24.

“It’s been rewarding to be a part of so many expanded services and programs for our community. Our team does an outstanding job of serving the people of this area in the midst of a challenging and changing environment for health care,” Ott said. “But I also have a lot of other things I want to do: spending more time with family, friends and travelling without the everyday stress and responsibilities that I have today.”

In recognition of his many years of service and leadership in the Missouri healthcare community, Ott received the Missouri Hospital Association’s “Visionary Leadership Award” in 2013 and was recognized recently as one of the Top 50 rural hospital CEO’s in the country. Among the many areas of emphasis under Ott’s tenure has been the establishment of partnerships with surrounding communities, which led to the staffing and operation of four certified Rural Health Clinics in Marshall, Slater, Brunswick and Fayette, Mo., helping to ensure access to quality healthcare in those communities. His desire to collaborate with other community entities also led to a partnership with Missouri Valley College and its development of a bachelor’s degree program in Nursing. That program operates out of space on the hospital campus.

Fred Utlaut, chairman of the Fitzgibbon Hospital Board of Trustees, said, “For Ron, Fitzgibbon Hospital has been so much more than just a job. It’s been a reason to be here every single day. All of us in Saline County and Marshall can thank Ron and his vision. He has made a huge impact in the quality of healthcare for all of us.”

Utlaut said the board does have a succession plan for Ott, as he had made his intentions to retire known to the board several months ago. Ott’s replacement will be announced in the coming weeks.

(Courtesy of Fitzgibbon Hospital)