New CEO named at Landmark
WOONSOCKET – The president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island will step down from his position next week to become the next CEO of Landmark Medical Center.
Michael Souza’s first day on the job will be March 27.
He succeeds longtime Landmark President and CEO Richard Charest, who retired last month after some 40 years with the city hospital in several positions.
As CEO, Souza will also run Landmark’s sister hospital in North Smithfield, the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island. Both are part of Ontario, Ca.-based Prime Healthcare Services, a mostly for-profit chain of hospitals with 44 facilities in 14 states.
“Souza has the expertise and business acumen to take the helm as CEO and president of Landmark Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island,” said Bryan Burklow, Prime’s regional chief operations officer. “Both organizations are poised for continued growth and prosperity. We are very pleased that Mike will be joining Prime Healthcare Services as we continue to invest in the Rhode Island community.”
Souza’s arrival – actually his return – to Landmark comes as Prime has petitioned the Rhode Island Department of Health for permission to establish an $11.3 million, Level III Trauma Center at the acute care hospital on Cass Avenue. More controversially, Prime is also asking DOH to convert Landmark to nonprofit status, a move Attorney General Peter Kilmartin has asked a Superior Court judge to review for compliance with the terms of Prime’s 2013 acquisition of Landmark.
A hearing is scheduled for Monday.
Associated with HARI since 2014, Souza has previously served as the organization’s senior vice president and vice president of finance. Earlier, he had worked at Signature Healthcare in Brockton, Mass.
He is also a former director of financial planning at Landmark Medical Center.