Longtime Johns Hopkins Health System president Peterson to retire

Ronald Peterson, president of Johns Hopkins Health System, announced he will retire at the end of this year after more than 44 years with the academic medicine organization.

Peterson will also step down from his role as executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Johns Hopkins has not named his replacement.

Peterson will serve for at least one year after he steps down as a special adviser to Dr. Paul Rothman, dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Peterson has served as president of Johns Hopkins Health System since 1996. In the role, he oversees six hospitals and 39 outpatient sites throughout Maryland.

Peterson has held a variety of senior administrative roles throughout his career at Johns Hopkins. He was named executive director of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center soon after it came under management by Johns Hopkins and turned it around from posting $7 million operating loss to a profitable margin. Peterson also served as president of Johns Hopkins Hospital for 19 years until he stepped down in July 2016. During his tenure, he led the opening of a new comprehensive cancer center and two hospital towers for cancer and pediatric patients.