Huntington Hospital Names Lori Morgan, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer

Huntington Hospital today announced that its board of directors has appointed Lori Morgan, MD, MBA, as president and chief executive officer effective early- to mid-September, 2017. Dr. Morgan brings nearly 30 years of healthcare and healthcare administration experience with a focus on developing programs that support patient care, strengthening physician relationships and enhancing financial performance. She most recently served eight years as corporate vice president of Legacy Health, Portland’s largest local health system, and as president of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, the system’s largest hospital.

Paul L.H. Ouyang, chairman of the board, said, “Dr. Morgan stood out as the top candidate for Huntington Hospitaldue to her excellent operating and financial track record and her outstanding working relationships with physicians. Lori is an accomplished trauma surgeon and intensivist, a natural leader and a superb communicator, and the entire Search Committee is honored and delighted that she has accepted our offer. We are pleased to welcome Lori to Huntington Hospital as we begin the next 125 years of service to the San Gabriel Valley community.”

He continued, “Dr. Morgan’s appointment follows a nationwide search that attracted many exceptional candidates. I want to thank all the Search Committee members, especially Jaynie Studenmund, chair, Search Committee, and vice chair, board of directors, who led the comprehensive search with the assistance of Witt/Kieffer, a nationally recognized executive search agency specializing in health care.”

Dr. Morgan said, “It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to lead this prestigious hospital and support its vision to be the leader in creating community well-being through world-class health care. I see great opportunity for further growth and development as we execute on our mission to bring together outstanding physicians, caring nurses, professional staff and advanced technologies.”

Stephen A. Ralph, current president and CEO, announced in April 2017 his intention to step down from his roles when the new CEO is in place.

Mr. Ouyang said, “The board and I want to thank Steve Ralph for his significant contributions to the community and the hospital. Over 33 years of service to the hospital with 22 of those as CEO, Steve has been a pillar of one of our community’s most important institutions and leaves a remarkable legacy of achievement.”

Mr. Ralph stated, “I am pleased that this exceptional hospital and its caring and professional staff will be in the hands of such a capable leader. I know Dr. Morgan will continue Huntington Hospital’s legacy of offering world-class care to our patients, their families and our community.”

Dr. Morgan Biographical Information

Dr. Morgan joined Legacy Emanuel Medical Center as president and Legacy Health as corporate vice president in 2009. Legacy Health is the largest local health system in Portland with seven hospitals, allied clinics/outpatient facilities and 11,000 employees. She served on the Legacy Health Councils, setting business strategy, developing annual budgets and evaluating large-scale capital expenditures and major system initiatives. Dr. Morgan led the implementation of World Health Organization’s surgical safety best practices across the Legacy Health System and worked to develop a system-wide physician/administration compact.

As president of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Dr. Morgan revitalized the financial standing of the hospital, turning annual net losses of $3 million to annual net profits of over $36 million, and achieving an operating margin of over 10 percent in 2016. Under her leadership, the hospital passed three Joint Commission surveys, achieving Gold Seal of Approval for the Chest Pain Center and the Primary Stroke Center and DNV accreditation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. She improved the hospital’s culture of philanthropy, increasing annual hospital donations by nearly 500 percent in five years. Finally, she focused on improving clinical quality and physician and employee engagement, which improved HCAHPS rating for inpatient services by 8 percent and for emergency services by 34 percent.

Dr. Morgan has also served as president and chairman of the board of the Unity Center for Behavioral Health, a psychiatric hospital and emergency room developed in partnership with Adventist Health, Kaiser Health and Oregon Health Sciences University, over the last three years.

Prior to joining Legacy, Dr. Morgan served as a medical director at Trauma Trust in Tacoma, Washington, for nearly a decade where she developed a new adult Level II trauma center and pediatric trauma service.

She served as a co-director of the Surgical ICU and trauma surgeon at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics between 1997 and 2000.

Dr. Morgan received her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine, then completed her surgical residency at Stanford University Medical Center, and her trauma/critical care fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. She is a board-certified trauma surgeon and intensivist.

She received her MBA from Pacific Lutheran University where she concentrated on technology and innovation management.

Dr. Morgan currently serves on the boards of the Oregon EMS & Trauma Advisory Board, Urban League of Portland, Emanuel Foundation, Legacy Institute for Surgical Education & Innovation, Life Flight and Legacy Health Partners. She previously served as chairman of the board of Caremark and Oregon State Trauma Advisory Board.

Dr. Morgan is married to Henry Outzen, PhD, a retired cancer research scientist. Together they have one son, Morgan Outzen, age 23, who lives and works in Portland, Oregon, as a certified financial analyst.