Mercy Announces Leadership Changes

Mercy has announced three major leadership changes: Jon Swope has been named regional president for Mercy’s central communities in Arkansas, southwest Missouri and Kansas, and Dr. Robert Steele was named president of Mercy Hospital Springfield. Kim Day, current regional president for Mercy’s central communities, will retire after a 37-year career in health care.

“We have had a history of excellent leadership in Mercy’s central communities,” said Mike McCurry, Mercy’s chief operating officer. “We have been truly blessed and our strong ministry will continue as Mercy has two talented successors in place to make this change.”

Swope, current president and CEO of Mercy Springfield Communities, has invested 33 years with Mercy, serving in Mercy communities in southwest Missouri, St. Louis, Washington and Kansas. Dr. Steele, who has been a practicing pediatrician for 15 years, will be the first physician in Mercy’s history to step into the role of president.

Day, who will retire from full-time service March 1, will continue in a consulting capacity with a few ongoing projects. Day joined Mercy in 2000 as chief financial officer at St. John’s in Springfield. His vision and collaboration was instrumental in making the newly restructured health system a successful model of integration.