Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids (Mercy), located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is an independent, not-for-profit community hospital seeking a visionary, mission-driven executive leader to serve as its next President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO). With 424 beds and $490M in net patient revenue, Mercy is a trusted, faith-based healthcare provider and a vital community asset. This is a pivotal opportunity to lead a respected organization rooted in the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy and to guide Mercy’s strategic direction through an evolving healthcare landscape marked by complexity, opportunity, and change.
The CEO will inherit an organization with strong community roots, a committed workforce, and a clear sense of purpose, while also being responsible for providing vision and leadership to ensure financial sustainability, continued quality, trust, and credibility across the organization and the community. This leader will set a forward-looking strategic agenda that balances mission and margin, strengthens clinical excellence and operational performance, and positions Mercy for long-term sustainability and growth. Working closely with the Board of Trustees and the executive leadership team, the CEO will translate strategy into action, making timely, thoughtful, and decisive choices that advance both near-term performance and long-term impact.
A central element of the role is the opportunity to deepen and leverage strategic partnerships, particularly with physician groups, to enhance access, care delivery, clinical integration, and alignment with community needs. The CEO will play a critical role in ensuring these partnerships are purpose-driven, operationally effective, and aligned with Mercy's mission and strategic objectives.
The next leader of Mercy will be a strategic, inspirational leader with an excellent track record of building strong relationships with physicians, colleagues, and community leaders, and a performance-driven approach to operational and financial stewardship. This leader will build on past successes while positioning the organization for the future. The successful candidate will have a strong ability to influence others to deliver exceptional patient care through inspiration, excellence, passion, and data. The ideal candidate will have a deep appreciation for Mercy's mission, values, history, and purpose and will be a compassionate leader.
The CEO will also serve as Mercy’s most visible ambassador, both internally among employees and physicians and externally among civic leaders, faith partners, donors, and the broader Cedar Rapids community. With healthcare as a cornerstone of the local economy and identity, this role offers the opportunity to make a highly visible, meaningful impact and to strengthen Mercy’s reputation as a trusted, compassionate, and high-performing provider.
This position is ideally suited for a senior leader who combines strategic vision with operational discipline, financial acumen with a deep commitment to quality and patient-centered care, and decisiveness with adaptability. For the right executive, it is an opportunity not only to lead an organization but also to help shape the future of healthcare in a region that values service, collaboration, and leaders who engage deeply and lead with purpose. An advanced degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Medicine, or related field (MBA, MHA, MPH, MD, DO, or equivalent) is required.
Interested parties should direct resumes, nominations, and inquiries to Donna Padilla and April Allen through the office of Charlotte Harris via [email protected] or apply using the buttons at the top of this page.