Lutheran Health Network announced an expansion of its leadership team today, appointing two accomplished healthcare executives to new network level positions, effective March 18.

Mark Medley will become LHN’s market chief executive officer. In this new role, Medley will work closely with hospital executives across the network to execute operational strategies that expand and strengthen Lutheran’s portfolio and service offerings, and create a more unified approach to the delivery of healthcare.

Natalie Seaber, RN, will become LHN’s market chief nursing officer. Seaber will be responsible for coordinating clinical initiatives across the network and leading programs designed to continuously elevate quality metrics and enhance the patient experience.

“Mark has a track record of producing strong operational and financial results within complex healthcare environments and understands how to optimize healthcare systems in a time of dynamic changes for our industry,” said Mike Poore, regional president, Lutheran Health Network. “Natalie has a deep knowledge of clinical operations and a strong background in nursing and quality improvement. We are pleased to welcome them to the LHN family and the communities we serve. We look forward to their leadership.”

Commenting on his new role, Medley said, “I am absolutely thrilled about this opportunity to work with physicians, employees and hospital leaders across the Lutheran Health Network. As I’ve met with members of the LHN team, it has become very clear to me they have a history of innovating around healthcare services and a passion for delivering quality care for their patients. I look forward to getting to know everyone and supporting their commitment to provide excellent healthcare across northeastern Indiana.”

Most recently, Medley served as strategic counsel to healthcare systems and healthcare investors as the president and CEO for Alee Healthcare Advisory Services. Prior to that, he was executive vice president and group president for RCCH Healthcare Partners and executive vice president and chief operating officer for Capella Healthcare. Before joining Capella Healthcare, Medley served as CEO and CFO for hospitals in Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas while working for LifePoint Health and HCA Healthcare. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University and a master’s in business administration from Western Governor’s University. Medley also is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Seaber joins LHN from Tenet Healthcare where she served as senior director of performance excellence, supporting quality and clinical operations improvements for its emergency services, perioperative services and patient throughput initiatives. Prior to that, she served in multiple clinical leadership positions with increasing responsibility and oversight for hospitals and health systems in Florida, California, Missouri, Kansas, Nevada and Kentucky. A critical care nurse by training, Seaber has earned the Certified Nurse Leader and Manager credential from the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She has a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania, a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of St. Francis in Illinois, and an associate degree in nursing from Laramie County Community College in Wyoming.

Lutheran Health Network also announced today that in preparation for the new hospital it will build in downtown Fort Wayne, Paula Autry will transition from Lutheran Hospital to the role of CEO of St. Joseph Hospital, effective April 1. Autry’s move to St. Joseph positions an established Lutheran executive to manage current operations of the hospital, while also enabling hands-on engagement in the design and construction phases for the new facility, which will help ensure operational readiness and continuity when it opens in late 2021.

“I am so excited to help bring to life Lutheran Health Network’s vision for a new downtown hospital,” said Autry. “As Fort Wayne’s first hospital, St. Joseph has such important history in our community. I’m sure the opportunity to build a new and modern facility upon that tradition will be a highlight of my career.”

A national search for a new CEO of Lutheran Hospital will begin immediately and an interim CEO will be appointed before Autry’s transfer to St. Joseph Hospital.