Henry Ford Allegiance Health President and CEO Georgia Fojtasek Announces Plans to Retire in Mid-2019

Jackson, Michigan — Henry Ford Allegiance Health President and CEO Georgia Fojtasek announced today her plans to retire after nearly 30 years of service to the Jackson community. Fojtasek joined then Foote Health System in 1989, as vice president and chief operating officer. Five years later, she was appointed to her current role as president and CEO.

Under Fojtasek’s quarter century of leadership as president and CEO, Henry Ford Allegiance Health celebrated a number of key milestones. Cardiac surgery was brought to Jackson and cancer care services expanded, making critical tertiary services accessible to patients locally. The health system went on to pioneer new models of improving population health through the formation of Jackson Health Network and the Health Improvement Organization. And in 2016, then Allegiance Health joined Henry Ford Health System, ensuring access to high quality health care would remain in place for the greater Jackson community for decades to come. Since then, Fojtasek and Henry Ford Allegiance Health have opened the Center for Health Innovation & Education, expanded to all private rooms with the opening of a new patient tower, and celebrated 100 years of service to the community.

In a memo to staff today, Fojtasek shared, “Our own national recognition over the years has continued to grow with multiple awards that reflect our continued commitment to excellence and to community health. We are state and national leaders for our innovative model of community health, and the prestigious Foster G. McGaw Prize was an extraordinary recognition of this deeply rooted commitment.”

Fojtasek also shared her view on Henry Ford Allegiance Health’s responsibility to the greater Jackson community and fellow team members. “When I reflect on our successes, the theme running through these years is learning to believe in ourselves, taking pride in our achievements and focusing on those we serve. We have cared for our community, especially the most vulnerable, and we have cared for one another as a team.”

Fojtasek plans to remain fully engaged and continue leading the organization well into 2019, when her successor is selected by the Henry Ford Allegiance Health Board of Trustees, in collaboration with Henry Ford Health System. HFAH Board Chair Tim Levy (Industrial Steel Treating) will lead the search and confirmed the process for selecting the next president and CEO will begin right away. Levy added, “Georgia would be the first to say that our success is because of the team of people who are part of Henry Ford Allegiance Health. The strength of this team and their commitment to our mission provides the Board of Trustees confidence in our future through this important leadership transition.”

About Henry Ford Allegiance Health

Henry Ford Allegiance Health (HFAH) is a 475-bed health system in Jackson, Michigan. HFAH complements traditional acute care services with primary and community-based to support patients across the health continuum at every stage of life. With its Level II Trauma Center, Henry Ford Allegiance Health provides comprehensive care for severely injured patients. As a teaching hospital, Henry Ford Allegiance Health continually looks to the future with its Center for Health Innovation & Education and Graduate Medical Education program. Through its Health Improvement Organization (HIO), HFAH is also a national leader in forming community partnerships that innovatively address wellness and prevention needs across the region.

About Henry Ford Health System

Henry Ford Health System is a six-hospital system headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It is one of the nation’s leading comprehensive, integrated health systems, recognized for clinical excellence and innovation. Henry Ford provides both health insurance and health care delivery, including acute, specialty, primary and preventive care services backed by excellence in research and education. Henry Ford Health System is led by President & CEO Wright Lassiter III.

Media Contact

Contact: Vicky Lorencen
Cell: (517) 262-8917
Email: vlorenc1@hfhs.org?