St. Edward Mercy Names New President

Ryan Gehrig has been named president of St. Edward Mercy Health System, according to a Wednesday press release.

Gehrig replaces Jeff Johnston, who was promoted to president of Mercy St. Louis last September. Gehrig will assume his new duties April 9, three weeks before St. Edward Mercy Health System changes its name to Mercy Fort Smith.

“We couldn’t be happier than to have our new president joining us at such an exciting time in Mercy’s history in Fort Smith,” Kim Day, president of Mercy’s Arkansas communities and interim president of St. Edward Mercy, said in the release. “After spending six months on a very deliberate search, it’s great to have found a leader that’s not only highly qualified but the right fit for this community.”

Gehrig, who attended high school at Subiaco Academy, comes to Mercy from Norman Regional Health System, where he served as vice-president of enterprise systems and chief administrative officer for Moore Medical Center, one of the health system’s three hospital facilities.

“It’s really a pleasure to be moving back to the River Valley,” he said. “I’ve always admired Mercy’s health care ministry. They are both compassionate in their care and innovative in their approach. I’m anxious to get my feet on the ground and get to know the physicians and co-workers as well as become involved in the community.”