Blan steps down as Sparks, Summit CEO

That didn’t last long.

Gary Blan stepped down as CEO of Sparks Health System in Fort Smith and Summit Medical Center in Van Buren less than three months after being named to the job.

The two hospitals are owned by Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Systems.

Donna Bragg, Sparks spokeswoman, said Blan left for personal reasons.

Blan, who retired Jan. 1, 2008, as president and CEO of Saint Clare’s Health System, began the Sparks and Summit CEO job on March 19.

When he retired from his St. Clare's post, Blan had 35 years in the medical field, with 27 of those as a CEO of a hospital or health system. Blan has also served as the president and CEO of Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City, and the president of Mercy Hospital also in New Orleans.

Blan was picked to succeed Melody Trimble who was promoted to president of the HMAs Southern and Western Group, which includes 26 hospitals in seven states. Trimble’s promotion was effective Jan. 1, 2013. The seven-state region is Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington.