August 7, 2023 10:45 a.m. 

Russell J. Wooley has been selected as the new president and CEO for CHI Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg.

A Mercy release said the announcement was made by CommonSpirit Health’s Pacific Northwest Division President Ketul Patel.

Wooley will take over following the recent retirement of Kelly Morgan.

Wooley comes to Mercy from Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, Washington, where he is currently vice president and chief operating officer. His tentative start date is October 2nd.

Wooley joined VMFH in 2016 after serving as vice president of operations at University of Colorado Health, in Fort Collins, Colorado. Board-certified in healthcare management, Wooley is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He graduated from Brigham Young University and holds master’s degrees in health management & policy, and in finance from the University of Michigan.

Patel said, “We are excited to keep Russ in the CommonSpirit Health Family and know he is the right person to steer Mercy as it expands to serve the growing community of Douglas County”. Patel said, “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Jason Gray who stepped into the interim CEO role at Mercy after Kelly’s retirement in May. Dr. Gray has been chief medical officer at Mercy for the past 12 years and brought stability to Mercy during the search process”.

Mercy’s Director of Communications Sarah Baumgartner said Gray will remain the interim CEO until Wooley’s arrival and will continue to be the hospital’s chief medical officer.

The release said Wooley, his wife and four children are looking forward to being active members of the community and exploring Douglas County.