UMC chief resigns, takes post at Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican

Brian Brannman, the chief executive officer of University Medical Center, is resigning his post for an executive job with Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican, which has three acute-care hospitals in Southern Nevada.

He will be vice president of operations for Nevada facilities, and president and chief executive officer of St. Rose Dominican Siena Campus, a 219-bed hospital in Henderson.

The hospital system also has anointed him as the designated successor for Rod A. Davis, senior vice present of operations for Dignity Health Nevada. Davis retires in late 2014.

Brannman was unavailable for comment Tuesday on why he’s leaving the public hospital. His departure comes at a critical time for UMC. County commissioners spent last year planning the creation of a new, separate board charged with more oversight of the hospital’s affairs, with the goal of giving UMC a designated body for most oversight.

The hospital system made the announcement Tuesday. A start date will be in late January or February. County officials didn’t know when Brannman’s final date on the job will be.

In a statement, Davis said he is impressed by Brannman’s accomplishments and health-care management skills.

“Brian is known for combining a focus on top-notch performance with compassionate, patient-centered care. He is also regarded for his skills as a team builder with physicians, community leaders, employees and peers,” Davis said.

Brannman has been at the helm of UMC since July 2011, and was the hospital’s chief operating officer for three years before assuming that post.

With Brannman leaving, county commissioners will have additional planning to do at the same time as a new hospital board prepares to start its work overseeing UMC.

Commissioner Lawrence Weekly, chairman when commissioners act as the UMC Board of Trustees, has requested that they discuss and appoint an interim director for UMC at the board’s Jan. 21 meeting.

One possible scenario is having an interim person fill in and then, after the new board comes in, it could eventually hire a permanent CEO, Weekly said. He stressed that the details and process are unknown and need discussion.

“I believe it’s a discussion that the commissioners have to have,” Weekly said.

The eight-member board is due to start meeting in January, though a transition period to get oriented is anticipated before it fully takes over.

The new board will have wide-ranging powers such as approving and awarding contracts, setting policy and hiring and firing the chief executive officer. County commissioners, acting as the UMC Board of Trustees, will still have final control over the budget.

Weekly also praised Brannman.

“I appreciate Brian,” Weekly said. “I wish him the best of luck. He’s a talented guy he’s a nice guy.”

Brannman was picked for his new job after a national search. Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican is a nonprofit system with roots in the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Brannman’s job will involve oversight of Dignity Health’s outpatient clinics, physician relationships and healthcare philanthropy. Dignity Health’s Nevada operations have more than 3,400 employees, 1,300 physicians and annual net revenues of more than $800 million, according to the company.

Brannman also is a Navy man with a career of more than 30 years in the service. He was commander and chief executive officer of Navy Medicine West, tasked with oversight of the creation and operations of 10 naval hospitals.

Contact reporter Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Follow him on Twitter @BenBotkin1.