Brook Ward assumed the position of President and CEO of Washington Health System (WHS) in Washington County, Pennsylvania in July 2019. From 2010- June of 2019, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
In his role, Mr. Ward provides leadership, direction, and administration across the entire Washington Health System, which includes a large community hospital, a small rural hospital, a 70-provider physician group, a community wellness center, residency and fellowship programs, a school of nursing program and onsite medical simulation center and joint ventures in the areas of hospice, senior living, home health, cancer center and others. Working with the health system’s Board of Directors, he charts the course of the health system in response to the health care needs of the community.
One of WHS’ significant joint ventures is Bridges Health Partners, LLC. Bridges is a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) in partnership with St. Clair Hospital, Excela Health, Butler Health System and Washington Health System. Bridges Health Partners’ mission is to collaborate as health system peers to improve the health of our patients and our region through a physician-led organization focused on: patient experience, efficiencies, quality, and outcomes improvement.
Prior to joining the WHS team, Mr. Ward served as Vice President of Clinical and Ambulatory Services at the Bronson Healthcare Group (Bronson Methodist Hospital) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He began his healthcare career as a radiologic technologist, and then became a business analyst, diagnostic manager, director of radiology and executive director of clinical and ambulatory services.
Mr. Ward is a graduate of Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids MI, with a master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA). He also has a Bachelor of Science in Health Care System Administration from Ferris State University, Big Rapids MI and received an Associates of Allied Science in Radiology from Ferris State University.
Mr. Ward has extensive experience with improving quality of care, process and operations improvement, physician relations, patient satisfaction/service excellence and organizational growth. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a Fellow of The Advisory Board Company. Mr. Ward is currently on the board of Blueprints, a nonprofit that works to help eliminate poverty in our community, Voices For Independence, which helps individuals with disabilities live independently, and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
In 2010-2012 Mr. Ward was an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Award Program in the National Institute of Standards and Technology within the Department of Commerce. Mr. Ward was the Senior Examiner and Team Lead for the Malcolm Baldridge Award Program from 2014-2017.
Outside of his professional life, Mr. Ward enjoys traveling, photography and spending time with his wife of over 33 years, Mary Jo Ward, and their adult son, Blair.