OBleness gets ample experience with new CEO

Larry Thornhill, vice president of Regional System Development for OhioHealth, began his leadership role Wednesday as interim chief executive officer (CEO) with the OBleness Health System, according to a news release from OBleness.

Larry Thornhill, vice president of Regional System Development for OhioHealth, began his leadership role Wednesday as interim chief executive officer (CEO) with the O’Bleness Health System, according to a news release from O’Bleness. OhioHealth and O´Bleness announced last week that they have entered into a management agreement that will allow both organizations to work together more closely to deliver high-quality, financially sustainable and coordinated health-care services over the long term to southeast Ohio.

Thornhill will provide guidance through the next several months as OhioHealth conducts a search for four key leaders for O’Bleness: CEO; chief financial officer; vice president of medical affairs and director of logistics, the release said.

Prior to joining OhioHealth last year, hornhill served as president and CEO of Berger Health System in Circleville for eight years. O’Bleness’ former transitional CEO, Skip Young, said in the release that hornhill is a “boots-on-the-ground” type of administrator. “Larry understands many aspects of small hospital administration,” Young said. “OhioHealth has brought Larry to our hospital not to teach us about large health systems, but for him to teach Ohio- Health about small hospitals. I think both systems will gain a lot from that.”

Young, who served as transitional CEO for 10 months, now returns to his role as vice president of clinical services at O’Bleness.

At OhioHealth, hornhill provides leadership for OhioHealth´s regional development initiatives, including the analysis of regional growth opportunities, cultivation of relationships and negotiation of acquisitions and affiliation arrangements to strengthen OhioHealth and enhance its market position, the release said.

Prior to joining OhioHealth, hornhill worked at hospitals in Texas, California, Mississippi, Montana, Delaware, Illinois, Ohio, Japan and Great Britain, where he served in a variety of positions including chief operating officer and CEO.