Monday, March 11, 2024
Please join us in welcoming Jamie Smith on his first day as CEO, Kootenai Health!
On January 9, 2024, Kootenai Health announced Jameson (Jamie) Smith as its next CEO, after a sixth month search. Smith replaces retiring CEO, Jon Ness, who was recently honored by his colleagues and loved ones for his years of service to our community.
Smith has served as president of Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado, part of Intermountain Health, a leading nonprofit health system serving the mountain west. In this role, Smith also served as the CEO of Saint Joseph’s Joint Operating Agreement with National Jewish Health, one of the top respiratory and pulmonary hospitals in the country.
This past July the Kootenai Health board formed a search committee to lead national recruitment efforts for the new CEO. The committee engaged the executive recruiting firm of Witt Kieffer to conduct a national search for CEO candidates. Witt Kieffer has an exceptional track record of recruiting for Kootenai Health, having placed most of the administrative leaders on its staff.
“The board could not be more pleased with the caliber of candidates who expressed interest in the position,” said Katie Brodie, chair of the Kootenai Health board of trustees. “Jamie not only brings exceptional health care leadership to the position, he also has the right mindset to be a great fit for Kootenai Health and our community.”
Smith is a mission-driven, seasoned health care executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience. He has served in leadership roles at multiple health care systems in a variety of markets. Throughout his career he has been committed to improving patient experience and clinical quality, valuing and empowering caregivers, and serving the community.
Under Smith’s leadership, Saint Joseph Hospital, a 400-bed faith-based teaching hospital and specialty referral center, saw several significant achievements in these areas. These include two-time ANCC Magnet designation for nursing excellence, CMS 5 Star Quality Rating, patient satisfaction at or above the 90th percentile for four years in a row, transformation of the hospital’s philanthropic foundation, and the major expansion of outpatient services.
Smith began his career as an active-duty Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S. Army serving two years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. and two years in the 1st Cavalry Division, Ft Hood, Texas, rising to the rank of captain. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
“Kootenai Health is very unique, and it is well positioned for its next phase of growth,” said Smith. “I’m excited to be joining such a strong organization with an outstanding board and a talented team. Jon Ness brought a vision to enhance and expand health care in northern Idaho so Idahoans could receive the care they need closer to home. I intend to continue to enhance this strategy and build on all the great work that has been done here. We must transform the health care experience for our local community and become a premier medical destination for the broader region.”
Smith will be working with an onboarding team to introduce him to Kootenai Health and northern Idaho. This will include meetings with key business and clinical leaders throughout the organization, the community, and the region.
“My wife, children and I love the outdoors, so we are looking forward to moving to northern Idaho,” Smith said. “We like being involved members of our community and we are excited to see how we can connect and begin giving back.”
Smith is married to Anne Smith, RN, and they have three children ages 12, 10 and 8. When he is not working, he can be found spending time with his family, fly fishing, hiking, skiing, and occasionally reading a good book.
