NEW CEO NAMED AT MEDICAL CENTER

James Sexton has been named the new chief executive officer at St. Francis Medical Center

He begins the job Nov. 11 and succeeds John E. Fidler as president. Fidler's last day at the medical center was Wednesday. He had served at St. Francis since January 1992.

The St. Francis Medical Center Board of Directors named Sexton to the hospital's presidency Thursday. He was one of three finalists for the position and was the choice of a presidential selection committee, which included physicians, board members and employees.

"The St. Francis board is delighted to have Jim come in here with more than 20 years of Catholic health-care experience," said Robert B. Hendrix, chairman of the St. Francis board. "The values he is bringing to this institution are very important to us and the community."

Hendrix added that the hospital's nationwide search for a new president resulted in a number of highly-qualified applications.

"We looked at a lot of people and he rose to the top."

Hendrix said Sexton's communication skills and "ability to see what's coming down the road in health care" made him the top choice.

Sexton comes to Cape Girardeau from Fond du Lac, Wis. He was head of two Catholic hospitals in that area -- St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac and Waupun Memorial Hospital in Waupun, Wis.

He left that position almost a year ago when area hospitals merged and a new CEO was named. "A lot of times with a merger, both CEOs move out and a new one comes in," Hendrix said. "That's what happened to him."

Sexton had been a member of the St. Agnes Hospital administrative team since 1974, first as the hospital's vice president of ancillary services and later as senior vice president and executive vice president. He had been president and chief executive officer of St. Agnes since 1980 and had been associated with Waupun Memorial Hospital since 1987. He was also assistant administrator of Flower Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, in the early 1970s.

In a news release, Sexton said, "I'm eager and anxious to get started. I'm ready to begin learning about St. Francis and the local health care community from as many people as possible."

Sexton said St. Francis's mission and Catholic health care philosophy match with his own management style. "The mission and values here are important to me, not only in my management style, but in the overall organization as well."

He holds an associate degree in business administration from Mitchell College in New London, Conn., a bachelor's degree in economics and business administration from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and a master's degree in health care administration from The George Washington University in Washington D.C.

He served in the U.S. Navy and is a member of numerous health-related organizations.