CHI Franciscan Health welcomes Syd Bersante as market president for Pierce County. As market president, she holds responsibility for St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood, St. Elizabeth Hospital, Enumclaw and St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma. Bersante has been serving as president of St. Joseph Medical Center since November 2007. A registered nurse, Bersante joined CHI Franciscan in 1990.

“This move toward regional leadership represents an important strategy for CHI Franciscan and will allow us to align our leadership structure to support the communities we serve better,” said Ketul J. Patel, chief executive officer of CHI Franciscan. “This will help us maximize the delivery of high quality, seamless care and improve access to our hospitals for patients throughout Pierce County.”

CHI Franciscan also appointed Tony McLean, market president for South King County, which includes St. Francis Hospital, Burien, and with the retirement of Highline Medical Center president Mark Benedum, he will also oversee Highline beginning Jan. 1, 2016.

In August, the health care system named David Schultz the market president for the Peninsula Region, overseeing Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton and Silverdale and St. Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor.

Kathy Bressler, former president of St. Clare Hospital is leaving CHI Franciscan to become the chief nursing officer of CHI Health in Nebraska.