Temple Health is announcing leadership changes at Temple Health – Chestnut Hill Hospital today as part of the ongoing integration and strategic growth initiatives aimed at stabilizing the hospital and preserving its mission. Dr. John Cacciamani is stepping down as President and CEO of Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital, effective immediately. For the past 10 years, Dr. Cacciamani has navigated Chestnut Hill Hospital through turbulent times.
As Temple Health conducts a search for a permanent CEO for Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital, Jeremy J. Slaga, Esq., currently Temple Health’s Integration Officer, will assume the position of Interim CEO. Slaga has been on-site at Chestnut Hill over the past year improving operations, assisting with ongoing service enhancements, and supporting its Epic electronic medical record transition. He has 18 years of experience as a health system leader and hospital administrator, including strategic planning, merger and acquisition integration, IT optimization, purchasing and procurement, and value-based care administration. Since joining Temple Health in 2022, Slaga has worked closely with leadership to support the integration of Temple Women & Families campus. He played a critical role in achieving a smooth transition when Temple Health acquired Chestnut Hill Hospital a year ago as part of an alliance with Redeemer Health and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“Chestnut Hill Hospital had been struggling for years before Temple Health stepped in,” said Abhi Rastogi, MBA, MIS, President and CEO of Temple University Hospital and Executive Vice President of Temple University Health System. “We are committed to making Chestnut Hill a more comprehensive community hospital where patients can access a broad spectrum of services and expertise of Temple’s specialists in their own community. Examples include integrating Fox Chase Cancer Center’s urologic, breast cancer, and plastic surgery physicians there; significant capital investments including the purchase of a new CT machine; and the forthcoming integration of Vascular, Thoracic, and Infusion services.”
Also stepping down from their positions at Chestnut Hill Hospital are Rebecca Gubanich (VP of Finance), and Scott Friend (VP & Chief Quality Officer). Gerald P. Oetzel, MBA, Temple Health’s Chief Financial Officer, will assume strategic leadership of Chestnut Hill Hospital’s financial operations. Carl Sirio, MD, Temple Health’s Chief Medical Officer, will oversee Chestnut Hill’s clinical quality and safety initiatives, infection prevention, clinical risk mitigation, and medical staff affairs and relations, working closely with James L. Helstrom, MD, MBA, Chestnut Hill’s Interim CMO, and CMO of Fox Chase Cancer Center.
“Chestnut Hill and Temple Health missions share much in common. We will embrace those connections as this integration progresses,” added Rastogi. “We’re committed to ensuring that patients get the best care possible—the advances and innovation of a leading academic medical center in a close-to-home, community hospital setting.”