By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Mosaic Life Care didn’t have to look far for its new Chief Executive Officer.
Mosaic Board of Trustees chair Serena Naylor introduces Mike Poore, who has been serving as the interim CEO since the retirement of Dr. Mark Laney.
“His ability to strengthen organizations and lead with courage and commitment,” Naylor tells a news conference at the St. Joseph hospital. “His record of growth overseeing multiple hospitals with complex different needs with a quiet, determined strength. And, his clear dedication to our communities which aligns perfectly with Mosaic’s vision statement: the needs of the patient come first.”
Naylor says Poore quickly became an exceptional leader for the Mosaic system.
As for Poore, he says the strength of Mosaic and the St. Joseph community convinced him to stay.
“I am humbled and honored to stand before you, the caregivers and our community, and be your next CEO for Mosaic,” Poore says.
Poore served as interim CEO at a Virginia hospital prior to coming to Mosaic. He has served as an interim CEO for several health care systems.
When introduced as interim CEO in mid-March, Poore described himself as “boringly consistent," stating he considered himself a shepherd, helping Mosaic through the transition to a new CEO. He stated he wasn’t a candidate for the job.
Something changed.
Poore says he had intended to merely pave the way for the next CEO, then began to consider the possibility of staying.
“I really did not expect to be received so well in a community and how people are just very genuine,” according to Poore.
Poore has more than 30 years’ experience in health care and has served in a CEO position for 20 years.
While Poore says Mosaic has many strengths, he says a weakness is the community perception that to receive world-class health care you need to go to Kansas City or some other urban setting.
“We’ve got to overcome that, because we are giving that world-class health care here, today, every day, treating our patients,” Poore says. “And we’re fortunate to have the caregivers and the physicians, providers that we have in this community. We are very fortunate.”
Poore says what you see is what you get with him, stating he tells those under his leadership he’ll do three things for them.
“I knock down the barriers that get in your way from doing your job. I give you the tools to do your job. And then I get out of your way and let you do your job.”
Poore begins as CEO immediately.