A pledge to build on the legacy of care and caring as Montage Health’s new CEO
Dear community,
Moving across the country, settling in a community, and starting a job can be daunting, but the welcome I have received as the new chief executive officer of Montage Health has made this a joyful journey. I’m thrilled to join this extraordinary healthcare organization and build on the remarkable legacy of my predecessor, Dr. Steven Packer.
During the past few months, my wife, Chrissy, and I have had the opportunity to meet many members of our new community, and we look forward to meeting many more of you as we set down our roots.
For those I haven’t yet met — a little background: I grew up in Lorain, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie, one of seven children. My mother was an emergency-room nurse, helping spark my interest in becoming a doctor. After attending medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and performing my residency and fellowship at the University of Maryland, I practiced as a diagnostic and interventional radiologist at Mary Washington Healthcare in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Watch a welcome video on YouTube
Like Dr. Packer, I also had an interest in how the hospital and healthcare system were run. I served on many hospital medical staff committees and on the hospital’s Board of Trustees. I went back to school and received my master’s in business administration from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. When Mary Washington’s CEO retired, I was chosen to replace him. I led the system for about a decade — until the opportunity arose to become part of Montage Health.
Chrissy and I had visited this area many times and were, of course, attracted by its stunning natural beauty. But more than that, Montage Health mirrored the traits I valued in Mary Washington: independent, local, nonprofit, and with a long history of caring for the community.
Montage Health is a sustainable community healthcare provider thanks to strong leadership by Dr. Packer and his team, excellent care by the medical staff and care team, and the community’s confidence in that care. And it is strong clinically. For its size, this health system is incredibly sophisticated. It truly punches above its weight, being in the top 1 percent for many of the clinical services it provides. The recent additions of hybrid operating rooms, a neurosurgery program, expanding robotic surgeries, and new endovascular capabilities are state-of-the-art.
My plan, my vision, is to continue that exceptional trajectory. My first order of business is listening to, learning from, and engaging with all of you. I’ll be spending time throughout Montage Health, from Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula to Ryan Ranch, Marina to Carmel. I also plan to attend many events to become even more acquainted with the community. If you run into me in the halls of the hospital, at the grocery store, or on a running trail, I hope you’ll introduce yourself. With your input and support, Montage Health will continue to provide the best in healthcare, close to home.
Mike McDermott, MD, MBA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Montage Health
