Leslie Simmons, RN, executive vice president and COO of Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health, will retire, effective July 1, 2027, after more than a decade of leadership at the system.
Ms. Simmons has nearly four decades in leadership roles, according to an Oct. 23 news release.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Simmons served as president of Westminster, Md.-based Carroll Hospital and holds the distinction of being the hospital’s first and only female president.
As COO of LifeBridge Health, Ms. Simmons oversees all of the system’s hospitals, system quality, patient safety and multiple clinical and operational functions.
During her time with LifeBridge, she has also served as interim president at each of the system’s hospitals, giving her insights into operations. She also played a leading role in advancing quality, operational excellence and collaboration across the organization.
To honor Ms. Simmons, the Carroll Hospital Foundation established the Leslie Simmons Endowed Leadership Development Fund to help support growth of current and emerging leaders at Carroll Hospital through initiatives like continuing education, leadership development programs, professional training, team-building activities and executive coaching.
LifeBridge Health will launch a national search for a new COO. Ms. Simmons will work alongside her successor for several months to ensure continuity of operations and a smooth transition.
“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I have tremendous confidence in the future of LifeBridge Health,” Ms. Simmons said in the release. “The organization is well positioned to continue delivering exceptional care and serving our communities for years to come.”
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