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Dr. Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Catholic Health’s Board of Directors today announced Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy DO, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM, has been selected as the new president and chief executive officer for Catholic Health, effective April 16, 2021.  

Dr. O’Shaughnessy, who has served more than seven years as Catholic Health’s executive vice president and chief medical officer and another four years as executive vice president and chief clinical officer, will replace Dr. Alan D. Guerci, who is retiring. 

“In addition to embracing our Catholic Health culture, commitment to Catholic moral teaching  and mission, and our innovative strategic plans, Dr. O’Shaughnessy will help lead and guide us in providing compassionate, high quality care, while serving the spiritual, physical and emotional  needs of patients,” said Salvatore F. Sodano, chairman of Catholic Health’s Board of Directors.  

“Dr. O’Shaughnessy is an accomplished physician executive with more than 18 years of  administrative leadership experience in strategy, innovation, operations, and design in health care  organizations,” Sodano said. “He is well known, trusted and respected by the Long Island medical community, and has established a favorable reputation with clinical leaders nationally and in the  tristate area.” 

Following an extensive national search, a number of outstanding candidates were considered. After careful review, the Board and Bishop Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre unanimously identified Dr. O’Shaughnessy as the best choice to lead our organization. 

“Thank you to our Bishop, Fr. Eric Fasano, Vicar General, our Chairman of the Board Mr. Sodano  and our entire Board of Directors for this incredible opportunity,” Dr. O’Shaughnessy said. “I am humbled, honored and excited to assume the role of President and CEO at Catholic Health, which has been a leader for decades in providing high quality health care to the communities of Long  Island. I am inspired every day by the exceptional team of caregivers at Catholic Health, who truly  live our mission, and I am committed to build upon Dr. Guerci’s legacy and position the organization for future growth and success in the years ahead.” 

Beginning in 2006, Dr. O’Shaughnessy served as assistant director of emergency medicine for  Catholic Health’s St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson. Later, he became director of emergency  medicine for St. Catherine of Siena, eventually being promoted to chief medical officer for the Smithtown hospital. Dr. O’Shaughnessy continued on a steady path of growth, assuming system-wide responsibilities, and ultimately being promoted to Catholic Health’s executive vice president  and chief clinical officer. 

Prior to joining Catholic Health, Dr. O’Shaughnessy held physician and faculty appointments at  Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center, and The Valley Hospital in New Jersey. He earned his medical degree from New York  College of Osteopathic Medicine and has two master’s degrees, one in business administration from Adelphi University, and a second in population health management from Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. O’Shaughnessy is board certified in emergency medicine and health care quality and management. 

Dr. Guerci, a nationally renowned cardiologist who has been Catholic Health’s CEO since 2013, previously announced his intention to retire on June 30, 2020, but agreed to stay on until the Board could complete a nationwide search for his successor.  

“Dr. Guerci has provided steady leadership throughout his tenure and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has presented historic challenges to all health care organizations,” Sodano said. “We will always be grateful for his outstanding leadership and commitment to our organization. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Dr. Guerci for all that he has done for Catholic Health.” 

Catholic Health is an integrated health care delivery system encompassing some of the region’s finest health and human services agencies. With more than 17,000 employees, six acute care  hospitals, a home nursing service, hospice, and a network of physician practices, Catholic Health serves hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders each year, carrying on the healing mission of Jesus Christ expressed in the mission of mercy of the Catholic Church and a commitment to the sanctity and dignity of every human life. 

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