The DeKalb Health Board of Directors has selected Craig Polkow as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Polkow will take over for Dr. Emilio Vazquez, who has been serving as interim since Fred Price resigned the post in late January. Polkow¹s appointment will be effective August 3, 2015.

Polkow brings more than 25 years of progressive healthcare experience. He comes to DeKalb Health from St. Thomas Health in Nashville, Tennessee, where he most recently held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). During his tenure, he directed fiscal operations of the five-hospital system, which includes thirteen Ambulatory Surgery Centers, eight Imaging Centers, a 250 physician practice and other subsidiaries.

Polkow and his wife Cathy will be relocating to the area in the coming weeks and look forward to becoming actively engaged and part of the community once again.

³Cathy and I are excited to be returning to DeKalb County,² said Polkow. ³I am looking forward to working with the outstanding medical staff and the dedicated associates of DeKalb Health.²

Polkow is no stranger to the healthcare landscape of northeast Indiana.

Prior to his time in Nashville, he was Chief Financial Officer at Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne and served as Interim Chief Executive Officer. While at Dupont, where he showed a significant impact of increased earnings and reduced employee turnover. Polkow also held the Chief Financial Officer leadership role at DeKalb Memorial Hospital in Auburn and Madison Center in South Bend.

Polkow possesses broad expertise in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors of healthcare, as well as large system and smaller community-based medical facilities.

³Our board is very excited about the skills Craig brings to DeKalb Health,² remarked DeKalb Health Board Chair Bob Menzie. ³The fact that he worked here previously and wanted to return speaks volumes about our community and the potential of our hospital.

Menzie noted the efforts of the search committee. The process was very thorough and included a broad representation of hospital personnel.

³We also want to thank publically Dr. Emilio Vazquez for serving as interim CEO during the last five months,² Menzie insisted. ³His effective leadership during this period, will make this transition much easier for all concerned.²

³In the end, we were very impressed by Craig Polkow¹s vision and strategies for the future, as well as his philosophy to remain independent,² Menzie affirmed. ³We see a bright future ahead for DeKalb Health.²

Polkow majored in Economics at Indiana University South Bend, where he received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration with highest distinction. He received a public accounting certification in 1990. Polkow has served in adjunct faculty positions at Indiana University at South Bend, Tri-State University, Concordia University and the University of Phoenix.