Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

TOPEKA — Stormont-Vail HealthCare has named Randall L. Peterson to succeed longtime Chief Executive Officer Maynard Oliverius.

Peterson, currently a senior vice president for Via Christi Hospitals, will assume his new post at the Topeka hospital in June.

“Bringing someone to the helm with Peterson’s unique set of leadership skills, his knowledge of rural and urban health care in Kansas, and a history of building relationships with doctors is perfect for Stormont-Vail,” SuAnn Schultz, the chairwoman of the hospital’s board, said in a prepared statement.

Prior to assuming his current position at Wichita’s Via Christi, Peterson had several jobs at the Salina Regional Health Center, serving as president and CEO for nine of his 20 years at the hospital. During his tenure in Salina, Peterson assisted in the merger of two hospitals and the building of the 17-hospital Sunflower Health Network.

Oliverius, who is retiring after 43 years at Stormont-Vail, including the last 15 as president and CEO, praised the selection of Peterson to succeed him.

“There is no one in America that has a stronger resume or is more qualified to do this job than Randy,” Oliverius said. "His knowledge of health care, the Kansas environment and his experience networking with hospitals and doctors makes him a perfect fit for Stormont-Vail and our culture.”

Peterson holds two degrees from Wichita State University: a master’s in health sciences administration and a bachelor's in physical therapy.

Established more than 125 years ago, Stormont-Vail is a 586-bed acute care hospital with more than 4,000 employees. It operates the Cotton-O’Neil clinic, a multispecialty physician group with more than 200 doctors.