By Catherine Wolf, KWMU
St. Louis, MO –
SSM Health Care announced Wednesday that Sister Mary Jean Ryan will step down from her position as the organization's president as of August 1.
Ryan, who is 71, was appointed the system's first president and CEO in 1986, the year SSM formed. She will remain CEO for the next two years.
William Thompson, a senior vice president, will become the new president and oversee day-to-day operations. He will transition into Ryan's CEO role over time.
SSM is a St. Louis-based Catholic health system with hospitals in four states. It serves more than two million people each year.