WOU pres. and former Legacy CEO join Salem Health Board of Trustees

The Salem Health Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Mark Weiss, president of Western Oregon University—and Pamela Vukovich, director and senior CFO consultant with Warbird Consulting Partners—have both accepted appointments to the Salem board.

“Both Mark and Pam bring immense financial knowledge in large complex institutions,” said Alan Costic, Salem Health board chair. “In this very challenging time, I am very excited with the addition of such high quality individuals to the board.”

“Mark, having previously served on a hospital board and his background in finance with one of the world\'s largest companies, brings tremendous skills to the very complex world of health care,” said Costic. “He will also help the board better represent our interests in Polk County and at West Valley Hospital.”

“Having had reason to undergo two major operations at Salem Hospital, I recognize the great care I received and am grateful for the tremendous community asset and resource Salem Health represents—for both the local community and adjacent regions as well,” said Weiss. “I strive to help the board in the area of fiscal sustainability amid the new age of health care in Oregon and in America. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve my community.”

The Oregon State Board of Higher Education appointed Weiss president of Western Oregon University effective July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014, after service as interim president during the 2012 academic year. Weiss joined Western Oregon University in 2005 as executive vice president, administration and finance, and the university’s chief financial officer.

While living in Washington State, Weiss served on the Board of Trustees for Kadlec Health System and Regional Medical Center, where he learned about the complexities and responsibilities necessary to deliver quality, patient-centered care. “I hope that experience will help me in being of service to the Salem Health Board of Trustees,” said Weiss.

His professional experience includes 17 years with international electronics firm Siemens AG as senior vice president, administration and finance, worldwide chief financial officer and corporate director of Siemens Power Corporation. He also served as a senior manager and certified public accountant for nine years with the public accounting firm KPMG Peat Marwick in New York City.

Weiss received his bachelor’s degree in biology/animal sciences and a Master of Business Administration in professional accounting, graduating with Beta Gamma Sigma honors from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Pamela Vukovich has worked in the health care industry for more than 30 years. Most recently, she joined Warbird’s CFO Consulting Network in 2011 and has served as an interim CFO for two health care systems for extended periods of time. Prior to that, Vukovich served first as CFO and then as interim president and CEO of Legacy Health System.

“Pam brings unparalleled skills and experience to our board, having grown up in Salem with family still living here and having been in the health care industry in Portland at the highest levels of administration,” said Costic. “Her current professional activities providing financial advise to health care systems around the country add valuable expertise to our board.”

“I hope that my financial expertise will be useful to management at Salem Health, as well as my experience working with health care organizations throughout the nation,” said Vukovich. “I understand the financial and operational challenges that healthcare organizations are facing with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.”

While at Legacy, Vukovich assisted in maximizing government reimbursements resulting in significant increased cash flow in a three-year period, plus oversaw corporate and retirement plan investments totaling more than $1.2 billion. She also previously served as vice president of finance and controller of Good Samaritan Hospital, where she advanced to vice president of finance for all hospital operations.

Vukovich grew up in Salem and received a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Oregon State University. She is also a certified public accountant in Oregon. Vukovich’s professional associations include being a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, plus Executive-In-Residence with the Health Management Academy.

All members of the Salem Health Board of Trustees are volunteers and serve three-year terms. The board provides overall policy setting for the health system, and is ultimately responsible for the quality of care and the financial well-being of the organization. The Salem Health board of trustees appoints members from a variety of backgrounds to ensure a broad representation of experience and skills.

Salem Health is comprised of Salem Hospital, West Valley Hospital, Willamette Health Partners and other affiliated health care organizations offering exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. Visit us at salemhealth.org; “Like” us on facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter: @salemhealth; and view us at youtube.com/salemhealth.