Posted on October 20, 2022
Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, President/CEO of TidalHealth, has announced the promotion of Stephanie Gary, CPA, MBA, FACHE, Vice President of Finance, to Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the health system.
Ms. Gary’s promotion follows the announced retirement of Bruce Ritchie, Senior Vice President of Finance/CFO effective January 13, 2023 after 29 years in a financial leadership role at the health system; 18 of those as its Vice President. Ritchie will hold the title of Sr. Vice President of Finance until his retirement.
Ms. Gary becomes only the third CFO in TidalHealth’s history, following Ritchie—who had been its CFO for the past 15 years—and Donald Durham, who was first to hold the title, until his retirement in 2007.
“Stephanie, in addition to being a proven leader, brings to her new role a wealth of knowledge and an impressive background in not only successfully managing corporate healthcare finances but also experience in the outside corporate world for more than 20 years previously,” said Leonard. “With a tremendous amount of operational experience, which is somewhat unique in a CFO role, she also brings a process improvement perspective that is already helping us to strengthen efficiencies.”
Ms. Gary holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in Accounting and Business Administration, and is a licensed CPA. She earned her MBA, specializing in healthcare, from the University of Texas. She joined TidalHealth as its Vice President of Finance in June of 2021 from the Methodist Health System in Texas.
“I’ve enjoyed the transition process with Bruce over the last 12 months. It is not always easy to do, but Bruce has done so with grace and kindness,” said Ms. Gary. “I also appreciate Dr. Leonard and the entire TidalHealth team’s support during my personal transition from Texas back home to Maryland and my professional one to CFO. I look forward to supporting this organization and my community for many years to come.”
“Bruce Ritchie has been a valuable team member who has been involved in every strategic decision for nearly three decades, and is recognized as one of the leading CFOs and healthcare financial leaders in the Mid-Atlantic region,” added Leonard. “He has played a significant role in making TidalHealth the outstanding health system it is, and has contributed to the healthcare of thousands of citizens on the Delmarva Peninsula.”
Ms. Gary is a first-generation American raised by her father who emigrated from Ghana, and a Maryland native who grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland. She and her husband, Kito, and their two children reside in Salisbury.