Steve Goeser, president and CEO of Methodist Health System since 2017, has announced that he will retire effective Dec. 31, closing out 21 years with the Omaha-based organization.
The health system’s board of directors has named Josie Abboud, who will soon complete 30 years with Methodist, as his successor. Abboud currently serves as executive vice president of the health system and president and CEO of Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital.
During his tenure, Goeser helped build Methodist into what officials described as a strong and stable regional health care provider in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
“These past 21 years have been filled with challenges, accomplishments, lasting memories and friendships,” he said in a statement. “I can honestly say it has been a complete privilege to be part of this amazing health care system.”
During his time at the health system’s helm, he led its affiliation with Fremont Health and integrated its operations into the Methodist system.
He also directed the construction of new corporate headquarters, led the planning and construction of the Methodist Pathology Center-Schenken Pavilion and Methodist Hospital’s $90 million surgery renovation and expansion project.
Goeser also was responsible for the planning and construction as well as further expansions of Methodist Women’s Hospital and the adjoining medical office building. He led a strategic planning process to refocus the health system’s mission and ensure smart future growth and mentored a number of individuals throughout his career.
His time as the health system’s leader also spanned the COVID-19 pandemic. Health system leaders nationwide were confronted with financial and staffing challenges and the need to adapt on the fly, including shifting hospital configurations and workflows and scaling up telehealth services and same-day surgeries.
Abboud was named the health system’s executive vice president in July 2024. She has served as president and CEO of Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital since 2018. She was the first woman to lead the hospitals and will become the first to head the health system.
The presidents of Methodist Physicians Clinic, Fremont Health, Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, the Methodist Hospital Foundation, Nebraska Methodist College and Shared Service Systems currently report to Abboud.
“Josie is a proven leader who has all the skills necessary to be a great health system CEO,” Goeser said in a statement.
Abboud began her career at Methodist in 1996 as a critical care staff nurse at Methodist Hospital. She went on to hold a series of leadership roles within the hospital and then in the health system.
Abboud said she is “honored and humbled” to lead the health system and to follow Goeser.
“He has served as a mentor to me, and I’m grateful for this opportunity,” she said in a statement.
julie.anderson@owh.com, 402-444-1066, twitter.com/julieanderson41
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Julie Anderson
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today