Maui Health is handing its top job, at least for now, to Wade Ebersole, the system’s vice president and chief operating officer, who will serve as interim chief executive officer starting May 3. The move follows CEO Lynn Fulton’s decision to step down and return to Illinois, according to the system. The board selected Ebersole to keep operations steady and to keep quality and access initiatives on track while a search for a permanent CEO gets underway.
Board turns to an internal leader
In a press release, Maui Health said Ebersole will assume the interim role on May 3 and “provide continuity, support our teams, and advance our strategic priorities,” according to Board Chair Bechara Choucair, MD. The announcement highlights Ebersole’s work since joining Maui Health in 2021 and credits him with operational improvements that have boosted quality, safety and financial performance.
Experience includes wildfire response and Denver leadership
As reported by Maui Now, Ebersole previously served as chief administrative officer at Denver Health and brings more than 15 years of health care administration experience. On Maui, he served as incident commander during the 2023 wildfires, coordinating emergency operations and patient care. He holds a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Pittsburgh, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a fellowship in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Transition plan and next steps
Earlier this month Maui Health announced that Fulton would step down effective May 3 to return to central Illinois, and said a leadership transition plan would be shared in the coming days, Maui Health wrote. The organization credited Fulton with advancing patient safety gains and planning clinical projects that include a residency program and the planned introduction of a da Vinci surgical robot. Ebersole will guide the system through the interim period while the board organizes a search for a permanent CEO.
In remarks reported by Maui Now, Ebersole said Maui Health “succeeds because of our staff’s unwavering commitment to improving the health of our community” and said he is humbled by the interim appointment. Local leaders and hospital staff are watching the transition closely as Maui Health continues recovery work and service expansions following the 2023 wildfires.
