Media Contact: Michael Schwartzberg, GBMC Media Relations Manager

(O): 443-849-2126/Cell: 410-258-3465eMarch 2:]

GBMC Names New Chief Operating Officer

BALTIMORE, Md. – October 30, 2007 – Keith R. Poisson, FACHE, a veteran hospital executive with more than two decades of experience, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

A member of the GBMC Executive Team, Poisson is responsible for all acute care and ambulatory operations.  He will lead efforts to expand services in response to community need, enhance quality, and improve operating efficiencies.

"I am thrilled to join the leadership team at GBMC and become a member of the local community.  GBMC is supported by premier clinicians and caregivers that are committed to excellence by building on our past successes and traditions,” said Poisson, a resident of Towson.

Poisson has more than 23 years of experience in executive positions at a variety of hospitals, including community and teaching institutions. Among his other positions prior to joining GBMC, Poisson served as chief operating officer at St. Mary’s Health Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan; president of St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake, Ohio; and in several executive positions with the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System in Kansas. Poisson has significant experience in leading efforts to improve quality and operating performance.

“His track record in producing operational performance, establishing and sustaining collaborative relationships with managers, staff and physicians that built executive teams and achieved results and service excellence is outstanding,” said Laurence M. Merlis, GBMC’s president and chief executive officer.
 
Poisson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology and public health from Michigan State University and a Master’s in Hospital and Health Administration from Xavier University.   He is a member of many professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives.

About GBMC
GBMC includes Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Central Maryland’s leading community hospital; Hospice of Baltimore, which provides comfort and care to patients with life-limiting illnesses; and the GBMC Foundation, which supports the GBMC mission by managing fundraising efforts.  The 292-bed Medical Center, located on a beautiful suburban campus, serves nearly 22,000 inpatients annually and provides approximately 60,000 emergency room visits. For more information, go to www.gbmc.org