Lutheran Announces Change in Leadership

Bauer became CEO of Lutheran Hospital in 2011 and Lutheran Health Network in 2013.

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Brian Bauer is out as chief executive officer of Lutheran Health Network in Fort Wayne. The health system says he is unable to continue in the role because "current circumstances put him in an untenable position." Mike Poore, an executive with parent company Community Health Systems, will serve as interim CEO while the network searches for a permanent replacement.

Lutheran says Bauer made "meaningful contributions" since becoming CEO of Lutheran Hospital in 2011 and Lutheran Health Network in 2013.

The system has also hired healthcare consultant Mike Young as interim Chief Operating Officer. He will oversee plans for Lutheran’s previously-announced $500 million investment to upgrade health services and hospital facilities. That effort includes a top-to-bottom renovation of Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, with construction set to begin later this year.

Lutheran has also announced Aaron Garofola will no longer serve as CEO of Dupont Hospital. It has not named interim leadership as of yet.

The move comes less than a month after Community Health Systems rejected a $2.4 billion offer from a group of 10 Fort Wayne physicians to acquire the system. At the time, the Tennessee company said the group had "failed to satisfy any reasonable criteria of a legitimate offer."