E.J. Kuiper has been selected as the next president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Kuiper has already been serving in the role in an interim capacity since November, after Dr. Charles Lucore stepped down from HSHS to take a position as president of St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York.
Kuiper has worked for HSHS since 2013, when he was appointed president and CEO of the HSHS Central Illinois Division. He will continue to serve in this role, in addition to his new appointment at St. John’s Hospital.
Kuiper was raised in Amsterdam and received his bachelor’s degree from the Academy for Physical Therapy in the Netherlands. After coming to the United States, he received his master’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and a doctorate from the University of St. Augustine. Kuiper worked as a clinician at a health care system in Ft. Myers, Florida, and later moved to Alton, Illinois, where he worked with the Franciscan Sisters Catholic Healthcare system before accepting a job with HSHS.
In an interview with SBJ shortly after his interim appointment, Kuiper said he looked forward to spending more time at the hospital and enhancing relationships with the medical staff.
“Enhancing all aspects of our health care system is what I want to do, and I am honored to lead this organization,” Kuiper said.
