New CAO takes the reigns at PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center

KETCHIKAN, Alaska. - Edward Freysinger, MHSA, has joined PeaceHealth as the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. His first day was Monday, Aug. 7.

“It’s a very exciting time to be in healthcare,” he said earlier this week. “During this time of change, we have the opportunity to be innovative in how we approach care and enhance access to all.” 

While his first day was Monday, he has been in town for several weeks; before that, he and his wife Debbie spent time here during the selection process.

“During our visit to Ketchikan and the hospital, my wife and I were impressed with the welcoming nature of the community. We look forward to becoming part of PeaceHealth and Ketchikan and continuing to grow and learn.”

Ed succeeded Interim CAO Nancy Tieman after a nationwide search. He has almost 30 years of executive healthcare experience, in both human resources and administration management.

Most recently, he served as chief executive officer at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, Oregon, which, similar to Ketchikan Medical Center, is a full service, 25-bed critical access hospital.

His nine years with Providence, like PeaceHealth a Catholic healthcare system, gave him an appreciation for faith-based healthcare. “Our family is spiritual in nature,” he said, “and the PeaceHealth Mission ‘to carry on the healing mission of Jesus Christ by promoting personal and community health’ aligns with my personal philosophy.”

He and Debbie are looking forward to the outdoor opportunities Ketchikan offers. “We were high school sweethearts back in Michigan,” he said, “and we’re outdoor people. We like to fish, hike, and kayak.” Their two daughters have begun careers in the Lower 48 but Ed says, “they grew up hiking and climbing. I think they’ll visit often.”

Over the past two years, Ed has volunteered at the Hood River High School as a wrestling coach.  He shared, “I truly enjoyed working with the kids both in and out of the wrestling room.  On one occasion, a group of the wrestlers asked me to help them write their resumes.  After graduation, one of the wrestlers noted the resume helped him gain his position as a forest fire fighter, and is pursuing his goal of graduating with a degree in fire management. It is an honor supporting our youth and their future success.”

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About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a medical group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission.