Corewell Health is preparing for a passing of the leadership torch, as longtime President Dr. Loren Hamel retires at the end of June. Corewell announced today that the new regional president will be one of Hamel’s lieutenants, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer/ Chief Nursing Executive Natalie Baggio, RN.
Hamel, who headed the former Lakeland Health System, was one of the architects of the merger of Lakeland into Spectrum Health of Grand Rapids. That combination soon gathered additional health care entities and eventually effected a huge merger with Detroit’s Beaumont Health System, creating Corewell, now Michigan’s largest health system.
The transition is now largely completed, and Hamel is retiring, turning over the health care reigns to Baggio, whose professional roots are in the nursing ranks.
Baggio is a resident of St. Joseph and has been working in Berrien County’s arm of Lakeland/Spectrum/Corewell since 2017. She will continue to be headquartered here in the Twin Cities, according to Corewell spokesperson Gillian Conrad:
“Like Dr. Hamel, the Southwestern Michigan region is her primary focus – i.e., she’ll be spending the vast majority of her time here and focused on the patients served at our hospitals in Watervliet, Niles and St. Joseph”
Corwell Health announced the Hamel-Baggio leadership transition in a statement:
Natalie Baggio, RN, will become the new president of Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan, effective July 1. She will report to the system’s Chief Operating Officer, Darryl Elmouchi, M.D., and also will actively engage with the health system’s leadership team.
Baggio currently serves as senior vice president, chief nursing executive and chief operating officer for Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan. She joined the organization in 2017. She will succeed Loren Hamel, M.D., who is retiring at the end of June.
“Natalie has done a tremendous job and has been taking on more and more responsibility over the years. She has demonstrated a commitment to championing innovative ideas that have improved processes and patient care,” Dr. Elmouchi said. “She cares deeply about the community.”
Prior to joining Corewell Health, Baggio served in multiple health care leadership roles at Mercy Health South in St. Louis, Missouri. Natalie earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Greenville College, a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing, a master of business administration from Webster University, and a doctor of nursing practice from Baylor University. Baggio is currently enrolled in the Johnson & Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellowship Program.
“I am pleased to accept this role and honored to continue serving our patients, team members and the community here at Corewell Health,” Baggio said. “I am incredibly grateful for the mentorship and guidance from Loren throughout my leadership career. I look forward to the opportunity to further build upon the strong foundation we have created together for better health here in Southwest Michigan.”
Dr. Hamel added, “Corewell Health has benefitted greatly from Natalie’s innovative and human-centered leadership, and I am so proud of all that she has accomplished. Natalie cares deeply about our patients and our team members. I am confident in her ability to further advance health care throughout Southwest Michigan and build upon our vision for a future where health is simple, affordable, equitable and exceptional.”
Retiring Corewell Health Southwest President Dr. Loren Hamel, during a frequent Covid 19 pandemic briefing.
