OLYMPIA- The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) announced that interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Western State Hospital, Dr. Marylouise Jones, is leaving her post at the 857-bed facility to take the lead on inpatient care for a private mental health provider.
Jones stepped in after former hospital CEO, Cheryl Strange, was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to serve as Secretary for DSHS in September 2017.
“We will miss Dr. Jones and her leadership at Western State Hospital,” said Ken Taylor, Assistant Secretary for the DSHS Behavioral Health Administration. “She has helped lead the mission to transform the hospital. Her dedication and compassion is unprecedented and we wish her well in her new role.”
Jones has more than 25 years of experience working in complex healthcare settings, over 20 of those at Western. Her last day at the hospital will be July 6, 2018.
Within the coming weeks DSHS will name someone to be interim CEO while conducting a search for a permanent CEO for the hospital.
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