photo by: Contributed

John Worden, chief executive officer of the KU Health System St. Francis Campus.

John Worden will become the new chief executive officer of the University of Kansas Health System’s St. Francis Campus in Topeka beginning next year.

Worden — the current CEO of KU’s Great Bend Campus — will succeed Scott Campbell, who announced he would be retiring at the end of this year in October. Worden will begin his work as the new CEO of the St. Francis Campus on Jan. 1, 2027, according to a press release from the KU Health System.

“I’m excited for this opportunity and look forward to serving the patients and the team at St. Francis Campus, and the community,” Worden said in the release. “My time in Great Bend has been incredibly meaningful, and I’m grateful for the people I’ve had the privilege to work alongside. I look forward to building on the important work happening across the health system.”

As the Journal-World reported, in September, the KU Health System and Ardent Health announced that KU would acquire full ownership of the St. Francis Campus and affiliated care locations by the end of 2026. The organizations have jointly operated the hospital for nearly 10 years.

In addition to the new CEO, the KU Health System announced Gloria Solis will serve as the interim chief operating officer for the campus effective Jan. 1. She currently serves as the associate chief nursing officer for the KU Cancer Center. The release said she will maintain her current role along with the added COO role.

photo by: Contributed

Gloria Solis, RN, interim chief operating officer at the KU Health System St. Francis Campus.

Dr. Heath Latham will become the new chief medical officer for the St. Francis Campus on Jan. 1, succeeding Dr. Sri Donepudi, the campus’ current chief medical officer. Latham currently works at his pulmonology clinic in Kansas City and serves as chair of the Great Bend Campus advisory board and director of the rural residency program for Kansas’ Anchor Hospital Advancement Program.

photo by: Contributed

Dr. Heath Latham, chief medical officer of the KU Health System St. Francis Campus.

The KU Health System’s St. Francis Campus in Topeka is a 378-bed acute care hospital with 21 primary and specialty care clinic locations, including a cancer care location in partnership with The KU Cancer Center.