Kerry Heinrich, an attorney associated with Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) since 1984, has been named interim chief executive officer of LLUMC and interim administrator of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, effective July 1. He will replace Ruthita Fike, whose resignation will be effective July 1 after serving as CEO of LLUMC for 10 years.
Heinrich will provide strategic leadership for—and oversee day-to-day operations of—the six hospitals that constitute LLUMC. He will work collaboratively with leadership to ensure that major initiatives continue to move forward.
“I’m humbled to be working closely with so many talented and dedicated people at this great institution,” Heinrich said after the announcement. “Our nurses, physicians, technicians, our plumbers and electricians, our housekeeping staff and food service workers—each one is integral to helping us carry out Christ’s mission of teaching and healing, bringing wholeness and wellness to our patients.”
Heinrich said his long association with Loma Linda meant that he has experienced some of the emotional highs and lows of life as a family member of patients. He said the experience has given him empathy for what people experience within the medical center’s walls.
“Two of the happiest days of my life were the days my two children were born at Loma Linda, and I had the privilege of holding each new child in my arms for the first time. The elation I felt then can’t be matched.
“Conversely, there were two other times, a decade later, when my emotions were at the other end of the spectrum. One time was when I watched my father-in-law, with whom I was very close, lose his battle for life with a mitral valve heart problem. Then, just a year after that, my dear mother was taken from us after a 14-year struggle with breast cancer.
“Those times taught me how vulnerable and how reachable and teachable our patients and their loved ones are when they’re in our care. These are the kinds of moments Jesus used to reach out to people, meeting them where they were in all their suffering and need, and helping to restore them physically and spiritually. I know this because I lived it.”
Heinrich said those providing care and those who support them are uniquely positioned to reach out and help people at those vulnerable moments. “I believe the capacity we have to do this ennobles us as employees and brings meaning and fulfillment to our work in this sacred place.”
He added that talented people at every level are the real asset of a great university and medical center. “For all the cutting-edge technology, equipment, programs and services we have—and they are all wonderful—it’s our people that make the difference. Their love for the Lord and for their fellow man are the hallmarks that distinguish us from purely physical healthcare.”
He also felt that the quality of employees and service providers is what ultimately makes a leader’s success possible. “I’m here to nurture people, to help them rise to the very best that they can be and do for our patients. We truly are here to carry forward the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus.”
During his 30-year career, Heinrich has conducted contract negotiations, financial acquisitions, complex corporate restructures and major initiatives to improve reimbursements for the health care entities. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in business with an emphasis in finance and management from Walla Walla University in Washington. He earned a juris doctor (JD) degree from the University of Oregon’s School of Law.