John J. Herman Starts as CEO for Lancaster General Health

John J. Herman joined Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health (LG Health) as its chief executive officer on March 1, 2021.

Herman, who served as chief executive officer of the North Shore Region for the Ochsner Health system in New Orleans, La., succeeded Jan L. Bergen, who announced her retirement in August 2020. Bergen will remain with LG Health until March 30, to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

"John’s strong belief in the power of integration to drive healthier communities and his demonstrated experience leading within organizations committed to integrated care across large systems make him well-prepared to sustain and enhance LG Health’s exceptional care of patients in our region," said Kevin B. Mahoney, chief executive officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

As the leader of Ochsner Health’s network of owned or financially integrated hospitals, multispecialty ambulatory centers and more than 110 clinics on the North Shore in Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast – which employ more than 6,000 people -- Herman led improved quality and safety outcomes, enhanced employee engagement and built a foundation for system growth.

"John brings a deep appreciation for both Penn Medicine and LG Health’s historic legacies as pioneering health-care organizations, combined with a commitment to community care and experience developing high reliability organizations and productive partnerships to provide highly personalized care alongside options for the most advanced medicine," said D. Michael Wege, Chairman of the LG Health Board of Trustees.

Herman also served as chief operating officer for the 767-bed Ochsner Medical Center – Ochsner’s flagship academic Magnet-designated hospital in New Orleans. The hospital provides education and training to more than 1,000 medical students, nurses, and technical staff and serves a quaternary-level, regional referral center for more than 700,000 unique patients annually.

Herman led more than 2,500 clinical and non-clinical professionals and all areas of hospital operations, and supported centers of excellence in cancer, cardiology, neurology, pediatrics, transplant and women’s services. Ochsner’s Group Practice includes more than 650 physicians in 80 medical specialties and subspecialties.

Prior to joining Ochsner in 2014, Herman served in various leadership roles over 18 years within the Catholic Health System in Western New York, including the chief operating officer for Mercy Hospital of Buffalo for five years. He was also the chief operating officer for Kenmore Mercy Hospital.

"As I start at LG Health, I find myself immensely proud to be part of the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health family. LG Health’s long-standing traditions of providing exceptional patient care, while keeping a keen eye to continuous improvement, have built an impressive roadmap for LG Health’s journey to high reliability."

A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), Herman earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., and holds a Master of Business Administration from State University of New York at Buffalo. In addition, Herman earned his Managing Healthcare Delivery Executive Certificate from Harvard Business School. He is also active on several community boards in the New Orleans region, including St Tammany Chamber of Commerce, North Shore Business Council and United Way of Southeast Louisiana Leader Advisory Group. Herman and his wife Lisa have two college-age children.

Wege, reflecting upon Bergen’s leadership during more than 20 years with LG Health, where she spent more than five years as system CEO, noted, "Under her outstanding leadership, LG Health strengthened its nationally recognized excellence in patient care, and its relentless commitment to improving the health and well-being of all in our community. For this and so much more, Jan has our profound gratitude."