KANE — J. Gary Rhodes, UPMC Kane president and vice president of UPMC Hamot, announced Wednesday that he will retire after 31 years of service to the hospital.
Mark A. Papalia, director of operations at UPMC Kane, will step into the role of president on June 1. Rhodes will assist in the executive transition until his retirement in July.
Rhodes began his career at Kane Community Hospital as a clinical laboratory assistant manager. He advanced through the organization to become chief operating officer, and president in 1997.
“Gary’s commitment and passion for excellent health care extends far beyond our workforce and the patients we serve,” said David P. Gibbons, president UPMC Hamot. “Through his unwavering passion for medical excellence, compassionate care and innovation, we are well-positioned to serve the health care needs of the Kane community.”
During his tenure as president, Rhodes successfully ushered in Kane’s integration as an affiliate of UPMC Hamot to secure a strong health-care future for the community.
He steered innovation as Kane was the first hospital in Pennsylvania to provide telemedicine with regional trauma center providing tele-cardiology. Technological advances also included providing the first open MRI, 32-slice CT imaging, diagnostic breast health center for excellence and all-inclusive digital imaging department in the region.
Care was advanced in his tenure by the recruitment of skilled physicians and professional health care providers in the Kane region.
“It has been an honor to work under Gary’s excellent leadership for the past 14 years,” Papalia said. “Under his direction, our employees and physicians have really come together to positively impact patient care in the Kane community. We wish Gary all of our best in the retirement he so richly deserves.”
For his part, Rhodes said he has enjoyed serving patients, associates, physicians, board of directors and community, but he wants to spend more time with his family and in the pursuit of personal interests.
“It has been my privilege and honor to serve our hospital and I wish to thank all of those I have worked with over the past 31 years,” Rhodes said. “I wish our entire team of dedicated health care professionals well in their continuous pursuit of providing access to quality health care in the communities we serve.”
