Olympic Medical Center CEO Darryl Wolfe has resigned citing personal reasons.

“This is a difficult decision, but for personal reasons it is a necessary one,” Wolfe said in a statement Thursday, July 31 to OMC employees. “I cannot overstate the gratitude I feel for the experiences I have had for the past 19 years here at Olympic Medical Center.”

Wolfe began his career at OMC in 2006 as a financial analyst and rose to become treasurer, director of administration, chief financial officer and CEO in June 2020.

In December, OMC embarked on exploring a potential partnership with another health care system with the goal of ensuring its long-term financial sustainability. That process is ongoing.

OMC’s board of commissioners intends to appoint an interim CEO as soon as possible. Discussion about a process and timelines for hiring a permanent successor will be held at an upcoming public meeting.

“Darryl has shown a steadfast dedication to patients, generous service to our community, and strong support for our providers and employees,” board President Ann Henninger said in a press release announcing Wolfe’s departure. “We deeply appreciate his commitment to OMC over the past 19 years, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Jefferson Healthcare CEO and former OMC CEO Mike Glenn said Wolfe did a great deal on behalf of hospitals and rural hospitals in particular by advocating at the state and federal levels for government health care payer reform.

“I thought Darryl did an amazing job at OMC,” Glenn said in a statement. “He stepped into the CEO role during a very trying time and steered it through the COVID crisis to a much stronger place.

“Darryl was a tireless advocate for more responsible healthcare payment policy, and this work was making a difference. I’ll miss him as a regional health thought partner.”