Genesis CEO leaving; tells health system’s new leader to pick a good team

Genesis Health System President and CEO Doug Cropper is leaving Genesis in June to take a full-time leadership role with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Dr. Kurt Andersen, Genesis’ chief clinical officer/chief medical officer, has been selected to succeed Mr. Cropper by the board of directors, the health system announced. Mr. Cropper, who has led Genesis for the past 14 years, will be helping with the leadership transition over the next few months. The two men have already met several times to discuss that transition. In a recent interview with the QCBJ, Mr. Cropper had this advice for the next leader of Genesis: “It’s all about the team,” he said. Select a good and talented team. Be “bold and courageous” in your moves. Know the mission and vision of Genesis. Mr. Cropper, 63, said that while he is looking forward to his new adventures, he will miss many aspects of the job. Topping his list will be serving in the mission of health care, as well as the many people with whom he works. “The relationships go deep. … I have worked with people who mean a great deal to me,” he said. Looking back, Mr. Cropper said that he is proud of many accomplishments made at Genesis during his tenure. Topping that list is helping lead Genesis to national benchmark status in quality and patient safety. Genesis’ recognition as a national Top 15 Health System —not once, but twice — in 2020 and 2021, achieved that goal. “The most important thing we do is to keep our patients safe and to give them the same quality care we would want our own loved ones to receive,” Mr. Cropper said in a news release announcing his retirement. “This Top 15 designation recognizes all the strides Genesis has made not only in quality and safety, but in areas like patient experience, as well.” He also is proud of the response by the Genesis staff during the pandemic, calling it “truly inspirational.” “Our Genesis staff responded to COVID-19 in innovative ways and served our community with stamina, resilience, compassion and commitment during very difficult times,” Mr. Cropper said. “And they have continued to serve — and do even more — as we have faced recent staffing challenges with the rest of the nation.” “Doug Cropper’s strong leadership over the past 14 years has put Genesis on a positive path forward, even in these increasingly challenging times in healthcare,” said C. Dana Waterman III, chair of Genesis Health System’s Board of Directors. “He will leave a lasting legacy at Genesis, and his passion for quality, and safe and compassionate care for our patients will benefit our community for years to come.” Mr. Cropper and his wife, Lynne, will serve as mission leaders for one of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ 400-plus missions around the world. Each year, approximately 130 couples from the church’s general membership of 17 million are called to serve in this capacity as the outgoing mission leaders finish their three-year commitment. The Croppers have accepted this three-year assignment and he said they look forward to their next adventure together as full-time mission leaders, at a location yet to be assigned. He told the QCBJ he hopes to learn their assignment sometime in January. A year ago, under Mr. Cropper’s leadership, the Genesis Board of Directors began a partnership exploration to build a stronger future for the organization. In September, prior to Mr. Cropper’s retirement announcement, Genesis and Iowa-based MercyOne announced their intent to form a partnership. MercyOne is a member of Trinity Health, a national healthcare organization based in Livonia, Michigan. Over Mr. Cropper’s tenure, the infrastructure of Genesis changed as the health system responded to growth and the community’s changing needs.  Most significant was the $150 million expansion at the East Campus of Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, which led to the consolidation of Davenport’s short-term acute care services onto that campus. Genesis also built HealthPlexes in Moline, Bettendorf, and Davenport; and this month, opened a new Emergency Department at the Bettendorf HealthPlex. Genesis management also assisted Jackson County Regional Health Center to build a new replacement hospital in Maquoketa, Iowa. Mr. Cropper told the QCBJ that one of his main regrets during his tenure is not developing a “more meaningful role” for the Genesis West Campus. He insists there are no plans to eventually shutter Genesis West as the facility is still home to many medical departments and features. In fact, Gilda’s Club opened its new clubhouse at Genesis West this fall. “We are in for the long haul at West,” he added. Mr. Cropper’s retirement will end his 14-year tenure at Genesis, and a 41-year career in healthcare that began in 1981 as a hospital surgical orderly in Salt Lake City. He served in various hospital administrative roles in Utah, Minnesota and Virginia before arriving at Genesis in 2008. He went on to guide Genesis to national recognition in quality and patient safety and became a national voice for healthcare as a board member of the American Hospital Association. Genesis also grew stronger through key partnerships, including the partnership that created WellSpire and brought new Iowa senior living communities to Bettendorf and DeWitt. Through partnerships with leading local physician groups, many more specialists were added to the Genesis continuum of care. Mr. Cropper acknowledged it has grown harder to be successful as an independent, medium-sized health system in an increasingly challenging healthcare landscape. It is those challenges — and the need to grow strong into the future — that led to Genesis’ partnership exploration nearly a year ago. Mr. Cropper says he is confident he will see the partnership with MercyOne come to fruition before he leaves Genesis in six months. “I have great optimism for this potential partnership, and after I leave, I know our board leadership and Dr. Kurt Andersen’s leadership will take Genesis forward in new and exciting ways.” Dr. Andersen’s career with Genesis began in 1997 as a resident in the Genesis Quad Cities Family Medicine Residency Program. He has remained a practicing Genesis family physician and has previously served as an executive of Genesis Health Group before his current role as chief clinical officer/chief medical officer. “While I am saddened to not lead the full integration of Genesis into MercyOne, I am confident in Dr. Andersen’s ability to lead Genesis after my departure,” Mr. Cropper said.