My honor and joy

By Jamie Smith, Saint Joseph President

Earlier this month, I announced my decision to leave Saint Joseph Hospital to become the CEO of Kootenai Health, a small independent health system based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, serving northern Idaho and eastern Washington. 

It has been my honor and joy to work alongside you at Saint Joe’s for the last eight years. The medical staff here is second to none. Your unwavering commitment to our patients, to each other and to our caregivers makes Saint Joe’s a special place. Most importantly, you live our mission by treating everyone who walks through our doors with compassion, dignity, and excellence. 

On a personal note, the physicians and APPs at Saint Joe’s have inspired me, encouraged me and challenged me all along the way. I’m fortunate to have worked closely with so many of you and developed great friendships in the process. I’m a better leader and a better person for it and will miss you. 

As I reflect on my tenure here, I remember our team’s many major accomplishments, including earning Magnet accreditation, CMS 5 Star quality rating, top-decile patient experience for five years in a row, strengthening clinical partnerships with National Jewish Health, Kaiser Permanente, Denver Health and others, navigating a global pandemic and honoring the 150-year legacy of Saint Joe’s healing ministry in Denver. The medical staff at Saint Joe’s should be extremely proud of their integral role in all of these achievements. Thank you!

I will always cherish the opportunity to lead this extraordinary organization and carry on the ministry gifted to us by The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. I will take what we have achieved together and what I have learned from you with me as I enter the next phase of my journey.  

Finally, as Mother Xavier Ross so wonderfully said, “Look forward to the good that is yet to be.”