Sawa takes CEO reins at WMC

Wrangell Medical Center has a new administrator – courtesy of a yearlong management agreement with PeaceHealth of Ketchikan.

Kendall Sawa, whose first day on the job was Thursday, Sept. 13, takes the reins of the hospital as interim CEO Olinda White retired the same day. White had been in the position since the firing of former hospital chief Noel Rea on June 20.

Before coming to Wrangell, Sawa was Vice President for Patient Care Services for Ketchikan Medical Center. He took over that position in 2007 after working as a registered nurse at the hospital beginning in 1997.

According to his biography on the KMC website, he has also participated in the development and management of health care services during his tenure in Ketchikan.

Sawa was not available for comment by deadline for this story.

Borough Manager Tim Rooney, however, said he was looking ahead to what Sawa can bring to the table as the search for a permanent administrator moves forward.

“We’re looking forward to Kendall providing leadership at the hospital and moving forward while he helps the board search for a new, full-time administrator,” Rooney said.

Sawa, a native of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada is an RN with a Bachelors degree in Health Care Administration. His career in health care began after graduating from Lethbridge Community College in 1996.