Staff photo by Damien Fisher Sherry Hausmann, a Kansas hospital executive, is announced Monday as the new president and CEO for SolutionHealth, formed by the combination of Southern New Hampshire Health and Elliot Hospital. Pictured, from left, are Elliot CEO Doug Dean; Dr. Praveen Suchdev, vice chairman of SolutionHealth; Hausmann; Diane Mercier, chairwoman of SolutionHealth; and Mike Rose, CEO of Southern New Hampshire Health.

Elliot Hospital.

“With the formation of SolutionHealth now official, we are thrilled that Sherry Hausmann has agreed to lead our new organization at this exciting time,” said Dianne Mercier, chairwoman of the SolutionHealth Board of Trustees.

Hausmann was announced Monday as the new president and CEO for SolutionHealth. She is expected to move to the area soon.

Elliot and SNHH announced last year it was forming a merged health care system to serve more than 500,000 people in the Nashua and Manchester region, and indicated the new entity would be named SolutionHealth. Hausmann was chosen to lead the newly formed system, after a national search.

“I am deeply honored at the opportunity to serve as the new president and CEO of SolutionHealth,” Hausmann said.

The merger cleared regulatory hurdles earlier this year. The two hospitals combined have approximately 500 beds and employ 6,000 people. Elliot was founded in 1890, while SNHH traces its start to 1892.

Given the challenging health care landscape ahead, Dr. Praveen Suchdev, vice chairman of the SolutionHealth Board of Trustees, said Hausmann’s 30 years of experience will serve the hospital, doctors and patients well.

“As we know, the health care landscape is dynamic and undergoing great change. The need for strong and experienced leadership is paramount to achieving our goals,” Suchdev said.

Hausmann is leaving her role as the regional hospital president for Via Christi Health in Witchita, Kansas, to take the position with SolutionHealth. Before working at Via Christi, Hausmann spent more than 12 years at SSM Healthcare, based in St. Louis, Missouri. She advanced at SSM to become the president of St. Clare Health Center, the first new hospital to open in St. Louis County in more than 30 years, with 945 staff physicians and 1,000 employees. She had previously served as president of SSM St. Joseph of Kirkwood and Chief Operating Officer of SSM DePaul Health Center. Prior to SSM, she worked in various roles in for-profit ambulatory care.

A native of southern Illinois, Sherry began her career as a clinical practitioner, having received her B.S. in Nursing from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She received her MBA from Maryville University in St. Louis.

Hausmann said Monday she plans to move to the area, and hopes her five adult daughters come to visit.

The goal of merging the two hospital systems is to provide more services to patients in the region, while driving down costs, representatives have indicated. Hausmann said she plans to work collaboratively to find ways to deliver care.

“I am looking forward to getting to know the physician groups in both organizations, understand what they are most passionate about and how we can begin to address strategic goals together,” she said.

Damien Fisher can be reached at 594-1245 ordfisher@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DF.