Doug Stewart retires as CEO, Mike Burrill Jr. to serve as interim
The Mercy Flights Inc. board of directors announced this week that Doug Stewart retired from his position as CEO effective January 31, 2020.
According to MFI Board Chair Mark DiRienzo, the board is implementing plans for a smooth transition including the appointment of board member Mike Burrill Jr. as interim CEO. The board has also formed a national CEO search committee chaired by board member David Filomeo. Meantime, operations will continue as usual under the direction of executive team members Tim James and Renee Schroyer.
“It has been my great honor serving the community for the last 25-years working at Mercy Flights. I am so proud of the dedicated men and women of Mercy Flights who are out there every day serving their patients with skill and compassion. I’m confident that Mercy Flights will continue its 70-year legacy through the mission of caring and compassionate medical treatment and transport,” said Doug Stewart. “Although I will dearly miss Mercy Flights, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to spend more time with my family and friends.”
In 2019, the Mercy Flights team celebrated its 70th year of service and touched a record number of lives. The team responded to more than 28,000 calls for ground ambulance service, transporting 455 patients via fixed wing aircraft, and 206 patients via helicopter. In addition, MFI’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program enrolled 628 patients, providing critical follow up care and services to high-risk patients who have been discharged from the hospital.
“Our team is truly honored to serve Southern Oregon and Northern California as the only nonprofit air and ground medical transport organization in Oregon. We are excited for this next chapter in our history and look forward to caring for our communities with the same expertise and commitment to service that has shaped our 70-year legacy,” said DiRienzo.
According to DiRienzo, Burrill is MFI’s former board chair of six years, has served on the board for the past 12 years, and has been instrumental in helping upgrade MFI’s fleet of ambulances and aircraft. Burrill’s family has a rich history of support for Mercy Flights. His grandfather (Eugene Burrill) served as an MFI board member in the 1950’s, helped build Mercy Flights’ first hangar, and flew medical missions. Burrill’s father (Mike Burrill Sr.) was also a former board member and flew medical missions for MFI.
MFI board member David Filomeo, who is leading the national CEO search, has been a member of the MFI board for three years. As a former corporate vice president for Lockheed Martin, he brings 35 years of executive level Human Resources experience to support the organization and the current national CEO search.
“While this represents a change for the organization, we have more than 150 employees that are laser focused on day-to-day operations and providing the highest level of patient care and service,” said DiRienzo. “We are excited about the opportunities ahead as we welcome a new CEO to our team.”
