Jon Davis announces retirement

Whitman Hospital Administrator Jon Davis plans to retire in December, and a slew of candidates have already applied for his position.

“He’s been a leader in hospital administration in the state of Washington. He’s very highly regarded,” said Gerard Fischer, the liaison official between Sacred Heart and Whitman Hospital. “His commitment to Whitman Hospital has been first rate.”

Davis, who has worked for the hospital for the past seven years, said he has enjoyed his time here.

“I have a very close kinship with Whitman hospital that will never leave me,” Davis said. “Its kind of emotional from that aspect.”

Davis previously worked at a hospital in Odessa. He’s worked in administration in the medical field for most of his life. His longest stint of 14 years was at a Catholic medical center in Richland.

Davis said after he retires, he’s considering occasionally filling as an interim CEO for hospitals around the state that are between administrators. As far as other plans, he said he and his wife, Kathy, may go on a cruise or pursue other interests as his retirement unfolds.

Davis will help train the new administrator, who will come on board Dec. 1 and take over when Davis officially leaves Dec. 30.

Applications have come in from as far away as New York City, Fischer said, but they’ve also seen a hefty amount from Washington and nearby states.

They’ve been looking for a candidate whose family would also be willing to move to the area- someone who would be willing to live in a rural town.

“You want someone who understands small communities, rural life and all of that,” said Fischer. “Wants to live a life like that for those reasons.”

Whitman hospital has only had two administrators for the past 22 years- a longevity they are interested in keeping.

The board plans on narrowing down the candidates to three or four people by October, who will then come to Colfax for a visit.

“What we hope is that we will narrow the field to three or four candidates that we’ll invite to Colfax to spend a day there meeting the board, the leadership team, the medical staff and seeing the community,” said Fischer.

If all goes well, the administrator they hire will be at the job by Dec. 1 and ready to take over Dec. 30.

“The caliber of the candidates is high,” Fischer said.