Hospital CEO Debbie Glass to retire

Whitman Hospital Administrator Debbie Glass submitted her resignation to the hospital board of directors at its Dec. 18 meeting. Glass said she plans to retire after a career of more than 27 years in health care leadership.

She said she plans to remain on the staff until spring and will assist in recruiting a new chief executive officer for the hospital.

Glass told the Gazette Tuesday she realized earlier she could retire as of 2014 and as the new year approached she just decided to make the move.

Whitman Hospital has approximately 200 employees and is now undergoing an extensive remodeling project aimed at upgrading its heating and plumbing systems.

Glass, one of three final applicants who were interviewed for the position, was hired as the hospital CEO in October of 2011 and started her service here in December of that year.

She replaced Tim Corley who was interim chief executive at the hospital following the resignation of David Womack in May of 2011.

She came to Colfax from Newberg, Ore., where she was chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for Providence Newberg Medical Center for five years. During that time she also served a stint as interim chief executive at the hospital.

She earned her nursing degree and a masters degree in community health systems from Oregon Health Sciences University.

Glass Tuesday said a plan is being developed to recruit and select a new CEO for the hospital.