Mary Lou Mastro, MS, RN, FACHE, CEO of the South Region for NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health (NS-EEH), has announced she will retire, effective Dec. 31, 2022.
“Although I am excited to join my husband in retirement, I will miss the place that has been my second home for 34 years,” said Mastro, a native of Lombard. “My journey has been one of immense joy, deep friendships and personal growth. It has been an honor to serve with trustees, physicians, leaders and employees who consistently demonstrate remarkable expertise, dedication, empathy and professionalism. We worked hard to create an award-winning organization focused on safe, seamless and personal care. We remained steadfast in our mission to advance the health of our communities and serve with kindness and compassion.”
Mastro’s most recent achievement in a healthcare career that has spanned 45 years was the merger of Edward-Elmhurst Health with NorthShore University HealthSystem, announced on Jan. 5, 2022. The partnership created the third-largest health system, with total revenue of nearly $5 billion expected in the first year of operation, and the second-largest physician network in the state. The new system features 25,000 team members, 6,000 physicians, nine hospitals and more than 300 ambulatory locations serving patients across six counties in northeast Illinois – from Waukegan in Lake County to Crest Hill in Will County.
“I’ve been fortunate to share Lou’s vision of partnership and witness firsthand her tireless dedication to bringing our two organizations together to deliver exceptional community-connected care,” said J.P. Gallagher, President and CEO, NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health. “Anyone who works with Lou knows that her devotion, intelligence, tenacity and commitment to doing the right thing allows her to achieve anything she sets her mind to. She looks at every decision through the lens of our people and our patients – a legacy we will continue at NS-EEH.”
Mastro, who began her career in healthcare as a staff nurse at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, took over as System CEO for EEH beginning in January 2017. Under her leadership, EEH has earned numerous honors and prestigious rankings, including recognition four years in a row (2019-2022) as a Merative (formerly IBM Watson Health) 15 Top Health Systems in the Medium Health Systems category.
Mastro served as President and CEO of Elmhurst Hospital from 2013-2017, where she oversaw record volume growth and financial stability. During her tenure, Elmhurst opened Walk-In Clinics in Bensenville, Franklin Park, Lombard, River Forest and Westmont, and the Edward-Elmhurst Health Center in Hinsdale, and was named to the Becker’s Hospital Review list of “100 Great Community Hospitals” in 2014.
Prior to joining Elmhurst Hospital and since 2002, Mastro was CEO of Linden Oaks at Edward, a 108-bed behavioral health hospital on Edward Hospital’s Naperville campus, with a 45,000-square foot Outpatient Center at another location in Naperville and outpatient offices throughout Chicago’s west and southwest suburbs. She was also Vice President, Architectural and Construction Services for Edward.
While at Linden Oaks, Mastro advocated for increased community awareness of mental illness and led Linden Oaks’ effort to develop Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in the region. At a National Conference on Mental Health held at the White House in 2013, Linden Oaks, due to its MHFA work, was cited by the American Hospital Association as one of the nation’s community and psychiatric hospitals that have established programs to address the behavioral health needs in their community.
Mastro joined Edward in 1988 as Director of Cardiovascular Services. She later became Executive Director of the Edward Cardiovascular Institute and Vice President of Operations.
Among Mastro’s many honors, she received the Rotary Club of Naperville’s prestigious Paul Harris Community Service Award in 2014 for her efforts in advocating awareness through MHFA and transforming Linden Oaks into a regional resource for mental healthcare.
Mastro served as a trustee on the Illinois Hospital Association Board, past Chairman of the American Hospital Association Governing Council for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services, Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Kennedy Forum Leadership Council.
As a result of Mastro’s retirement, Joseph Dant, President, Edward Hospital, will become President, South Region, NS-EEH and Yvette Saba, BSN, MSN, System Vice President, Operations, EEH, will succeed Dant as President, Edward Hospital, both promotions effective Jan. 1, 2023.
“We are fortunate to have a deep and talented executive team to draw from,” said Gallagher. “Having proven leaders across the organization who are ready for their next challenge is a strength of the system that allows us to continue moving forward without skipping a beat.”
Dant joined EEH in October 2017 as the System Vice President, Physician & Ambulatory Network. He was responsible for operations of the employed and affiliated physician practices, EEH physician network development, physician recruitment, ambulatory network development and property management. Dant served as a United States Naval Officer from 1987-1991. He has a bachelor’s degree in government and internal relations from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Benedictine University in Lisle.
Saba has more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, working in academic and community hospital settings. Since joining Edward Hospital in 1991, she has led numerous service lines and departments, including cardiovascular, women and children’s, emergency, laboratory and occupational health. Saba earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Louis University, master’s degree in nursing from Rush University and MBA from Loyola University. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).