David Clay, who has been CEO of Lower Keys Medical Center since 2016, on Thursday announced that he will retire and leave the Florida Keys at the end of September.
“It’s just time,” Clay told the Keys Weekly, adding that he’s leaving to care for his ailing father. “We have a great team in place here and I’ll be here for the transition.”
He added that the corporation that operates LKMC, Community Health Systems, is working on a plan to replace him.
Clay explained his departure in a letter Thursday:
Today I’m writing to let you know I’ve decided to retire from Lower Keys Medical Center at the end of September to relocate and spend more time with my family. I hope you know how much I love our hospital and our community, and if you do, you know I did not arrive at this decision lightly.
Some of you know that my father has been ill. It’s important to me – and the time is right – to move closer and be readily available to support him.
Serving as CEO of Lower Keys Medical Center for the past eight years has been a privilege and a wonderful way to cap my 40-year career in healthcare. The hospital is blessed with a strong team of physicians and employees who are committed to serving patients with quality, compassionate care and making a difference each day.
Key West is a unique place in this world, and I’m so glad to have called it my home since 2016. Many of our efforts at the hospital have been to improve access to medical care and services for the good of our community. Our recruitment of skilled specialists and primary care physicians has opened up new access points and created care options close to home for our friends and neighbors. We have advanced the quality of care and outcomes so that our community can always count on us.
It’s an important time for the hospital given the ongoing discussions about the future lease and I’m committed to making a smooth leadership transition. My plan is to remain full time through the end of September and I will continue to support the leadership team as long as needed to ensure hospital operations continue running strong. The work to identify a new, permanent CEO will begin immediately.
I will cherish the relationships I’ve made with so many of you. Your friendship, community knowledge and passion for Key West have been and will continue to be a tremendous force for good.
So, I wish you all well and look forward to seeing you around the community over the coming weeks. Thank you for making my time here in Key West so rewarding and memorable.
Sincere regards,
David Clay
Chief Executive Officer
