Barker has served as the president of the hospital for the past 11 years.
“I feel blessed to have worked with the physicians, staff, and leadership of the south region hospitals, and am thankful for the support of the superb leaders at Munson Healthcare,” he said. “These hospitals will continue to be strong healthcare facilities for many years to come. It has been an honor to serve these communities, and an even greater honor to live in the Manistee community for so many years.”
Munson Healthcare President and CEO Ed Ness said Barker, a graduate of Manistee High School, has played a key leadership role in ensuring high quality health care for Manistee-area residents and those in the region.
“As president and CEO of Manistee Hospital, James was instrumental in leading West Shore Medical Center’s integration with Munson Healthcare,” he said. “In 2020, James took on additional responsibility when he was named the president of Munson Healthcare’s south region, and also became president and CEO of Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital.”
Under Barker’s leadership, Manistee Hospital recently was named a 2022 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Patients and the community during his tenure also have benefitted from a new 160-slice CT, the first in the region, 3-D mammography, a new 46,000-square-foot community health center completed in 2019, and a soon-to-be renovated Emergency Department.
Ness said a transition plan will be developed to fill the Manistee position, and south region leadership roles.
More information on Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital can be found at munsonhealthcare.org/Manistee.