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ST. LOUIS - Shannon Sock, who joined Mercy in 1999 and has contributed to countless health care innovations in his quarter-century of service, will transition from Mercy's chief strategist and operating officer to focus on Mercy's growing work in joint ventures and collaborations.

"Shannon has been key to Mercy's forward-thinking approach for more than two decades," said Steve Mackin, Mercy's president and CEO. "He and former CEO Lynn Britton penned the idea for a supply chain model on the back of a paper napkin and eventually built it into one of the world's top 10 within the health care sector. In addition, Shannon helped launch the world's first virtual care center, long before anyone had the foresight to know how critical virtual care capability would be during a worldwide pandemic. Shannon also played an integral role in Mercy's early adoption of an integrated electronic health record that has resulted in a system so streamlined that records follow our patients anywhere they go within Mercy. Now, in a new role, he will bring his expertise to Mercy's joint ventures and collaborations."

Shannon Sock to focus on Mercy's joint ventures and collaborations.

Sock will work closely with Ajay Pathak, Mercy's chief strategic ventures officer, and a small team to review and engage innovative companies across the country with potential for transformative collaboration with Mercy, similar to work that has already begun with Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, the Alice L. Walton Foundation and the Heartland Whole Health Institute.

"As a health care system that has led in innovative thinking, we must continue to find ways to provide better health care and align with those who have the same vision," said Sock. "This is an exciting new chapter for me, and I am committed to Mercy's next steps as a national leader in health care."

Prior to being Mercy's chief strategy and operating officer, Sock served as chief financial officer following several roles focused on leading strategy and major business and clinical transformation.

"Shannon has been a leader in strategic planning and health system operations throughout his 25 years with Mercy," said Mackin. "In addition to his technological insight, unique strategic perspective and calm demeanor in high-stress situations, he has an ability to innovate, define and launch Mercy's vision, and he has a deep passion for our mission to get health care right. We have been blessed with his long tenure and commitment to serve our patients and communities."

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation's largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 50 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2023 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.