Sean Williams, a Quad-City native, is the new president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Clinton. Williams most recently worked for St. Luke’s hospital in Cedar Rapids where his primary responsibilities centered on management of Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa. As CEO of Jones Regional, he was instrumental in the planning, coordination and construction of a replacement hospital which opened in October 2009.
A strong Catholic identity was one factor that attracted Williams, who is Catholic, to the Mercy organization. “Every organization has a mission, a vision, a strategic plan, and its list of organizational priorities, but I think when you root yourself in a strong religious tradition, it gives more weight to your mission to serve those who need you” he said. “It’s the reason I’m attracted to health care and it’s the reason that I am, in particular, attracted to the not-for-profit side of health care because your mission really drives everything.”
With more than 900 employees, Mercy’s wide range of health care services presents unique challenges and opportunities that interest him personally and professionally.
As one of the youngest CEOs in Mercy’s network based in Novi, Mich., Williams, 38, describes himself as an optimistic results-oriented leader. “Working in health care I love the fact that I work with individuals who are experts in their given fields and as such need to be treated as fellow members of a team trying to serve patients and families and not as employees or merely business partners. That’s something that I embrace and enjoy. It is a gift to work with such caring and talented people as those who have chosen health care as their life’s work.”
Williams grew up in Moline, Ill., earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics at Loras College in Dubuque and his Master’s of Healthcare Administration at Des Moines University, and then began his health care career in Storm Lake. He and his wife Katie have four sons. “Family is very important to me,” said Williams who added that his priorities are focused on his faith, marriage, family and profession.
