Peterson names John McDonald as its new CEO to replace Edmondson

Peterson Health appointed John McDonald, FACHE, as its new President and CEO following an extensive search, officials announced Tuesday.

McDonald, who most recently served as CEO of Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri, will succeed Cory Edmondson, who departs Peterson Health on Feb, 7, 2025, to lead United Regional Health Care System in Wichita Falls, Texas.

“We are thrilled to have John as the next leader of our team,” said Mary Liz Eastland, Chair-Elect for Peterson Health. “John stood out as not only having great experience and leadership ability, but also the personality and values that align with our mission and culture.”

McDonald will officially begin his new role in June as the McDonald family relocates to Kerrville. At Centerpoint, he managed a 285-bed facility featuring state-of-the-art equipment, advanced clinical services and a focus on compassionate care and cultural competence. He will oversee a similarly sized hospital at Peterson Health.

His healthcare leadership career spans more than a decade, with progressive advancement through some of the nation’s leading health systems. Before his role at Centerpoint, McDonald served as CEO at Lee’s Summit Medical Center, another HCA Healthcare facility in Missouri. His experience includes Chief Operating Officer positions at Corpus Christi Medical Center in Texas and Universal Health Services in Amarillo, where he led several improvement initiatives.

McDonald began his healthcare journey as a patient care technician at Houston Methodist Hospital System while pursuing his master’s degree. Upon graduation, he spent six years with Houston Methodist, eventually becoming Director of Advanced Wound Care. He then moved to Texas Children’s Hospital as Practice Administrator for their Pulmonary Medicine department before accepting his first executive leadership role in 2013.

A Texas A&M graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science, McDonald also holds MBA and MHA degrees from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. The move to Kerrville fulfills a longtime goal for McDonald and his wife Jessica, who have strong family connections to the Texas Hill Country region.

“When this opportunity presented itself, I knew I had to put my name in the hat,” McDonald said. “Peterson Health is a unique and innovative organization, and I can’t wait to serve alongside this incredible team. Having the opportunity to raise my two daughters in Kerrville and serve this community is truly a dream come true.”

Board Chair Tom Houdeshell praised both the outgoing and incoming CEOs. “Congratulations to Cory. His visionary and inspirational leadership has led to tremendous growth and positivity since his arrival,” Houdeshell said. “We want to continue with the strategy and growth mindset that he’s established in the culture at Peterson.”

Under Edmondson’s leadership since May 2019, Peterson Health developed new service lines, acquired land for future growth, opened a state-of-the-art surgery center, and received national recognition, including four consecutive years as a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare.

Edmondson, who will lead the 300-bed United Regional Health Care System serving nine counties in north central Texas, cited family reasons for his decision. “This opportunity puts us much closer to her and all of our children,” he said, noting his first grandchild is expected in February.