Bob Ritz
Chief Executive Officer
Robert (Bob) P. Ritz is CEO of MercyOne, an integrated system of more than 40 hospitals and 230 health care facilities dedicated to delivering outstanding health care services to help people throughout Iowa and surrounding areas live their best life. MercyOne was founded in 1998 through a joint operating agreement between CommonSpirit Health, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and Trinity Health, headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, two of the country’s largest Catholic, not-for-profit health organizations. In July 2022, MercyOne transitioned to a single owner, Trinity Health.
MercyOne cares for more than 3 million patients each year through the dedicated work of more than 18,000 colleagues. Additionally, as a not-for-profit health system, MercyOne is proud to give back more than $130 million to the communities we serve through education, community health services, charity care and more.
Prior to beginning at MercyOne on July 1, 2017, Bob served as President of Mercy Medical Center, an 802-bed acute care, not-for-profit Catholic hospital situated on three campuses in the Des Moines metro area. In this role, he helped develop strategic alignments with area hospitals and physician practices, developed a one-call referral center offering a variety of specialty services unique to Iowa and the region., facilitated the development of a comprehensive patient experience program for more than 7,000 Mercy Colleagues, implemented Phase I of a Master Campus Plan to rebuild the hospitals main campus, partnered with Kindred Health for the construction of a 50-bed freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital, and helped navigate through a variety of financial and competitive challenges. Guided by a faith-based mission, he also served in previous administrative roles as Division President of Hospital Sisters Health System in Springfield, Illinois; President/CEO of Monongalia Health System in Morgantown, West Virginia; and President/CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut where he started his career in 1987.
Bob received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia, and holds a master’s degree in health administration from Sloan Program in Health Services Administration from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Bob serves on multiple Boards of Directors for affiliated hospitals and community agencies. Bob is also a member of the Iowa Business Council Board of Directors.
Bob and his wife Mary reside in Urbandale, and together they have three sons and three grandsons. In addition to spending time with his family, Bob’s interests include running, golfing and community activities.