Longtime St. Mary Medical Center CEO Janice Ryba will retire June 30. Current St. Catherine Hospital CEO Leo Correa was appointed her successor. Nectaria Bonner, who most recently served as director of pharmacy at St. Catherine Hospital, will succeed Correa as CEO of St. Catherine Hospital.
“We thank Janice for her many years of dedicated leadership and service to St. Mary Medical Center and Powers Health,” said Donald P. Fesko, president and CEO of Powers Health. “St. Mary Medical Center will continue to deliver excellent, patient-centered care with Leo in the role of CEO. He has extensive leadership experience and was integral to numerous successes and advancements at St. Catherine Hospital. Nectaria is a proven leader, and we look forward to her joining our executive team at Powers Health as she takes on the role of CEO at St. Catherine Hospital.”
Powers Health, an integrated system of care, includes four nonprofit hospitals – Community Hospital in Munster; St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago; St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart; and Powers Health Rehabilitation Center in Crown Point.
Ryba’s departure after over 40 years of service and nearly 19 years as CEO at St. Mary Medical Center concludes a remarkable career, leaving behind a legacy of clinical excellence and deep community impact. The hospital earned numerous certifications and achievements, and completed extensive expansion during her tenure, expanding care to service a growing, diverse community.
“It has been the profound honor of my career to serve alongside the dedicated physicians, nurses and staff who make our mission a reality every day,” Ryba said. “I am incredibly proud of the culture we have created together, along with many recognitions we have received, as we continue to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care under a strong and skilled team of healthcare providers. Thank you for the privilege to serve the community.”
Correa, who brings more than three decades of experience in healthcare leadership, will step into the role of St. Mary Medical Center CEO after spending the past nine years as CEO of St. Catherine Hospital.
Under Correa’s leadership, the nearly 100-year-old St. Catherine Hospital has built upon its legacy as a steward of East Chicago, improving quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and staff engagement and retention. Correa led significant investments in infrastructure to support long-term sustainability and reinforce the hospital’s commitment to the community, while also enhancing the experience for patients and staff.
“I am grateful for my time at St. Catherine Hospital and for working alongside a dedicated team,” Correa said. “St. Mary Medical Center is a trusted healthcare provider, and I look forward to building upon its positive reputation. I am eager to continue serving patients, supporting our healthcare team and forging even more relationships in the community.”
Bonner joined the healthcare system in 2013. She has served as director of pharmacy for St. Catherine Hospital since 2019. Before that, she held the role of inpatient pharmacy manager at Community Hospital. During her tenure, she also managed a number of services, including specialty pharmacy, infusion, anticoagulation clinics and weight management programs.
“I am deeply committed to the continued growth and success of St. Catherine Hospital and the critical role it plays in improving health outcomes in East Chicago and the surrounding areas,” she said. “My management style focuses on servant leadership, transparency and collaboration, all with the goal of empowering teams to deliver exceptional patient-centered care.”
