Long-time Swedish leader also recognized as Puget Sound Business Journal ‘Woman of Influence’
SEATTLE – Nov. 19, 2014 – Swedish Health Services announced today it has appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer and Swedish Seattle Chief Operating Officer June Altaras, R.N., M.N., as the new chief executive of Swedish Seattle, which includes the First Hill and Cherry Hill hospital campuses. Altaras will begin work in her new role on Jan. 1, 2015.
Swedish Chief Executive Officer Anthony Armada, FACHE, announced the promotion to Swedish caregivers on Nov. 18, the same day Altaras was recognized at an event by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the community’s ‘Women of Influence.’
“June embodies the very spirit of Swedish’s promise to provide every patient with extraordinary care and extraordinary caring,” Armada said. “June is well known and greatly respected throughout our system for her commitment to patient safety and quality, her relationship and dedication to our caregivers and for her vision as a transformative health care leader. Swedish, and our community, are very fortunate to have her and I am very pleased she will continue to support a legacy we enjoy of strong senior leadership and excellent caregivers at Swedish Seattle”
In her new role, June will lead all administrative and clinical operations at the First Hill and Cherry Hill campuses, which represent the largest facilities in the Swedish system and are home to nearly half of all Swedish caregivers (employees). Previously, Altaras served as chief nursing officer for the Swedish system and as chief operating officer for the First Hill and Cherry Hill campuses. She will transition from her current roles and will work with Armada and other senior and physician leaders to ensure Swedish maintains a strong leadership structure.
“I am so fortunate and thankful to come to work at Swedish every day,” said Altaras. “My incredible colleagues share my dedication and passion for improving the health and wellbeing of everyone we serve, and I look forward to continuing this work in my new role.”
Altaras first joined Swedish in 1986 and has played a key role in developing Swedish’s award-winning Culture of Safety program. Recognized as a national leader on nursing quality, Altaras is an alumna of the University of Washington Bothell where she is currently affiliate faculty with the University of Washington School of Nursing.
In her new role, Altaras will take over for Dr. Todd Strumwasser, who earlier this month was named Senior Vice President of Bay Area Operations for Dignity Health in San Francisco.
About Swedish
Founded in 1910, Swedish is the largest non-profit health provider in the Greater Seattle area. It is comprised of five hospital campuses (First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, Edmonds and Issaquah); ambulatory care centers in Redmond and Mill Creek; and Swedish Medical Group, a network of more than 100 primary-care and specialty clinics located throughout the Greater Puget Sound area. In addition to general medical and surgical care including robotic-assisted surgery, Swedish is known as a regional referral center, providing specialized treatment in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, high-risk obstetrics, pediatric specialties, organ transplantation and clinical research. In 2013, Swedish provided nearly $143 million in community benefit in Western Washington. For more information, visit www.swedish.org, www.facebook.com/swedishmedicalcenter, or www.twitter.com/swedish.
