Interim CEO Tony Young Takes Helm at Los Alamos Medical Center

Los Alamos Medical Center announced on November 19 that Tony Young has joined the hospital as interim chief executive officer following the departure of Tracie Stratton. Young brings roughly 40 years of healthcare management experience and will serve while the hospital conducts a search for a permanent CEO.

Young has led short term acute care hospitals, long term acute care facilities, ambulatory surgery centers and physician clinics across multiple states. The hospital underscored recent recognitions that reflect its performance. Those include affiliation with the Lifepoint Health National Quality Program and a Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, achievements hospital leaders say the interim CEO will help sustain.

"Young said his priorities are to maintain stability, sustain recent accomplishments in quality and access, support service expansion and help recruit new providers for the community."

Local impact was central to the announcement. Hospital leadership framed Youngs appointment as a step to ensure continuity of care for Los Alamos County residents, maintain progress on quality measures and preserve access to services while leadership transitions are completed. For a county with a single acute care hospital that serves both residents and regional patients, stability at the top affects staffing, service lines and plans for expanding care.

Staff and community collaboration were highlighted as priorities during the interim period. The hospital message stated Youngs commitment to working with employees and the community to continue the hospital mission. That focus is likely to influence ongoing efforts to attract new physicians and other providers, an issue that affects wait times, specialty coverage and local emergency services.

As the hospital searches for a permanent successor to Stratton, residents can expect hospital leadership to emphasize maintaining recent gains and advancing service expansion plans. The interim appointment gives the hospital time to conduct a careful leadership search while continuing daily operations. Hospital officials encouraged community engagement in support of recruitment and quality initiatives as the transition continues.