The circumstances and reason for Schwartz’s departure are unclear. System representatives declined to comment beyond a press release.
“This was a mutual decision,” Schwartz said in the release. “I am so proud of everything we have achieved together over the past year. I want to thank the Corewell Health East team for the spectacular compassion and kindness they bring to patients every day.”
Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, COO of Corewell Health, replaces Schwartz in an interim role.
“Darryl’s extensive experience as a physician and leader, and his deep familiarity with our system and its transformational goals, makes him ideally suited to lead our east team through this period of transition,” Tina Freese Decker, Corewell Health’s president and CEO, said in the release.
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Corewell East has struggled with profitability in recent years. Between the merger of Spectrum and Beaumont on Feb. 1, 2022, through the end of the year, Corewell East reported a net loss of $30,000 on revenue of $4.4 billion, according to Corewell’s financial statement. Overall, the merged company reported a $157.8 million net operating income last year.
In a February interview with Crain’s, Schwartz said he was hired to mend fences between Beaumont’s staff and executives after a tumultuous few years under Fox.
“There was a time being a ‘Beaumont doctor’ meant something very special to the physicians here, but many of those high-caliber physicians left because of the struggles they were having with the health system,” Schwartz said. “I am super proud to report that we have physicians from all over the country, some that left here, that are coming back. We have very, very talented doctors who work in our facilities that feel their relationships with our leadership is a breath of fresh air. They have a new voice now and they are able to speak up and maybe get some of that old shine back.”
Corewell is beginning the search to identify a permanent president of its East division.
This story first appeared in Crain’s Detroit Business.
