Robert P. Ritz

Robert (Bob) P. Ritz is Senior Vice President Division Operations for Catholic Health Initiatives and CEO of Mercy Health Network, an integrated system of hospitals and health care facilities dedicated to delivering outstanding health care services to improve the health of people throughout Iowa and surrounding areas.  Mercy Health Network (MHN) was founded in 1998 through a joint operating agreement between Catholic Health Initiatives, headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and Trinity Health, headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, two of the country’s largest Catholic, not-for-profit health organizations. 

MHN and its two owner-members own and operate 15 hospitals in Iowa, including eight medical centers in six major markets – Clinton, Des Moines/West Des Moines, Dubuque, Mason City, Sioux City and Waterloo/Cedar Falls – and seven community hospitals in smaller markets. In addition, 26 community hospitals are affiliated with MHN through contracts for management and other services.  One joint-ventured surgical hospital is located in South Dakota.  MHN also includes more than 200 physician clinics and nearly 1,000 integrated physicians and advanced practice clinicians.  It also includes a wide array of ambulatory and other services.  MHN has more than 3,200 licensed hospital beds, more than 17,000 colleagues, and a Mercy Accountable Care Organization recognized as one of the most successful ACOs in the nation. 

Prior to beginning at MHN on July 1, 2017, Bob served as President of Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines, an 802-bed CHI hospital on two campuses.  Bob also served in previous administrative roles as Division President of Hospital Sisters Health System in Springfield, Illinois; President/CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut; and President/CEO of Monongalia Health System in Morgantown, West Virginia where he started his career in 1987.

Bob received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W.Va., and holds a master’s degree in health administration from Sloan Program in Health Services Administration from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

Bob and his wife, Mary, reside in Urbandale, and together they have three sons. In addition to spending time with his family, Bob’s interests include running, skiing, golfing and community activities.