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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070918/DCTU027 )
"I have spent my entire professional career at this outstandingorganization," Walker said. "I am extremely proud of what we have accomplishedover the years."
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Walker celebrated his 38th anniversary at BWMC on September 17. He beganhis career at BWMC in 1969, just four years after the hospital -- then knownas North Arundel Hospital -- opened its doors. From 1969 to 1977, he was anassistant administrator, and from 1977 to 1992, he was an executive vicepresident serving as chief operating officer. He was named president and CEOin 1992 and has led the medical center through significant changes and growthduring his tenure.
In 1992, when Walker became CEO, the hospital admitted 15,346 patients andtreated 44,066 patients in its emergency department. Now, the hospital'semergency department has become one of the state's busiest, treating over85,000 patients a year. The medical center's admissions have also increased,with 18,366 patients admitted last year.
Walker has overseen several major building projects on the BWMC campus,including five expansions to the emergency department, the addition of a newinpatient building in 1998 and the Tate Cancer Center in 2003. BWMC iscurrently in the midst of a $117 million expansion project that will addprivate inpatient beds, increase critical care capacity, expand the emergencydepartment once again, and bring obstetrics back to the hospital for the firsttime since 1968.
"My decision to announce my retirement a year in advance is driven by avery personal desire to do everything I can to help BWMC secure its future,"said Walker. "It provides BWMC's Board of Directors and the University ofMaryland Medical System adequate time to find an outstanding successor andhave an orderly transition."
Walker guided BWMC through its merger with the University of MarylandMedical System in 2000. The merger allowed the hospital to expand its servicesto its local community. Major programs such as the Tate Cancer Center, JoslinDiabetes Center, and The Maryland Vascular Center have brought morecomprehensive, complex patient care services to Anne Arundel County. Theseprograms were recognized, along with the entire medical center, in 2006 whenSolucient(R) named BWMC one of the nation's Top 100 Hospitals.
"The quality of patient care has improved dramatically and the scope ofservices provided has certainly grown during Jim's tenure," said Edmond F.Notebaert, president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System. "Hecontinues to raise the bar higher and higher for the hospital, its staff andphysicians. Jim has never been satisfied with just being good; he strives tobe the best. His vision for BWMC has never wavered, as he seeks to provide thehighest quality of care for the community in the best facilities."
In 2005, Walker spearheaded the hospital's name change from North ArundelHospital to Baltimore Washington Medical Center.
"That was a difficult decision for me personally because I had built mycareer as part of North Arundel Hospital," Walker said. "North Arundel was myhome. But the change signified our commitment to expand our reach and servicesto serve the growing communities that surround us. Our new name reflects theprogress that we have made over the years and our vision for the future."
"As CEO, Jim Walker has created a culture which is reflective of his owncharacter as a leader and a humanitarian," said Melvin Kelly, chairman of theBWMC Board of Directors. "He values teamwork, family, hard work andcelebrations of achievement. It is to J
