President & CEO

Richard Kowalski

CEO Richard Kowalski is proud of the fact that people who choose to work at OSF St. Mary tend to stay... and stay. "We have been very fortunate to recruit and retain many wonderful employees at every level."

That just may be because the man at the top happens to be an excellent role model. He joined the OSF family as CEO/Administrator in 1979 and is still as eager and energetic as he was at the start. "The health care field is extremely interesting," he says. "I feel as though I can make a difference in people's lives."

Connecting with people from so many backgrounds is a joy for Richard. "I love being close to the community, the medical staff, the volunteers, the patients and their families and friends." The feeling is evidently mutual: patient satisfaction scores are among the highest in the country.

Born and raised near Detroit, Richard received his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Eastern Michigan University; he earned his Master of Science in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. His choice of careers was wise: "Health care is dynamic and ever-changing; you’ll never get bored!"

Fortunately for our community, OSF St. Mary Medical Center benefits from being part of the large and stable OSF organization, according to Richard. "OSF has conservative values, but realizes change is inevitable and keeps up with those challenges.  It’s a very solid approach."

Outside of work, Richard is most proud of his family. His wife, Doris, works for OSF Home Care; they have three adult children, a daughter and two sons; two grandchildren and even one great-grand daughter! He enjoys golf and travel but most of all reading, "a very eclectic mix, from  spy novels to history."