Sue Downs, MSN, has been appointed president of Flaget Memorial Hospital. The appointment was made not long after she accepted the position of interim president of the facility, a job that opened up when former Flaget President Bruce Klockars, FACHE, took the position of interim CEO of the Saint Joseph Health System, the parent organization of the Bardstown hospital.
“Sue has been serving in the role of interim president of Flaget since May of this year,” Klockars said. “From 1996 to 2000, she served as director of the skilled nursing unit and obstetrical services. From 2000 to 2009, she served as chief nursing officer.”
Downs, a Boston, Ky. native, received her associate’s degree in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University, her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Louisville, and her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix. She has been a nurse for 39 years.
“Sue has been a key leader in this facility,” according to Klockars. “She fosters the personal growth of our employees because she leads in the spirit of trust and collaboration. She will make an excellent president who is well-equipped to handle this challenging role.”
Downs is excited to be named president, she said.
“I am honored to work in a community where physicians and hospital employees reflect the values and mission set by the founding Sisters,” she said. “Together with our community, Flaget Memorial Hospital will remain one of the top hospitals in the nation for quality and performance, building a healthy community for future generations.”
Downs is married to Ron Downs. The couple has a daughter who is an emergency department nurse and a son who is a specialist in industrial piping and an Air Force Reserve pilot.
Flaget Memorial Hospital is a member of Saint Joseph Health System, a 1,012-bed, eight-facility health care system that spans central and eastern Kentucky. Saint Joseph Health System is a member of Catholic Health Initiatives, the nation’s third-largest Catholic health care system. Visit www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org for further information.
