Cindy Becker Plans to Retire as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Highland Hospital

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Cindy Becker, Highland Hospital’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, has announced that she will be retiring from her position in December of this year to spend more time with her family.

“After 34 years at Highland Hospital, and 23 years as Chief Operating Officer, I’ve decided that it is time to transition from my role,” said Becker. “I have thought long and hard about this, and while it is still surreal to write, I will retire on December 2 of this year.”

Becker has been employed at Highland Hospital since 1988 and Vice President and COO since 1999. During this time, the hospital grew significantly – from an average of 50 to 60 patients in 1999 to nearly 24,000 discharges, 43,000 emergency department visits, and 14,000 operating room cases in 2021. The hospital occupancy now regularly meets or exceeds its licensed 261-bed capacity.

Throughout her tenure, and alongside Steven I. Goldstein, President and CEO and its Board of Directors, Highland has achieved numerous milestones. Highlights include:

• Adding major service lines such as Women’s Health, Geriatrics, Oncology, and Orthopaedics.
• Adding signature programs such as Evarts Joint Center, the Geriatric Fracture Center, the Bariatric Surgery Center, OB/GYN and GYN Oncology, and Highland Family Medicine.
• Achieving multiple Joint Commission certifications for Evarts Joint Center, Geriatric Fracture Center, Gynecologic Oncology and Palliative Care.
• Achieving Magnet designation in 2009 and re-designation in 2016 and 2021, multiple clinical Centers of Excellence Awards, and most recently certification as an Age-Friendly Health System (AFHS) participant and a LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer by the Human Rights Alliance.
• Opened the Hartfelder Family Maternity Center, Endoscopy Center, Medical Oncology and Infusion Center, added six additional operating rooms to total 17, an Observation Unit, and multiple satellite locations for Women’s Health, Primary Care, Cardiology, and more.
• Started the largest expansion in Highland’s history, a new patient tower that will add 80,000 square feet of clinical space and 58 private patient rooms, enabling the hospital to reach a strategic goal of providing nearly all private patient rooms for its patients.
• Responding to the community’s needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Cindy epitomizes excellence in leadership, compassion in community advocacy, and commitment to Highland Hospital, the patients it serves, and its employees and providers,” said Goldstein. “I serve as President and CEO of Highland, but I can attest that it’s because of Cindy’s leadership that Highland has a reputation as a high-quality community hospital known for its patient- and family-centered, compassionate care.”

“Cindy embodies Highland Hospital’s mission,” said Mark A. Eidlin, Immediate Past Chair of the Highland Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, the leadership team, all employees and providers, and most importantly, the hundreds of thousands of patients served during Cindy’s tenure, we thank her for her transformational and inspirational leadership. We are inspired by Cindy and are sincerely grateful for her dedication and devotion to Highland Hospital.”

“As I reflect on our hospital’s history and its impact on our community, I am inspired and exceptionally proud. Working together, we’ve helped millions of people lead healthier lives,” said Becker. “We have created a unique and very special culture that serves a higher purpose for our patients, their families, and our employees and providers. I am confident that this will endure.”