Jim Budzinski joins St. John's as senior VP/chief financial officer
Feb. 14, 2006

A. James (Jim) Budzinski has been named St John’s Health System senior vice president / chief financial officer, effective March 6.

Budzinski is excited about beginning his tenure at St. John’s, namely because St. John’s and the Sisters of Mercy mission of providing health care to those in need closely aligns with his own values.

“St. John’s faith-based mission coupled with its high quality drew me to the position,” Budzinski said.

He most recently served 11 years as chief financial officer at Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Mich. Sparrow is an integrated system with a 680-bed tertiary, teaching hospital, three smaller hospitals, 100 employed physicians, 150 residents and a 90,000-member HMO.

Though 700 miles away, Sisters of Mercy Health System and St. John’s were well known to Budzinski.

“The Sisters of Mercy Health System is well recognized throughout the country as a premier health system.  Further, coincidentally, just down the street from our house is a small Sisters of Mercy convent.  In addition, my wife Deb, worked as a psychiatric nurse for a Sisters of Mercy-Farmington Hills affiliated hospital in Ann Arbor, where our three children were born,” Budzinski said.

Regarding the future, “I think St. John's Health System is strategically well positioned for the future of health care in southwest Missouri. It’s rare to see such a strong integration of a clinic, health plans and hospital clearly focused on to the high quality and patient satisfaction standards of St. John’s, coupled with their commitment to the community.”

Budzinski holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Ferris State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.  He began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1981and later became Partner In-Charge of their Michigan Healthcare and Insurance practice before joining Sparrow Health System in 1994. In 1999, the American Hospital Association recognized Budzinski as an International Emerging Leader in Healthcare.

Budzinski and his wife, Deb, have three children: a son Anthony, a senior in high school, who will attend the University of Michigan in the fall; a daughter, Caitlin, who is a sophomore in high school and a son, Andrew, who is in sixth grade. The Budzinski family is very excited about moving to the Ozarks, and giving their snowblower a rest.

“We’re a family of adventurers,” Budzinski said. “We love the outdoors and look forward to the Ozarks.”

St. John’s began a nationwide search for a new senior vice president / chief financial officer last fall after Kim Day was promoted to president / CEO. The extensive interview process included leaders of St John’s Clinic, Hospital and Health Plans as well as leaders from Sisters of Mercy Health System.

For more information, please contact St. John’s Media Relations at 417-820-2426.