SIH is pleased to introduce John Antes of St. Louis as its new president and CEO effective Dec. 12, 2022. Antes, a seasoned health care executive with nearly 30 years of experience, presently serves as president of Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Antes will succeed SIH President and CEO Rex Budde who earlier this year announced plans to retire at the end of 2022.

“Antes brings a wealth of experience to Southern Illinois and understands the challenging dynamics impacting hospitals and health systems like SIH in this post-Covid era. In his current role, he’s admirably provided overall leadership, strategic direction and operations for a 489-bed regional referring hospital and a 25-bed critical access hospital consisting of over 3,000 employees and 1,100 physicians,” said Dr. Robert Mees, chairman of the SIH Board of Trustees.

Dr. Mees praised Antes’ thoughtful communication skills and extensive community involvement in non-profit organizations, foundations and economic development among the many strengths he brings to Southern Illinois.

While Antes has spent several years in the St. Louis metropolitan area, he cited a passion for rural health care given his upbringing in northwest Tennessee. He looks forward to joining SIH, calling it a “backbone” of the regional community.

“I have a great deal of familiarity and respect for SIH through the BJC Collaborative. SIH has a reputation of strength and stability as a leading not-for-profit healthcare system and provides an impressive level of care for a rural market,” said Antes.

Budde’s SIH career has spanned 22 years, the last 13 as CEO. Prior, Budde was the organization’s chief financial officer.

“On behalf of the SIH Board of Trustees, I am profoundly grateful to Rex Budde for his fiscal integrity and vision guiding SIH through a period of growth and development and navigating the organization through the Covid pandemic. Under Rex’s leadership, SIH saw construction, completion and expansion of the SIH Cancer Institute, approval for a Level II trauma center at SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, expansions at nearly all SIH facilities and welcoming Harrisburg Medical Center into the SIH family,” said Dr. Mees.

Antes’ selection as SIH president and CEO is the culmination of a six-month national search. Dr. Mees acknowledged the “countless hours and dedication” from fellow board and governance committee members Debra McMorrow of Cobden, Daniel Booth of Carbondale and Marlene Simpson of Herrin during the rigorous process.

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