Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO Richard Fletcher resigns

MANATEE -- Manatee County native Richard Fletcher is no longer the chief executive officer at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

Fletcher has resigned his post and left the hospital, Kevin DiLallo, CEO and president of Manatee Healthcare System, said Friday.

"He has resigned and is pursuing other opportunities," DiLallo said.

Fletcher's resignation was effective Wednesday, DiLallo added.

The Bradenton Herald has been unable to reach Fletcher to find out why he resigned and if he has taken another job.

Since DiLallo runs the Manatee Healthcare System, which includes Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, he said that, for now, he will take charge of the day-to-day operation of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

Both Manatee Memorial and Lakewood Ranch Medical are part of Universal Health Services, Inc.

Fletcher became CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center on Sept. 18, 2013.

Before coming to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Fletcher was chief operating officer at Manatee Memorial Hospital and basically ran the day-to-day operations there for four years.

A unique thing about Fletcher was that he was born at Manatee Memorial Hospital and graduated from Manatee High School.

Some Manatee leaders were stunned Friday at Fletcher's departure.

"I had no idea he had left, but I do know they move around a lot," said Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, a nurse. "He was born in Manatee, you know. I knew him best from back at his days as director of pharmacy for the Manatee Memorial Hospital."

Fletcher had served as chief operating officer at Manatee Memorial Hospital for four years and previously held the positions of associate administrator at Manatee Memorial Hospital and pharmacy director for the Manatee Healthcare System.

At the time of his promotion to Lakewood Ranch's top position, Vernon DeSear, vice president of marketing for the Manatee Healthcare System, said:

"Lakewood Ranch Medical and Manatee Memorial share a lot of cross-functions, including medical records, staff, a lab and marketing, so Lakewood Ranch is already somewhat familiar with Fletcher. That helps making operations and strategic planning accomplished more easily."

DeSear also said of Fletcher in 2013: "All of us are very proud of him and what he's accomplished. He's certainly earned it."

Fletcher first came onboard at Manatee Memorial as the director of pharmacy, after earning his doctorate in pharmacy at the University of Florida.

During his time at Manatee Memorial, Fletcher was responsible for leading several initiatives including growth in the cardiovascular and robotic surgery programs, DeSear said in 2013.

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 2:42 PM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO Richard Fletcher resigns ."