Don Branum named CEO of Family Health Services of Erie County

SANDUSKY — After proving himself on the job, Donald Branum has become the new CEO of Family Health Service of Erie County, a community health clinic operated on the south campus of Firelands Regional Medical Center.The Family Health Services board appointed Branum to succeed Wilson Forney, who resigned in June. Forney had been the first CEO of the organization.Branum, formerly the chief financial officer for Family Health Services, has been serving as the interim CEO at the organization.Dr. Bill Zucker, president of the Family Health Services board, issued a statement to the Family Health staff and to the Register explaining that after the board conducted a search to replace Forney, it voted unanimously to appoint Branum after seeing Branum's performance."Acting as interim CEO, Don negotiated the purchase of new state of the art medical equipment, exam tables and furniture. This equipment will auto import patient vitals into our EMR eliminating the possibility of a human transcription error. Don was able to expand our medical services to now providing OB care to patients in our health center," Zucker said."As the board considered qualifications and the job description for our new CEO, Don Branum demonstrated enthusiasm and passion for our mission of quality health care for our patients and the community at large," Zucker said."Don's leadership skills, glowing recommendations from those he has dealt with, and his performance and accomplishments, convinced us we need look no further to find our new leader," he said.Zucker told the Register Saturday that the board considered other candidates but realized that Branum was the best bet."He's been negotiating deals with one hand tied behind his back as interim CEO," Zucker said. On his Linked In page, Branum states that he studied health administration at Bowling Green State University.He became chief financial officer at Family Health Services in 2015 and has worked in organizational development at The Chapel since 2010.Branum was vice president of South Shore Marine in Huron from 2007 to 2010 and an administrator at Deaconess Associations Inc. from 1995 to 1998.Donald Branum