Clarian's new CEO is Dan Evans

INDIANAPOLIS -- Clarian Health partners, the product of a merger with Methodist, Riley and Indiana University Hospitals in 1997, has chosen a native son and fourth generation Methodist as its new chief executive officer.

Dan Evans, 53, had been serving as interim chief since former CEO Bill Loveday retired last August. The Clarian Board of Directors voted unanimously Oct. 31 to offer Evans the job permanently. Reacting to the announcement, Indiana Bishop Woodie W. White said, "Dan's selection as new CEO signals a clear commitment of the [Clarian] board to continue to support its relationship to the United Methodist Church and our core values." He went on to note that Evans' style of management was "very hands on.. He gets out and walks around [the hospitals]."

White had convened a special panel at the time of the merger to establish certain core values in keeping with Methodist's founding principles and commitment to benevolent care. Those values were subsequently adopted by the Clarian Board.

In a recent issue of the Indianapolis Star, Evans commented that, "I see as my biggest challenge confronting for-profit health care delivery systems and the dispersal of health care delivery from the central city to the suburbs."

"It is my intention to be guided by my faith and to treat this endeavor as a mission not as a job."

Evans, who was born at Methodist Hospital, will face some persistent problems as the new chief executive of the state's largest hospital group. Since the merger, relations between the academic and private-practice physicians related to the non-profit group have been less than harmonious. Also, there is a reportedly growing imbalance between private-pay patients and Medicare/Medicaid patients, the latter comprising 48 percent of the $1.5 billion in annual revenue of Clarian.

Evans told the Hoosier UM News that while he will step away from responsibilities as a senior partner in the Indianapolis law firm of Baker & Daniels, he intends to remain as chancellor (legal counselor) for Bishop White and the South Indiana Conference.

Of his new responsibilities as corporate chief at Clarian, he said, "It is my intention to be guided by my faith and to treat this endeavor as a mission not as a job. I have only one picture in my office, which is of Bishop [Richard] Raines and my father dedicating the Raines Board room."

Evans says he still has the button worn at the 1899 Epworth League convention that raised the funds to start Methodist Hospital. It was worn by his great, great grandfather.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

Questions or comments: webmaster@inareaumc.org