Inova Health System Names Mark Stauder Chief Operating Officer

New COO Comes With 27 Years of Health Care Leadership Experience

Falls Church, VA – (October 18, 2006) – Mark S. Stauder has been named Inova Health System’s new Chief Operating Officer. He began his duties with the system on September 18.

Mr. Stauder has 27 years of experience in health care leadership, most recently serving as chief operating officer of the 1,166-bed, integrated, regional multi-campus St. Johns Mercy Health Care in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Part of the Sisters of Mercy Health System, St. Johns Mercy Health Care includes a 979-bed tertiary medical center. St. Johns Mercy Health Care has gross revenue of $1.3 billion and 8,500 employees.

During his tenure with St. Johns, Mr. Stauder led a variety of successful initiatives in areas including customer satisfaction, patient safety and clinical service line growth. Mr. Stauder’s success as a business leader turned around a system from an operating loss to a profit of $27.5 million.

“A key to Mark’s success in expanding patient programs has been working closely with medical staff and creating innovative physician arrangements,” says Knox Singleton, President and CEO, Inova Health System. “We’re confident Mark’s strong leadership qualities and creativity will help position our system as a national model of health care excellence.”

“I’m really excited about working with the great staff, nurses, physicians and administrators that make up Inova Health System,” says Mr. Stauder. “Inova’s vision is to be the best health care system in the world, and I’m looking forward to making that a reality.”

Mr. Stauder holds a Master of Hospital and Health Care Administration degree from St. Louis University and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.