After five years as president and CEO and more than 20 with Community Health Systems, Craig Castro announced he would retire in early 2025.

Castro came into the position days before the hospital received its first COVID-19 patient, and as CEO oversaw the expansion of Clovis Community Medical Center.

“After a great deal of reflection, I let our board of trustees know this week that I’ve decided to retire early next week,” Castro told GV Wire in a statement. “My nearly 40 years in healthcare has been an incredible journey and we’ve accomplished a lot in my tenure at Community.

“I know I will leave our organization in a great place, and I’m extremely grateful to be part of its rich legacy of serving all who need us.”

Clovis Hospital Expansion, New Provider Network Under Castro

Castro became CEO only days before getting the first COVID-19 patient. Hospitals had to pivot operations and survive months without many elective services essential for finances. Like other area hospitals, the virus impacted Community Regional and Clovis Community medical centers.

Also during Castro’s tenure, the health system greatly expanded Clovis Community. Two five-story towers added 288 beds, from 109 in 2009. The hospital also built out the Community Cancer Institute.

Two community groups sued Community Health for the expansion of the Clovis hospital, saying Medi-Cal money should have been invested in the system’s downtown hospital instead. The lawsuit is in its early stages and Community Health described it as “baseless.”

Related Story: Nonprofits’ Lawsuit Against Community Health System Misstates Medi-Cal ...

Board of trustees chair Roger Sturdevant attributed the creation of the hospitals’ own doctor and provider network to Castro’s leadership. The Community Provider Network now has 500 members.

Inspire Medical Group, a network of specialty physicians, many of whom organized a walkout in 2020 that jeopardized the hospital’s Level 1 trauma status, recently agreed to pay $1.2 million in a settlement.

Related Story: Physicians Group Settles With Community Health Over 2020 Walkout by

“With Thanksgiving upon us, it is fitting to express our immense gratitude to Craig for his many bold achievements during his leadership tenure,” said Sturdevant.