Three Capital Region leaders leaving with MU Health Care merger

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Three top leaders at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City will lose their jobs as the business integrates with MU Health Care.

President Gaspare Calvaruso, Vice President of Finance Tom Luebbering and Vice President of Patient Care Services Janet Pestle will leave Capital Region as part of the merger Jan. 1, MU Health Care said Friday in a news release. Capital Region and MU Health Care have been affiliated for more than 25 years.

MU Health Care leaders say the merger will expand access to quality health care in Mid-Missouri.

Calvaruso oversaw the expansion of Capital Region's Eldon Clinic, the opening of a physician office building and the Goldschmidt Surgery Center, according to the release.

Denny Hamilton will be chief operating officer of Capital Region starting Jan. 1. He has been the medical center's director of ancillary services. He is a pharmacist by training and has been with Capital Region since 1994, the release says.

Debra Deeken will be the interim chief nursing officer and Mike Rundle will be the interim site leader for finance.

“We have every confidence in this team as they lead Capital Region through the next steps of our integration in these roles,” MU Health Care Chief Executive Officer Ric Ransom said in the release. “We thank these leaders for their support in guiding the organization through this important time.”