JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System Board of Directors announced this week the appointment of Matthew Fry as Freeman’s new President and Chief Executive Officer.

Fry, President and CEO of the Springfield, Illinois-based HSHS (Hospital Sisters Health System) St. John's Hospital, will assume leadership duties in Joplin on April 1, 2025. 

He succeeds Paula Baker, who has served as President and CEO of the region's largest employer for the past 13 years. She announced her retirement in early 2024.

"I feel confident about Matt's ability to lead Freeman into the future," Baker said in an email statement sent to all Freeman employees earlier this week. "I have told him all about how wonderful the Freeman Team is, and he can't wait to meet you all."

Fry joined HSHS St. John's Hospital as President and CEO in September 2022. In November 2023, he was promoted to Market President and CEO of Central Illinois, overseeing four additional Illinois-based hospitals. HSHS is a regional health system that operates 15 hospitals across Illinois and neighboring Wisconsin.

Prior to that, Fry was Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Administrator of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland, California, a hospital managed by Sutter Health, a non-profit health system with 24 acute care hospitals based in Northern California. He spent a good majority of his career with Sutter, serving management roles at several key Sutter-owned locations. 

“Freeman Health System is an amazing resource for the community, and I am humbled to lead the organization as the next President and CEO,” Fry said. “I am incredibly impressed with the quality of care, the expansive services offered and the compassionate culture that Freeman Health System offers the communities it serves.”

Fry holds Master's degrees in Business Administration from the University of Nevada and in Healthcare Administration from Louisiana State University, as well as a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Humboldt State University in California. Fry acquired his Doctor of Healthcare Administration from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2023.

“I can’t wait to get to know the team and our community better over the coming months,” Fry said. “My wife and I are blessed with four children, and I can confidently speak for all of us when I say we are thrilled to move to the Joplin community.”

During his time in Illinois, Fry was active in local organizations such as the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Ronald McDonald House of Charities of Central Illinois and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He also holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.