Canfield out immediately as CEO of Blessing Health System; Tranor new chief operating officer

QUINCY — The Blessing Corporate Services Board of Trustees Wednesday announced two management changes, with Brian T. Canfield stepping down immediately as CEO of Blessing Health System and Tim Tranor has been selected as the health system’s new chief operating officer. He also will serve as the interim CEO until the search for Canfield’s replacement is complete.

“The board has tremendous confidence in Tim Tranor and the entire leadership team,” Gary Gillespie, chairman of the Blessing Corporate Services Board of Trustees, said in a press release. “We look forward to reaching new levels of collaboration and innovation with the entire Blessing team as we look to the future.”

“This is a historic year for our team – the 150^th anniversary of Blessing Hospital – and our future is bright,” Tranor said. “I am honored to have the support of the Blessing Health System Board of Trustees and my fellow leaders, and I am dedicated to growing the trust our staff has in me and the leadership team.

“I have had the pleasure of working with the Blessing staff for the past 10 years. They are an exceptional group of talented and compassionate people, and I am proud to have this new role as we continue to improve the health of the communities we serve.”

Tranor also serves as the system’s chief nursing officer and will retain those duties until a new CEO is named.

Tranor became Blessing’s chief nursing officer in December 2015 and has more than 20 years of leadership experience and 29 years of healthcare experience. He previously worked in various leadership roles at Barnes Jewish Hospital, including director of surgical services and director of neurosciences.

Tranor holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in business administration degree from Webster University. He received a doctorate in nursing practice from American Sentinel University. Tranor also completed the Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellows Program for nurse executives.

Canfield joined Blessing Health in December 2021 as chief operating officer, then assumed the additional duty of Blessing Hospital president in August 2022. He become president/chief executive officer of Blessing Health upon the Oct. 6, 2023, retirement of Maureen Kahn.

Canfield came to Blessing after nine years as chief operating officer at First Health of The Carolinas and Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst, N.C., where he was responsible for three acute care hospitals totaling 509 beds, a critical access hospital, and a staff of 4,500 employees and 950 volunteers. 

Canfield previously served for 28 years in the U.S. Army and Department of Defense. His last assignment was as CEO/commanding officer of Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, N.C. He was the first non-physician selected to command the 340-bed-capable tertiary care teaching hospital with eight multi-specialty ambulatory care and primary care medical home clinics serving a community of more than 185,000 patients.

Canfield also served in Afghanistan where he was responsible for planning, coordination and synchronization of 12 hospitals, 32 clinics, 14 forward surgical teams, and all ground and air medical evacuation resources in Afghanistan for over a half-million US military and partner nation forces.

Blessing Health consists of Blessing and Illini Community Hospitals, Hannibal Clinic, a provider group and network of rural health clinics, college of nursing and health sciences, charitable foundation and durable medical equipment/biomedical/linen services business. Blessing serves west central Illinois, northeast Missouri and southeast Iowa with nearly 4,000 employees.