Steve Baumert, President and CEO of Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Announces Retirement

Steve Baumert, who began his career at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in 1981 as assistant director of physical therapy, will retire as president and CEO effective June 30, 2021.

Steve Goeser, president and CEO of Methodist Health System, made the announcement on Feb. 24.

“Steve has been an integral part of our organization for many years, and his strong leadership skills and contributions will be forever valued,” Goeser said. “He will be deeply missed, but he leaves behind an incredible legacy of dedicated service to our patients, employees and community.”

After Baumert began as the assistant director of physical therapy, his leadership skills quickly became evident. In 1986, Baumert became director of rehab and community services.

Baumert’s next role, vice president of operations at Jennie Edmundson, began in 1998. It was a position he held until 2006, when he was named executive vice president and chief operations officer of the hospital. He assumed his current role as president and CEO the following year.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be associated with Methodist Jennie Edmundson and Methodist Health System as we partnered with the community to improve access to quality health care,” Baumert said. “I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all past and current coworkers who make the Jennie family so special. Also, I’d like to say a special thank-you to my own family for their constant love and support.”

While the list of accomplishments during Baumert’s career is extensive, most recently he has been the driving force behind expanding women’s health services in Council Bluffs and western Iowa. This has been highlighted by the opening of the Methodist Jennie Edmundson Medical Plaza in June 2020, followed in December by the completed expansion and renovation of the hospital’s fifth floor to provide a new state-of-the-art home for the care of women and newborns.

In addition to serving the Jennie Edmundson family for so many years, Baumert has been active in the Council Bluffs community and with state and national health care organizations.

In 2017-2018, he served as board chair for the Iowa Hospital Association. He also served on the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce board from 2006 to 2013, serving as chairman during that time. He has also been a member of the American Hospital Association Region 6 Provider board.

Media Coverage

Omaha World-Herald: Steve Baumert to retire as president, CEO of Jennie Edmundson Hospital

The Daily Nonpareil: Jennie Edmundson's Baumert to retire in June