Methodist mourns the loss of Stephen Long, former health system president and CEO

Published: Feb. 3, 2025

Methodist Health System (MHS) leaders and staff members are mourning the loss of Stephen D. Long, the system’s president and chief executive officer (CEO) from 1992 to 2007. Long, who is remembered for his integrity and mentorship, died Jan. 31 after an extended illness. He was 78.   

“He lived the values of the health system,” said John Fraser, MHS’ president and CEO from 2007 to 2017. “He embodied our culture of compassion and caring, and every decision he made, he used our core values as a gauge. He knew that if you do the right thing, people are going to want to be a part of your organization.”

Said Steve Goeser, MHS’ current president and CEO: “I’m eternally grateful for Steve asking me to join Methodist in 2004 and be a part of his leadership team. He was a great mentor to me during my early years at Methodist, and he will be always remembered.”

Long was a leader in health care in Nebraska for over 35 years, and his time as president and CEO was defined by an emphasis on clinical quality improvement.

“He encouraged an environment where every member of the team could make suggestions for improvement and be given opportunities to participate in the process,” said Josie Abboud, MHS’ executive vice president and president and CEO of Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital. “We’re still following his example today and remain focused and committed to a culture of continuous quality improvement not only for our patients but also for all aspects of the business and organization.”

During his time leading at MHS, Long oversaw the development and expansion of neurosurgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, cancer, women's services and primary care. Meanwhile, MHS also made notable advancements for patients by beginning to offer CAD mammography, da Vinci robotic surgery and Leksell Gamma Knife radiation technology.

Long was instrumental in the integration of Methodist Physicians Clinic Inc. into MHS, and under his watch, many facilities that are now fixtures of the health system opened: Methodist Cancer Center (now Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center), Methodist HealthWest, the current Nebraska Methodist College campus and several new Methodist Physicians Clinic locations. With Long as president and CEO, the Methodist Women’s Hospital project also was conceived and began to take shape.

Other advancements during his tenure include implementing the Cerner electronic medical record system throughout MHS and using bar code technology to administer all medication.

“He believed that if you’re going to give excellent patient care, you have to have excellent practitioners,” Fraser said. “And if you want to attract the best medical staff and best employees, you need to equip them with the best technology.”

Prior to serving as CEO of Methodist, Long had a variety of leadership roles within the organization: chief operating officer (COO) for the system, president and CEO of Methodist Hospital, and executive vice president and COO for Methodist Hospital. 

He also served as president and CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital under a management contract with Methodist Hospital. While at Children’s, he was a key figure in the hospital’s move from midtown Omaha to the new Methodist Hospital North Tower in 1981. 

He also was administrator of Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh, Nebraska, and Plainview Public Hospital in Plainview, Nebraska.

Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries-West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road. A funeral service be Monday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. at the chapel, with interment at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn.