Fred McQueary, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Mercy, is taking an early retirement to help the Chesterfield, Mo.-based health system address financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ozarks Independent reports.
Dr. McQueary, an orthopedic spine surgeon, was pivotal in the development of Mercy's multidisciplinary spine center.
He was also a founding member of Springfield, Mo.-based Mercy Clinic in 1993.
Dr. McQueary has been in practice for 34 years, specializing in hip and knee reconstructive surgery as well as spine surgery, according to Mercy.
John Swope, senior vice president and regional president of central communities at Mercy, also volunteered to retire after 40 years with the system.
Both executives will retire at the end of June.