Ronald W. Swinfard, MD, has announced his retirement as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) effective July 1.

The LVHN Board of Trustees named Brian A. Nester, DO, acting president and CEO. Nester, LVHN chief strategy officer, assumes his new role July 1.

Swinfard was president and CEO of LVHN since November 2010 when he succeeded the health network's longtime president and CEO Elliot J. Sussman, MD.

Swinfard, 66, informed LVHN's Board of Trustees of his decision to retire and the board accepted.

"Dr. Swinfard has prepared our organization for the future of health care and leaves us in a good position to face this ever-changing landscape," said William F. Hecht, chairman of LVHN Board of Trustees.

"All of us eventually must decide when the time is right to move on with our lives," Swinfard said. "This is the right time for me and my family."

Swinfard and his wife plan to remain in the Lehigh Valley upon his retirement.

Swinfard said when he became president and CEO three and a half years ago, leading the nationally-recognized health care organization and the Lehigh Valley's largest employer was a tremendous opportunity.

"I've had the privilege to work alongside Dr. Swinfard for the past ten and half years, and I am grateful for his mentorship and all we have accomplished as a leadership team," Nester said.

Nester, who is a candidate for the position, will serve in this role while the Board of Trustees conducts a search that will include both internal and external candidates.

Swinfard's tenure as president and CEO has come amid major changes in health care, in particular, implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

In response to the new law, Swinfard led LVHN's effort to form various industry partnerships, including the merger with the former Greater Hazleton Health Alliance.

Other health network strategies included:

The formation of AllSpire Health Partners, a consortium of seven hospital systems in New Jersey and Pennsylvania aimed at addressing quality, population health management, best practices and medical research in the Northeast region.

The Optum Labs Research Collaborative of seven leading health organizations committed to improving the quality and value of patient care through sharing information assets, technologies, knowledge, tools and scientific expertise.

The transformation of the former Westfield Hospital in Allentown into LVHN-Tilghman, including the Center for Orthopedic Medicine.

The ongoing and growing medical school partnership with the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine..