Phoebe Ministries, Allentown, announces that Robert Richards, CPA, was appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Thomas Baer, CPA, was appointed senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer.

Both appointments were promotions from within the organization after the retirement of Chief Operating Officer Lisa Fichera, a 43-year veteran Phoebe employee.

As the chief operating officer of Phoebe Ministries, Richards is responsible for the overall management of Health Care Services, Pharmacy Services Operations, Marketing, Human Resources, and Affordable Housing Operations.

He also serves as a staff liaison to Phoebe’s Governing Board and board committees, and is a member of the subscriber committee for the Phoebe Reciprocal Risk Retention Group.

Richards was hired by Phoebe in 2015 as the senior vice president of finance, and was promoted to chief financial officer in 2017.

Before this appointment, Richards served as vice president of Finance/chief financial officer of Good Samaritan Health System in Lebanon.

Before that, he was the vice president of finance at Montgomery Hospital, Norristown.

A resident of Lebanon, Richards graduated from Thomas Jefferson University, formerly Philadelphia University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.

As the Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Finance Officer, Baer establishes and guides Phoebe’s financial policies and direction. In this role, he oversees the Billing and Revenue Cycle department and is responsible for directing the Finance, Contract Services, and Information Technology departments.

Additionally, he serves as a staff liaison to Phoebe’s Governing Board, works closely with the Audit, Finance and Investment Committee, a subcommittee of the board, and is a member of the subscriber committee for the Phoebe Reciprocal Risk Retention Group.

Hired by Phoebe in 2007 as the corporate controller, Baer was promoted to executive director of finance in 2014.

Before coming to Phoebe, Baer worked for Campbell, Rappold and Yurasits LLP.

A resident of Whitehall, Baer graduated from Shippensburg University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.