Tuesday was Hilary Furlong's last day as executive director of the St. Luke's Wood River Foundation, a position she held on and off for 13 years.
Furlong has resigned from her position at the nonprofit organization, which raises funds for hospital programs, services and technology.
Furlong was at the helm when the foundation raised $20 million to build St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center in 2000. The donations paid half of the hospital's $41 million construction cost, with St. Luke's paying most of the remaining costs.
The foundation also funded a state-of-the-art Women's Imaging Center featuring digital mammography and the Integrative Therapies program started a little over a year ago. The program offers acupuncture, healing touch, meditation and other services not typically offered in U.S. hospitals.
Furlong said in a phone interview that it's simply time to do something new. But she doesn't have any concrete plans yet. Regardless, she said she hopes to stay in the valley.
"I love our hospital and am very proud of my modest role in helping to fund our current facility," she said. "But after 13 years of running the foundation, I feel it is time for me to move on to other pursuits and give someone else the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the job."
For a period in Furlong's long tenure, the executive director position was held by Carrie Strader.
It will take the hospital six to eight months to hire Furlong's replacement, according to hospital spokesperson Tanya Keim. She said that in the meantime, Megan Thomas, major gift officer for the foundation, would serve as interim executive director.
Furlong said she's not worried about the foundation's immediate future.
"We have a really solid team in place," she said.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
Hilary Furlong
