President of Saint Luke’s Announces Retirement, BJC Health to Conduct Search for Replacement

After nearly 30 years with Saint Luke’s, Julie Quirin, FACHE, president of Saint Luke’s, the West Region of BJC Health, has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2027.

Quirin took on the role as president in 2023, overseeing day-to-day operations for Saint Luke’s, including its acute-care hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and post-acute functions; Saint Luke’s physician enterprise; hospital throughput; clinical nursing administration; government affairs team; and philanthropy.

BJC Health will conduct a national search to fill the role.

“Julie strengthened Saint Luke’s and BJC through nearly 30 years of service to our patients, community, and care givers, and I am personally grateful for her impact,” said Nick Barto, president and CEO of BJC Health. “She leaves a positive mark every place she goes and has left an indelible mark on all of us who have had the privilege to work alongside her.”

In her role as president, Quirin guided Saint Luke’s integration with BJC, successfully expanded radiation therapy services in the Northland and doubled ambulatory surgical capacity at Saint Luke’s East. She launched a new service-line approach that improved quality, reduced variation, and fueled strategic growth. She strengthened a culture of belonging and inclusion by helping to launch the first two Connections Groups at Saint Luke’s and serving as an executive sponsor for one. She also advanced equitable access to care and invested in community health by providing free gun locks, sponsoring Food As Medicine programs, and supporting youth development.

Her professional honors include being named as a 2024 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Kansas City Business Journal, as well as one of Ingram’s Magazine’s 50 Missourians You Should Know in 2025 and Ingram’s 250 Most Influential Business Leaders from 2019-2025.

Quirin joined Saint Luke’s in 1997 and has served in numerous leadership roles, including senior vice president and chief operating officer of Saint Luke’s Health System, senior vice president of hospital operations, CEO of Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, senior vice president of continuum of care services, and president and CEO of Saint Luke’s South Hospital.

She has been a diplomat with the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2005 and serves as a member of the University of Missouri Kansas City board of trustees. She is past chair of the Missouri Hospital Association and a past chairman of the United Way of Greater Kansas City. Quirin has held leadership positions with Kansas City March of Dimes, Kansas Hospital Association, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Intersport Network for Kansas City, and the American Hospital Association as chair of its Metropolitan Hospital Section and serves on the AHA Regional Policy Board.