Kenneth Morris

There is a change at the top at the Brooks-TLC Hospital System Inc. in Dunkirk.

Kenneth Morris has been appointed as the new president and chief executive officer. He is taking over from Mary LaRowe who announced her retirement that takes effect on Monday.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Ken the past four years since he joined Brooks-TLC,” said Chris Lanski, board chair of Brooks-TLC Hospital. “Ken has been involved with every department and every aspect of the hospital’s operation the past four years. I, along with the rest of the board, are confident Ken will be an excellent leader for the hospital and the entire organization.”

Morris joined Brooks-TLC in 2018 as vice president of operations. Prior to joining Brooks-TLC, Morris spent time as the director of North Texas Division of Neuroscience and Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Healthcare System in Dallas, Texas.

LaRowe, announced her retirement from the organization effective Aug. 1, capping a 36-year career in healthcare.

Mary LaRowe

“My retirement is something that has been planned for several months, maybe even the past year,” said LaRowe. “I was originally going to retire back in January, but I decided to stay on during the search for the new CEO of Upper Allegheny. Now I feel the time is right for me to retire. I would like to thank all my colleagues at Brooks-TLC and the thousands of co-workers I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years for their dedication and support.”

Her time at Brooks-TLC has been full of tumult since taking over in March 2016 when the hospital left a partnership with UPMC to team with Kaleida Health in Buffalo. While Brooks-TLC has $74 million earmarked for a new hospital that is slated to be built in Fredonia, the state has yet to release the funding.

In addition, during LaRowe’s tenure, the Lakeshore Hospital in Irving closed right before the COVID-19 pandemic on Feb. 2, 2020. The site remains unoccupied though hospital officials indicated there is a potential buyer for the site.

LaRowe also served as chief executive officer at Westfield Memorial Hospital in the early 2000s.