Stephen P. Zieniewicz has been selected from three finalist candidates to be the new executive director for the UW Medical Center.

Zieniewicz assumed the responsibilities previously held by interim executive director Lisa Brandenberg Sept. 17. Although Brandenberg was herself considered for the position, she withdrew her application after accepting an opening at Children's Hospital.

Zieniewicz previously served as chief operating officer at Saint Louis University Hospital and Tenet Healthcare Corporation and boasts more than 24 years of health care experience. He has also worked for Winthrop South Nassau University Health System in Long Island, N.Y., and helped launch the Long Island Health Network, an 11-hospital system.

"He's very qualified for the position," said Tina Mankowski, spokeswoman for UW Medicine. "He comes from a hospital that has a lot of similarities to UW."

After a nationwide search and an extensive interview process, the candidates were narrowed down to three finalists.

"He's going to be providing overall leadership for the hospital," Mankowski said. "He has an excellent senior leadership team who will be working with him to move the medical center forward."

Mankowski expects Zieniewicz to make the transition easily. Saint Louis University Hospital is a 356-bed facility, comparable to the Medical Center's 450-bed facility. The transition also marks Zieniewicz' departure from a privately owned hospital to a publicly owned one.

Zieniewicz will be overseeing what was ranked the 11th-best hospital in the nation as of 2007, Mankowski said. Among its services are cancer treatment, organ transplantation, heart care, pregnancy, neo-natal intensive care, rehabilitation and specialized orthopedics.

UW Medicine encompasses both of the UW's teaching hospitals — the other being Harborview Medical Center, where a search is ongoing for a new executive director.

[Reach reporter Jeff Tripoli at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]