Scott Rhine, Administrator and CEO of Whidbey General Hospital, informed the hospital board that he will be retiring as CEO in March, 2009.

In his letter submitted Thursday, Rhine said, “The best way to describe my feelings and reasons are to quote from a favorite metaphor about geese. ‘When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation, and another goose flies to the point position’.”

Rhine said it is time for a new lead “goose”, one who can “keep up their speed and one that can lead this complex organization and essential community service to even greater levels of success.”

“Even though we face numerous challenges,” Rhine said, “the hospital is stronger now than in the past. Our hospital and medical staff leadership is stronger, our financial position is stronger, our hospital foundation is stronger.”

Under Rhine’s leadership, the hospital adopted a “patient first” approach, expanded its emergency medical services and became a “critical access hospital,” limiting the number of beds but increasing federal funding. Plans are to offer voters a chance to approve a new $54 million wing for the hospital sometime next year.

Rhine indicated that he and his wife plan to stay in the community and after some reflective time with family and grandchildren, pursue new career interests.