OGDENSBURG -- Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center has begun a national search for a new chief executive officer.

The position was vacated when Mark Webster resigned Jan. 2 to assume the CEO position at Cortland Regional Medical Center, according to an announcement from Claxton-Hepburn and PRWeb.com.

As the search is conducted, Claxton-Hepburn Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Hart and Chief Operating Officer Vicki Perrine will serve as interim co-CEOs. They will work along with the rest of the CHMC leadership team to implement the hospital’s 2014 strategic plan, the release said.

A search committee, chaired by CHMC board member Rev. Thomas Patterson, has been formed and consists of hospital board members, management staff and physicians. The committee selected executive search firm Foley Proctor Yoskowitz (FPY) after interviewing three national firms.

Prior to launching the national search, FPY will gather information about the expectations of a new chief, the hospital in general, as well as regional information. The group anticipates it will take about 18 weeks to conduct the search to identify potential candidates.

Among the hospital’s strategic initiatives is a second linear accelerator for the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center. The Varian Trilogy unit will allow the center to treat additional cancer types, which will help patients receive care close to home. Construction is expected to be complete in early May.

“Claxton-Hepburn has a strong leadership team,” said Joseph Tracy, chairman of the CHMC Board of Directors. “We are confident that during this transition our team will continue to guide the organization as they implement our strategic and financial plans.”