The president of St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener is stepping down after just a little over three months on the job.

Dr. Andrew Falconer became president of the hospital on Feb. 4 after serving as vice president and chief of staff at Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa.

He was chosen after a national search by the St. Mary's board of trustees, according to a media release from Oct. 26 announcing his appointment to the position.

"Dr. Falconer understands the traditions and the values of St. Mary's and believes in our approach of putting the patient at the centre of everything we do," Dr. Tom Stewart, CEO of the St. Joseph's Health System, said in October.

Falconer is leaving St. Mary's to return to Queensway Carleton Hospital as president and CEO. The move comes after the sudden death of president and CEO Tom Schonberg on Feb. 11.

Stewart said despite Falconer's short tenure, they were "extremely fortunate to have a leader of his calibre and we congratulate him on this well-deserved appointment."

In a release Tuesday announcing his departure, Falconer said St. Mary's "punches well above its weight, achieving top national quality care and safety standards as it strives to be the safest and most effective hospital in Canada, characterized by compassion, innovation and respect."

He called the decision to step down difficult.

Falconer's exact departure date will be announced at a later date. The board of trustees will make plans for leadership in the interim while a national search for the next hospital president gets underway.