Mike Baxter, who has served a decade as chief executive officer of Parkview Medical Center, will step down at the end of February.

Baxter is leaving on "good terms and with Parkview in a solid position," according to Jeff Tucker, spokesman for the hospital. Baxter's future pursuits include spending more time with his family and in the outdoors. Although his departure should not be viewed as a retirement, Baxter's immediate plans do not include health care.

Following Baxter�s exit, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Leslie Barnes will be promoted to CEO.

Baxter has spent 20 years with the Parkview organization, 10 as its CEO. For playing an integral role in the growth and success of the hospital, as well as the community and Southern Colorado, Baxter and his wife Dorothy were honored Friday at Parkview's 38th Starlight Gala.

�My time here has been just awesome,� Baxter said. �But there is so much great talent here, I don�t have any doubt the hospital is in good hands.�

Baxter was named Parkview's CEO in April 2009. Under his leadership, the hospital maintained the region�s only Level II Trauma certification from the American College of Surgeons, added a 92,000-square-foot tower expansion to the main campus and built a 22,000-square-foot outpatient center a block away from the Downtown facility.

It was under Baxter's watch that Parkview began its internal residency program, graduating 10 physicians a year and keeping many of them in Pueblo and Southern Colorado.

More recently, Baxter has helped lead Parkview through a substantial challenge following the significant reduction in services by St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

"Parkview is poised to add 17 new beds by year�s end, along with five new emergency room beds in Pueblo West," Tucker said. "We also broke ground on a project that will double the size of the main campus emergency room in the next 15-17 months. We've grown to be the largest private employer in Pueblo with more than 3,000 staff and 350 physicians."

Come the start of March, Barnes will be the first woman to lead Parkview in its 95-year history.

�It�s an honor to have worked with Mike and shared his vision for the growth and success of Parkview,� Barnes said. �I am excited to work with Parkview�s great board of directors, its outstanding employees and exemplary medical staff to continue growing the hospital and serving the needs of Pueblo and Southern Colorado.�

Barnes has 30 years of experience in health care, including 20 with Parkview. She was named chief operating officer in November 2017 and senior vice president in November 2014. She served as chief financial officer before her promotion to chief operating officer.

Before her tenure at Parkview, Barnes spent 10 years at St. Mary-Corwin in a variety of roles.

jpompia@chieftain.com