ALTON — With Saint Anthony's historical affiliation with OSF Healthcare System, Ajay Pathak has been appointed president and CEO of OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center and OSF Saint Clare's Hospital effective Nov. 1. He succeeds Sister M. Mikela Meidl, FSGM, who will transfer to a new role in Ministry Services Administration at OSF offices in Peoria.

"I am honored at the opportunity to continue to serve our sisters in this new capacity, whereby we can further enhance Catholic health care in this new region, and promote greater health, access and care coordination for our communities," Pathak said.

"We are going into the affiliation with confidence in our role of ensuring local access to quality health care and offering a wider variety of specialty services while improving our ability to recruit new doctors for area residents," Sister M. Mikela said.

In addition to her new role in Ministry Services Administration, Sister M. Mikela was appointed to the OSF Healthcare System Board of Directors. She will work closely with Sister Diane Marie McGrew, OSF, president of OSF Healthcare System.

"The affiliation with OSF is allowing a Catholic health care mission — rooted in Germany between our Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George and The Third Order of the Sisters of St. Francis to continue and to flourish in our River Bend community," added Sister M. Mikela.