Lakeland, FL — Elaine C. Thompson, PhD, FACHE, Lakeland Regional Health President and Chief Executive Officer, and Robert E. Puterbaugh, General Counsel to Lakeland Regional Health, announced today that Jonn D. Hoppe will assume the newly created organizational role of Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for Lakeland Regional Health on June 1, 2015. At that time, Mr. Puterbaugh, of Peterson & Myers, P.A., will assume the role of Senior Counsel to the Board.
As Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, Mr. Hoppe will be responsible for the identification and administration of all legal matters and the oversight of all external legal engagements. He will be an employee of Lakeland Regional Health and report to both the CEO and the Board.
As Senior Counsel to the Board, Mr. Puterbaugh will provide strategic and legal guidance to the Board of Directors and perform other Board directed activities.
Dr. Thompson also confirmed that Peterson & Myers, P.A., counsel to Lakeland Regional Health for over 50 years, will remain external counsel for the Health System.
“Lakeland Regional Health’s wonderful growth makes the addition of these leadership roles necessary,” said Elaine C. Thompson, PhD, FACHE. “We look forward to the experience and insights Jonn D. Hoppe will bring to our organization and are grateful for the continued counsel and wisdom of our trusted advisor, Robert E. Puterbaugh. Together, these two gentlemen will help us best serve the ever expanding healthcare needs of our community.”
Jonn D. Hoppe is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law with High Honors, University of Florida with Honors, and is a member of the Florida Bar. He has extensive health and hospital law experience both as a senior shareholder of Peterson & Myers, P.A., and in corporate practice. Mr. Hoppe is a member of numerous general and healthcare law associations and serves or has served in community service leadership roles including Chair of Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, Trustee of the Polk Museum of Art, and General Counsel of the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Robert E. Puterbaugh is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States and various state and federal courts. His practice includes complex trial litigation and healthcare law. Mr. Puterbaugh is a graduate of Stetson University, a published author, and has been selected by his peers for the past 10 years for inclusion in The Best Lawyers In America. He has served in many community leadership roles including President of the Polk Museum of Art and currently serves as a Trustee of Florida Southern College.