Southwest Health Systems is hosting two “casual” meet-and-greet events with new CEO Joe Theine, who took over around the end of July from interim CEO Gene Miller following the resignation of David Faulkner.

The first meet-and-greet will take place Monday, Sept. 25 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Theine will be available to get to know county officials, commissioners, school administration and other medical providers in the area during this portion of the meet-and-greet.

On Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., members of the community are invited to meet Theine in the Southwest Memorial Hospital second-floor atrium.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Theine took over the CEO position after heavy community criticism for then-CEO Faulkner and the Southwest Health System board and Montezuma County Hospital District board for the closure of the birthing center. The hospital has since reopened the birthing center, and hopes Theine will bring “healing and renewal,” according to the June press release announcing Theine as the new CEO.

Theine has been involved in community health care in Southwest Colorado for over 10 years, and served as the CEO for Animas Surgical Hospital in Durango for four of those years.

“Theine brings compassion for, and an understanding of, local health care. He has a special interest in how health care providers contribute to economic stability and growth in many sectors of the economy,” the news release said.