HEALTHCARE
Retired Presbyterian CEO surfaces as interim leader of Risant Health
Dale Maxwell led the Albuquerque-based health system from 2017 to 2024
The former CEO of Presbyterian Healthcare Services will serve as the leader of the nonprofit Risant Health.
Dale Maxwell, who retired from Presbyterian two years ago, was announced as Risant鈥檚 interim CEO in late July. Risant was founded in 2023 and is an umbrella organization running the Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania and Cone Health in North Carolina.
Maxwell is replacing Risant鈥檚 first CEO, Jaewon Ryu, who stepped down from the role for personal reasons. Maxwell will start the interim role Aug. 17.
Maxwell, a longtime executive with Presbyterian, left the top role at the Albuquerque-based health system in 2024. As president and CEO of Presbyterian, Maxwell oversaw plans for Presbyterian to merge with Iowa-based UnityPoint Health, an $11 billion deal that ultimately fell apart in late 2023.
Under that proposal, Maxwell planned to move to Denver and be the CEO of the parent organization, but just a few months later, announced his retirement. At the time, Maxwell declined to tell the Journal why the deal dissolved but said the network was exploring other options because of budget shortfalls and a 2022 operating budget drop that forced a restructure.
Maxwell oversaw other major projects during his tenure. In 2019, he spearheaded the construction of an 11-story, 335,000-square-foot hospital tower at Presbyterian Hospital in Downtown Albuquerque. Construction of the $230 million project, which also included a three-story parking structure, was completed in January 2023.
From 2000 to early 2016, Maxwell served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of the health system, which includes hospitals, a medical group and a health insurance arm.
Maxwell has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accountancy from New Mexico State University and a master鈥檚 degree in healthcare administration from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He grew up in Silver City and followed in his parents鈥� footsteps to work in the medical field.
Risant, headquartered in Washington, D.C., did not respond to a request to reach Maxwell.
Keelin Fisher is a business reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kfisher@abqjournal.com.
