Michael Panicola named SSM Health Care Corporation Senior Vice President-Mission and Organizational Ethics. Panicola has been with SSM Health Care for 14 years. He joined SSM as an ethics consultant in 1998 and since then has conducted more than 2,000 ethics consults. He advocated successfully for a system wide approach to palliative care and has overseen the development of palliative care programs at hospitals across the SSM Health Care system. In his new role, Panicola will serve as a primary contact with local bishops, will be responsible for mission integration activities throughout the system, and will oversee efforts in clinical and business ethics, including corporate responsibility program.

SSM Health Care Corporation appointed Karla Hitchcock as director of oncology services for the SSM Health Care-St. Louis network's South Operating Group and Dennis Mikes as director of diagnostic imaging and respiratory services for the network's North Operating Group.

SSM Health Care Corporation named Dr. Scott Endsley as corporate vice president and chief medical officer for its Patient Safety and Quality Center.