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MARQUETTE -- A change in leadership was announced Tuesday at UP Health System-Marquette and Bell.
Tonya Darner, who serves market chief executive officer, will depart that role effective Sept. 18. No reason was given for Darner's departure, who has been the position for about 2 1/2 years.
"We are grateful for Tonya's leadership and service to our hospitals, patients and communities and wish her well. UP Health System is actively working with hospital and division leadership to finalize interim leadership plans and ensure continuity throughout the transition," said a written statement issued on behalf of the organization by Janelle Larson, market director of marketing and communications. "Our hospitals remain supported by experienced local leadership teams and focused on providing high quality care to the communities we serve. We expect to share additional information about leadership plans in the coming weeks."
Darner began her tenure at UPHS as the top executive in December 2023, replacing former market president and CEO, Gar Atchison, who had left the previous month.
A healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience, Darner's resume includes backgrounds in clinical operations, strategic growth and medical practice management across both civilian and military healthcare systems.
According to UPHS-Marquette, Darner began her career in the U.S. Air Force, where she served for 20 years, culminating in senior leadership within medical operations.
Following her military retirement in 2011, she transitioned into civilian healthcare leadership and held several key positions at UP Health System-Marquette, including senior director of neurosciences, imaging and on-call specialist services and director of regional operations across multiple service lines.
In 2021, she returned to UPHS-Marquette as chief operating officer after serving as COO at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, a leading tertiary care center in Wisconsin.