St. Louis, MO  Epworth Children & Family Services’ Governance Board recently announced that Dr. Michael Panicola has been selected to lead the $12 million nonprofit. After an extensive search, the Board unanimously selected Panicola as the next President and CEO of the organization that has been serving children, youth and families for more than 150 years.

“Mike is an engaging and outstanding leader, intelligent and passionate about the community we serve.  Mike is excited to bring his deep background in healthcare and non-profit experience to the table to further our mission, which is to help children, youth and families move toward self-sufficiency by focusing on health, housing, education and employment.  During the search process, it became clear that Mike’s knowledge of the communities Epworth serves, of the growing intersection of Epworth’s services with healthcare, and his leadership qualities made him the best choice for the position.  Mike will challenge us all with his knowledge, intellect, and passion, and we are looking forward to working closely with him,” said Bryan LeMoine, Chair of the Board of Directors for Epworth.

Panicola said that: “I have long admired Epworth and the impact it has had on the lives of children, youth and families throughout the St. Louis community for more than 150 years.  I feel a deep calling to Epworth and can’t imagine a more fitting place for me at this point in my career.  I’ve spent a lot of time in healthcare and believe that Epworth is positioned to grow in new ways and impact increasingly more lives every day.  I am excited for this opportunity and look forward to collaborating with my Epworth colleagues and the St. Louis community in driving even better results from our services and helping those we serve achieve self-sufficiency, health and wholeness.”

Panicola joins Epworth after serving for nearly two decades as a senior executive at SSM Health in St. Louis, Missouri, and more recently as a consultant to mission-driven non-profit organizations.  Panicola received his PhD in Health Care Ethics from St. Louis University, his Master’s in Systematic Theology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and a Bachelor’s in Accounting from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.  After college, Panicola first served as a youth minister for at-risk children and adolescents, deciding against a career with a large accounting firm.  He wanted to give back to the community as others had given back to him.  He then found his way to St. Louis for his PhD and was recruited by SSM Health in 1998 while completing his studies.

Panicola has been a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Examiner and has written numerous publications in his exemplary career.  He has also served on various national and local boards, including the Catholic Health Association of the United States, the St. Louis Sports Commission and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.