SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- The long-time president of Avera Health, John Porter, will retire the end of next year.
Porter has been with the system for some 44 years and has seen it grow into one of South Dakota's largest employers and health care providers.
"We're probably in excess of 300 operating units in a 105 different communities."
Porter goes back to the very beginnings of Sioux Falls-based Avera as a Catholic Christian hospital ministry.
"Both with the Presentation Sisters out of Aberdeen and the Benedictine Sisters there in Yankton, in helping them put together what became Benedictine Health System and Presentation Health System."
Porter will stay in his current role until December 2018, or until his successor is selected.
“It’s been a unique privilege to be at the helm of Avera Health over the past four decades. Next December, I will be turning 70 years old, so I feel that now is the right time for me to begin taking steps toward my retirement and helping Avera to make this important transition,” says Porter.
(Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton, contributed to this report)