Kate Matousek Named President of Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital

Kate Matousek

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – September 22, 2026 – Northwestern Medicine has appointed Kate Matousek, MS, BSN, RN, as president of Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. In her new role, Matousek oversees hospital operations, quality performance and strategic growth initiatives while advancing Northwestern Medicine’s commitment to delivering world-class care closer to home.

Bringing 12 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience, including six years in vice president roles, Matousek has built a reputation for creating highly engaged teams and driving excellent clinical outcomes and strong operational performance.

“Kate is a highly respected leader who combines deep operational expertise with a genuine commitment to patients, physicians and team members,” said Howard Chrisman, MD, president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “Throughout her career, she has built engaged teams, driven outstanding clinical and operational outcomes and consistently demonstrated a collaborative leadership style. Her experience and passion for healthcare make her exceptionally well-suited to lead Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital into its next chapter.”

First joining Northwestern Medicine in 2014, Matousek has served as vice president of operations at both Palos Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. In these roles, she led a variety of clinical and non-clinical departments, including surgery, endoscopy, imaging, the stroke program, support services, and the expansion of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute in the western suburbs.

Her connection to the organization began much earlier when her parents met while working in the pharmacy at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was also born.

“As someone whose life has been connected to Northwestern Medicine since birth, it is an incredible honor to serve as president of Palos Hospital,” said Matousek. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our exceptional physicians, nurses, other clinicians, and non-clinical team members as we continue building on the hospital’s strong foundation by advancing the quality of care and experience for our patients in the communities we serve.”

She brings a unique combination of clinical, educational and leadership experience to the role. While studying finance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a family medical emergency inspired her to pursue nursing changing the course of her career. After graduation, she earned a nursing degree from the University of Illinois Chicago then began her career as a critical care nurse at New York University (NYU) Medical Center where she also earned a master's degree in nursing education.

Matousek succeeds Mike Vivoda, who had served as president of Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital since 2018. The leadership transition also reflects a new role for Robyn Harvey, MBA, BSN, RN, who has been named vice president and chief nurse executive for Palos Hospital.