(FORT WAYNE) - Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne has a new leader overseeing patient care. Hospital officials announced Wednesday that Dr. Dillon Bannis has been appointed Chief Medical Officer at Lutheran Hospital, the flagship facility of the Lutheran Health Network. Dr. Bannis comes to Fort Wayne after an extensive medical and leadership career in Chicago. He completed his residency at Mercy Hospital Medical Center, later serving there as an attending physician and eventually moving into hospital administration. Most recently, he held dual roles as Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Insight Hospital and Medical Center. While Bannis says delivering excellent medical care is a top priority, he also plans to focus on what he calls the "drivers of health" -- issues beyond the hospital walls that affect patient well-being. Those include food insecurity, economic stability, mental health, and community safety.
He points to his experience leading large health equity initiatives in Chicago, where he worked on maternal health, chronic disease management, and mental health access. Bannis says similar progress in Fort Wayne will require strong collaboration and community outreach. Though originally from Florida, Bannis says Fort Wayne already feels like home and that his message to patients is simple: they matter and deserve high-quality care at every step. Dr. Bannis officially steps into the role as Lutheran Hospital continues its focus on patient-centered and community-based health care.