Tom VanOsdol, who had been serving as interim president for Saint John’s Health System, has been formally named to the post, officials said Friday.

The announcement was made by Ian Worden, chief financial officer, interim chief operating officer of St. Vincent Health.

VanOsdol said that, in light of the increase in the county’s aging population, he hoped “to continue to expand and develop services to serve the needs of our population as we age and need additional services.”

He took over as interim president since December 2007 after Kyle De Fur assumed the position of president of St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital.

VanOsdol has been a member of Saint John’s Health System for more than 18 years, first as a staff speech language pathologist.

He received recognition and several promotions throughout his years of service and has been a key member of Saint John’s leadership team for over 15 years, serving most recently as vice president of operations.

He was instrumental in leading numerous clinical and operational departments, programs and successes throughout his tenure, including the recent system-wide implementation of the LEAN process improvement methodology.

“Tom is a proven leader, as he has worked diligently to drive operational efficiencies and has led many of our quality initiatives,” said Don Henderson, Saint John’s Health System board chairman, in a statement.

“These important contributions did not go unrecognized by the board, medical staff and leadership team during our search for a new president. We believe Tom has the skills and experience necessary to make this a seamless transition.”

Founded in 1894, Saint John’s Health System is a comprehensive network of health care services with many noted areas of excellence.

Saint John’s Health System is a ministry of St. Vincent Health, the state’s largest health care employer, with 17 health ministries serving 45 counties in central Indiana. St. Vincent Health is a member of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest not-for-profit and Catholic health care system.