Presence St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, has promoted Dr. Joel Spear to CMO.

Since 2009, Spear, 54, has been chairman of the hospital's department of medicine. He started in his new role Nov. 1.

"The chief medical officer position is new to our hospital and represents a commitment to strong physician leadership here and throughout the Presence Health organization," Dr. Roberta Luskin-Hawk, St. Joseph's executive VP and CEO, said in a news release. "We are thrilled to have a recognized leader in this role who demonstrates outstanding leadership skills, a commitment to delivering the highest quality of care and providing an exceptional patient experience."

Presence is the system formed last year when Mokena, Ill.'s Provena Health combined with Chicago's Resurrection Health Care to form a 12-hospital organization. Officials unveiled the Presence name in February.