Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Announces NW Region President: Julie Manas

Jan. 21, 2026

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) welcomes Julie Manas as the new CommonSpirit Health Northwest Region President. In this role, Manas provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all VMFH facilities in Washington state, alongside CHI Franciscan locations in Oregon, encompassing 12 hospitals and nearly 300 sites of care. She will be responsible for advancing VMFH’s mission, enhancing patient care quality, and driving innovation across the region.

"I am incredibly honored and excited to join Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and lead the Northwest Region of CommonSpirit Health," said Julie Manas. "My career has been dedicated to improving community health and delivering compassionate, high-quality care, values deeply embedded in VMFH's mission. I look forward to collaborating closely with our talented team members, physicians, and community partners to further our strategic priorities and ensure exceptional outcomes for every patient we serve."

Manas brings more than 30 years of distinguished health care leadership experience, having driven significant results in complex health care organizations. Her track record includes consistent success in operational excellence, quality improvement, financial performance and strategic expansion.

Most recently, Manas served as Division President for Quorum Health Corporation, where she held operational responsibility for 12 hospitals and their related clinics across nine states, including Oregon. Prior to that, she was Region President for Ascension Indiana, overseeing seven hospitals and multiple outpatient sites for Ascension St. Vincent. Her impressive background also includes leadership roles at Hospital Sisters Health System, Genesis Health System, and Loyola University Health System.

“Beyond her impressive professional achievements, Julie is deeply committed to our shared mission and values,” noted Uli Chi, PhD, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Board Chair. “Her proven ability to lead large, complex health systems, coupled with her strategic vision and patient-first philosophy, makes her the ideal leader to guide our Northwest Region. We are confident her leadership will further strengthen our commitment to building healthier communities and innovating how we deliver care.”

Manas officially joined the organization on Jan. 2, 2026. She holds a Master of Arts in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University. Manas remains actively involved in various community organizations.

About Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) is an integrated health system serving the Puget Sound region, including 10 hospitals and 300 care sites. Founded in 1891, VMFH embraces its long history of caring for the most vulnerable, especially the poor and underserved, and meeting the evolving health care needs of the vibrant, diverse communities it serves. VMFH is a proud home to the Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the United States designed specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS, and the Benaroya Research Institute, an internationally recognized institution for autoimmune disease research. VMFH is part of CommonSpirit, one of the nation’s largest health systems, dedicated to advancing health for all people.