Fong takes new role at Bethesda

Neale Fong has been appointed chief executive of Bethesda Health Care after serving as chairman of the Claremont-based hospital operator since 2008.

Dr Fong acted as interim chief executive at the organisation from November 2018, after the resignation of previous chief executive Yasmin Naglazas after eleven and a half years in the role.

In December last year, he resigned as executive chairman of the Bethesda board and was replaced by the organisation's deputy chair Dominic Bourke.

Dr Fong has prior experience running hospitals, working as chief executive of St John of God Health Care's Subiaco Hospital from 1998 to 2004 and briefly as chief executive of Peel Health Campus. 

He served as the director general of the Department of Health from 2004 to 2008, a term which was marred by controversy.

In recent years, Dr Fong has run management consulting firm Australis Health Advisory and been project director for the establishment of the Curtin Medical School.

He is also chair of the WA Country Health Service, national president of the Australasian College of Health Service Management and a non-executive director of Little Green Pharma.