New Forum CEO shares his vision

YOUNGSTOWN — The ball is in “Buzz” Pishkur’s hands.

Walter J. “Buzz” Pishkur, long-time basketball official and head of Aqua Ohio, is the new president and chief executive officer of financially struggling Forum Health.

Buzz, as he is known to friends, acquaintances, employers and employees, doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously.

For example, he was willing to be photographed holding a basketball in front of Northside Medical Center, part of the Forum health care system he has been hired to lead and revive.

If it will help bring attention to the things by which Forum should be identified, like the positive clinical outcomes, or celebrating last week the birth of 1,000th baby born this year at Northside, instead of just its financial woes, “I’ll do it,” he said with a smile.

However, Pishkur said he is very serious about his leadership role at Forum, and optimistic about Forum Health’s future, despite the many challenges, financial and otherwise, that it faces.

His appointment to Forum’s top job is so new — he was hired by the Forum Board of Trustees on Sept. 11 — that he has not officially taken office. That is expected during the week of Oct. 12.

But already he is developing a plan to carry forward his and the board’s vision for Forum.

For more on this story, please see Sunday’s Vindicator or vindy.com