New Firelands Regional Medical Center president likes Sandusky

SANDUSKY — The new boss at Firelands Regional Medical Center said when he heard a hospital executive job was open in Ohio, he remarked that he probably wouldn't be interested unless it was in Sandusky.It did turn out to be in Sandusky, and Jeremy Normington-Slay won the job and took over last month as the hospital's president and CEO.In a Tuesday interview at Firelands, Normington-Slay said that one of his former hospital executive jobs was located just outside of the Wisconsin Dells area, which has waterparks and other family-oriented attractions, just like Sandusky."We just loved that atmosphere," said Normington-Slay.He and his wife, Abigail, have five children, ages 14, 13, 11, 9 and 8. The family also includes two Pomeranian dogs. Cedar Point made a good impression on Normington-Slay's children when the family came to town July 4 for Normington-Slay's job interview.Normington-Slay said he was also attracted to Sandusky by the opportunity to run an independent hospital, rather than running several hospitals for a large organization, as he did in Wisconsin. He also did not want to run a large urban hospital. Sandusky offered a good balance between his career, his family and his faith, he said.Normington-Slay comes to Sandusky after running several hospitals in Wisconsin as the regional president for the North Central Region of Ascension Healthcare.Normington-Slay said he wants to explore opportunities for Firelands to continue the trend in the healthcare industry of offering outpatient services, allowing the hospital to compete on price."Health care is moving outside of the walls of the traditional hospital," he said.Situated between Toledo and Cleveland, Firelands has a good opportunity to continue to explore partnerships with large organizations such as ProMedica, Mercy Health, the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, he said. The Firelands board brought up Ohio's struggles with opioid addiction when he interviewed here. Normington-Slay said his brother runs a treatment center after himself recovering from an addiction.Normington-Slay said he's impressed with the revitalization of downtown Sandusky and has been scouting the local restaurant scene for date nights with his wife."We're kind of foodies. We like to eat," said Normington-Slay, who said the couple enjoys unique food, Asian cuisine, small plates, seasonal offerings and pizza. He said he likes to cook and can prepare a good filet mignon in a cast iron skillet.He's also already attended two shows at Sandusky State Theatre — the Firelands Symphony's Gershwin concert and "Sophie's Light" — and has obtained tickets to see "Monty Python's SPAMALOT." He's looking for a home in the community. Normington-Slay has doctorate and master's degrees in physical therapy from Concordia University in Wisconsin, a bachelor's degree in sports medicine from the same school, and an MBA from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. He played basketball and soccer at Concordia and enjoys tennis and golf.Normington-Slay explained he has two last names because his father, a Baptist minister in Texas, is named Lamar Slay, and his stepfather, a Wisconsin grocery, is named John Normington.He grew up spending summers and winter break in Texas as "Jeremy Slay," and the school year in Wisconsin as "Jeremy Normington." When he got married, he decided to combine the two names."I've got two great dads," he said.Jeremy Normington-Slay, president and CEO of Firelands Regional Medical Center, stands outside the hospital in Sandusky on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.Jeremy Normington-Slay, president and CEO of Firelands Regional Medical Center, laughs while telling a story about a previous trip to Sandusky during an interview at the hospital on Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.