Head of Juan F. Luis Hospital finances resigns; former employee fills void until CFO gets hired

ST. CROIX — The head of the financial unit at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center has resigned, but a former employee is filling the void until the hospital hires a chief financial officer, ideally someone who would oversee the finances of both territorial hospitals, according to the territorial hospital board chair.

Christopher Lewis, who served as senior vice president of Financial Services at JFL, resigned a few days ago, Chris Finch, territorial hospital board chair, said. “I’m not sure the exact date that he put on the letter,” Finch said. “That would have to come from the hospital.” Attempts to contact JFL’s interim chief executive officer, Hazel Philbert, and public information officer, Aniah John, were unsuccessful, and messages were not returned as of publication time.

Lewis worked at the hospital for seven years, beginning as an accountant in January 2018 before transitioning to comptroller nine months later, according to his LinkedIn profile. After three years as comptroller, Lewis became vice president of Finance and Accounting in July 2021. He served as senior vice president of Financial Services from October 2022 until his resignation. Rosalie Javois, a former employee who led the hospital’s financial unit prior to her retirement, returned to the hospital this week to help while the hospital advertises to hire a CFO, Finch said.