Steve Massini’s vision has been an integral part of Penn State Health’s growth. His input helped create the partnerships and make the decisions that have shifted a central Pennsylvania hospital into a regional health system for a new age.
And at least some of Massini’s know-how comes from fish.
The new CEO of Penn State Health has spent much of his life enjoying fishing on the waters of southern New Jersey to the trout streams of rural Pennsylvania.
“Fishing is part of my family,” he said.
Maybe that’s why Massini’s management style is equally calm and reflective. He watches the waters, takes in the environment and acts at the right moment — all without panic.
His new role places him squarely at the center of a surge. The Penn State Health of which he takes the helm continues to expand at a pace few envisioned a decade ago. So far, his approach has been keeping with the style he learned from his early days as a mate on a charter fishing boat. He’s filled recent weeks listening and learning from all levels of the system’s expanding staff. As the health care industry evolves and Penn State Health evolves with it, Massini says he’ll continue to seek their counsel as he follows a path blazed by his predecessors.
Rather than blindly charting a course, Massini has arrived at his current job through patient, diligent attention to his surroundings and following his heart.
Young fisherman
Massini’s family is originally from western Pennsylvania, but he grew up in Bridgeton, New Jersey, a small town near Delaware Bay where beaches back into farmland. Before he became a teenager, he got his first job: A neighbor bought a charter fishing business and asked the boy to help out as first mate.
Massini spent his summers as a youth on the bay, helping tourists reel in flounder and weakfish. It was a unique upbringing; while he developed the patience to land the big ones, he also interacted with people of all stripes.
“A different group showed up every morning…to have a good time and go out on a fishing trip,” he said, and many didn’t know the first thing about the sport.
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