The board of directors of the Pocono Health System/Pocono Medical Center announced Tuesday that PHS/PMC President and CEO Kathleen Kuck has advised the board of her decision to resign, effective immediately.

Kuck joined PHS/PMC in 2006 as vice president for patient care services and was named CEO in December 2008."For the past six years, Kathy has served as an important force in helping ensure the delivery of quality health care to the citizens of Monroe County and the surrounding area," said W. Andrew Worthington, board chairman."She deserves great credit for her community involvement and leadership and for acting at all times in the best interests of the Pocono Health System. We are grateful to Kathy for her contributions to the medical center and the community and wish her continued success," Worthington said."I have spent the past eight years here in East Stroudsburg and am proud of what we have accomplished here," Kuck said."I felt this was the appropriate time for me to consider new opportunities. It has been my honor to be associated with such a skilled and compassionate group of employees, physicians and board members."Worthington said that Jeff Snyder, PHS senior vice president and chief operating officer, would serve as interim president of PHS/PMC. He said that in the coming weeks, the board would address the process to appoint a new full-time CEO and would announce those plans when they are ratified.Snyder joined PHS/PMC in 2012. Before coming to East Stroudsburg, he served as CEO of Mercy Suburban Hospital in East Norriton and COO of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia."I am thankful for the opportunity to serve this community," Snyder said."Building upon the strong foundation of our world-class physicians and dedicated team, I am confident that together we will continue to grow and succeed as we care for the families of our community."