The “voice of Kadlec” is planning to retire.

Jim Hall, who’s been with the health system for 30 years and currently serves as the chief philanthropy officer for The Foundations at Kadlec, is moving into an advisory role and will retire at the end of the year, said Reza Kaleel, chief executive of the Providence Southeast Washington Service Area, which includes Kadlec, in a statement.

Lacey Perry, chief philanthropy officer for Providence St. Mary Foundation in Walla Walla and current interim chief philanthropy officer for The Foundations at Kadlec, will step up as the leader of both foundations, Kaleel said in the statement.

He described Hall as an expert communicator whose “experience, judgment and wise counsel through the most daunting challenges” have been invaluable.

“You’ll be terribly missed, Jim. We are so grateful for you,” Kaleel said in the statement.

Hall, a graduate of Washington State University, became a familiar face in the Tri-Cities area during his decade-plus as a journalist with KEPR-TV.

He joined Kadlec in 1994 as the director of marketing and communications, and he held that post for more than 26 years, until he became the chief philanthropy officer.

During his tenure, Kadlec became part of the Providence health system. Hall also was a vital part of Kadlec’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I am filled with pride in so many ways,” Hall said in his own statement.

“We featured our caregivers for more than 25 years with a weekly TV program focused on providing valuable health information to members of our community. Our staff served as the subject matter experts. For 15 years, we shared a weekly radio program with the same purpose, helping our patients navigate their way through often scary and complicated health care experiences,” he said. “This was most evident during the Covid crisis. For more than 100 straight weeks, we devoted our entire program to highlighting our subject matter experts and those from public health to make sure our community had the most factual and credible information possible.”

Kaleel said that Hall was one of the first Kadlec leaders he met when he was hired in 2016.

“I was impressed after hearing him speak on my first day – not only by his highly polished presentation skills and deep baritone, but more importantly by the passion and authenticity he exuded as he discussed Kadlec’s mission, history and commitment to the community,” he said, adding that “working closely with Jim these past eight years has confirmed that my first impressions were correct. I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Jim and seeing him use his unique skills to help us evolve with the signs of the times and manage through unprecedented events like the Covid-19 pandemic. I’ve had the privilege to watch him excel in both his longtime role as leader of our communication team and his most recent role as Kadlec’s chief philanthropy officer.”

For the chief philanthropy role, Kaleel said he was looking for someone “of high integrity who could speak eloquently and credibly to our community and potential donors about the importance of our mission” and Hall was the perfect fit.

“Since taking on the (chief philanthropy officer) role, Jim has successfully grown philanthropy in a time when it’s needed more than ever. One example is the collaborative capital campaign lead by Jim and The Foundations at Kadlec in 2023, resulting in philanthropic funding for 100% of the cost of a da Vinci surgical robot,” Kaleel said.

Hall said he’s been in awe of the “amazing work that happens around the clock in our hospital and clinics,” from doctors and nurses in the operating room and patient units, to front office staff, to therapists and technicians and so on.

“I have learned so much from every colleague I have encountered,” he said.

His admiration grew after he was diagnosed with cancer last summer.

“I am so grateful to the dozens of Kadlec caregivers — many of my friends — who have taken care of me during my cancer journey. You have no idea of the positive impact you have on our patients, including me,” he said in his statement.

He also appreciates the hundreds of volunteers who help in many ways.

“Your service to our community is beyond compare and truly what makes Kadlec and the Tri-Cities so special,” he said in his statement.