John Popovich, MD, president and CEO of Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital, has announced he’ll be retiring from the role at the end of the second quarter of 2018.

He’s been with the hospital since starting as an intern in 1975, completing a fellowship in pulmonary medicine. After spending a decade as head of the pulmonary division, he became chair of the internal medicine department in 1999, later being promoted for senior vice president for clinical affairs in 2008 and then as president and CEO in 2010. He added the title of chief medical officer for the Henry Ford Health System in 2012.

“Dr. Popovich is known for his love of the people at Henry Ford Hospital and his affection for the city of Detroit,” system president and CEO Wright Lassiter III, said in a statement. ”His legacy includes building, leading and nurturing a team that is well-positioned to continue the hospital’s reputation as an academic medical center highly regarded for its research, education and clinical excellence.”

The hospital was ranked as one of the best in the ear, nose, and throat specialty in the latest U.S. News and World Report hospital rankings. It’s seeking to improve its precision medicine, research and ambulatory cancer treatment services with a $155 million expansion of its cancer institute, which is set to open in 2019 across from the existing hospital.

A spokesperson for Henry Ford said a search committee to find Popovich’s replacement will be set up in the near future.