Grady CEO Apologizes For 'Shine My Shoes' Comment

ATLANTA — The head of Grady Memorial Hospital issued an apology Wednesday night for comments made at a meeting of local business leaders.

Channel 2's Richard Belcher obtained a letter of apology sent by Grady CEO Michael Young to the hospital board of directors as well as the Fulton DeKalb Hospital Authority.

Young, speaking at a breakfast meeting of the Buckhead Business Association, touted how quickly he turned the hospital's financial situation around.

Young told guests at the event that the people of Fulton County "should want to shine my shoes. In 2007, Fulton County gave Grady $76 million. This year Fulton County is going to give $50 million. So I have reduced your tax exposure by $26 million."

Young sent an apology Wednesday afternoon: "My statement was terribly insensitive to Fulton County taxpayers and does not reflect my true feelings. Please accept my heartfelt apology for this mistake and please keep in mind that it came from an innocent place. I often get excited about the changes we've made at Grady and the impact the health system is having on the community, and sometimes my words get ahead of my brain."

Young took over as CEO of Grady Hospital in 2008, with the hospital on the verge of financial ruin.

In May 2010, the hospital announced it was operating at a profit.

WSBTV