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NCH Healthcare System chief executive officer Edward Morton is considering business opportunities and the possibility of doing some teaching after he retires from the hospital system by the end of next year.

“I don’t have any specific plans at present,” he said Wednesday from Munich, where he is on vacation. “I have numerous options I will evaluate over the next year or so.”

Morton, 59, submitted his plans to retire by the end of 2007 to Carl Westman, chairman of the NCH board of trustees, several months ago and the board has established a succession committee and hired an international search firm to assist in finding his replacement. The committee has one internal candidate, Dr. Allen Weiss, who is president of NCH under Morton’s tenure.

Morton turns 60 next June and that’s when his retirement plan kicks in.

“So I thought it was a good time to retire,” he said, dismissing speculation his retirement was forced by the board. “I approached our board voluntarily sometime ago. Everything was initiated by me wanting to retire when I turn 60.”

One consideration after leaving NCH is doing some teaching, perhaps in the health science field, he said.

“That is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said, adding that he also intends to remain active in the local business community. “My interests are to remain a vibrant part of the business community.”

Morton is vice chairman of the board of trustees at Florida Gulf Coast University and is chairman of the board of directors of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.

Regarding his successor, Morton is supporting Weiss.

“I have encouraged the board to strongly consider Dr. Weiss when I retire,” he said. “He has exhibited the attributes (needed). We worked very well as a partnership building a better hospital and better health care system.”

Weiss declined to comment because he is a candidate for the top post.

Morton’s retirement plans have been known among the medical community for some time.

“It was somewhat expected,” said Dr. Charles Anderson, president of the Collier County Medical Society. “We knew he wanted to retire. I don’t think there is any mystery to it. We think he has done a very good job.”

Morton became CEO in April 2001 after long-time CEO William Crone stepped down. Prior to assuming the top position, Morton was chief operating officer for one year during a transition until Crone’s retirement. Earlier, Morton was chief financial officer for many years. He started his career at NCH in the early 1970s.