Becker's Healthcare is pleased to recognize the following 70 CEOs, presidents and administrators of critical access hospitals.
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The men and women included on this list lead hospitals with 25 beds or fewer that have been recognized for innovation, quality and patient safety on the local and national level. Several have overseen hospital expansions, mergers and EHR implementations as well as the construction of satellite clinics and strategic partnerships with regional healthcare providers. These individuals hold an important role within their community, serving on corporate boards and state-level initiatives to improve access to care.
Becker's Healthcare compiled this list through nominations and editorial research. The leaders presented are in alphabetical order, and individuals do not pay and cannot pay for inclusion on this list.
Please contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments on this list.
Todd Almendinger. President and CEO Magruder Hospital (Port Clinton, Ohio). As president and CEO of Magruder Hospital, Mr. Almendinger oversees the care delivery of nearly 35,000 physician office visits and 66,000 outpatient visits each year. He previously served as vice president of finance and CFO of Magruder, a role he took on after spending 18 years as vice-president of finance and CFO at Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware, Ohio.
Brett Altman, DPT. CEO of Cass County Health System (Atlantic, Iowa). Dr. Altman joined Cass County Health System in 2017 after spending time as COO and president and CEO of Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa. He also has 15 years of experience as director of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Skiff Medical Center. In addition to overseeing operations at Cass County Health System, Dr. Altman is on the Advisory Council of the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative and the Iowa Hospital Association ServiShare board.
Bert Beard. CEO of Maria Parham Health (Henderson, N.C.). As CEO of Maria Parham Health, Mr. Beard manages a 25-bed critical access hospital with more than 150 physicians and a 700 personal clinical support staff. Prior to assuming the position in 2016, he served as COO at 294-bed Wilson (N.C.) Medical Center for two years. Mr. Beard also had other healthcare administrative roles, like associate administrator and interim COO at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Fla.
Arthur J. Blank. President and CEO of Mount Desert Island Hospital (Bar Harbor, Maine). Under the leadership of Mr. Blank, 25-bed Mount Desert Island Hospital has become a critical access hospital and incorporated nine community health centers. He also spearheaded a teaching partnership with Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine and helped established a nonprofit retirement community. Mr. Blank joined the MDI Hospital in 1999 and has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare senior management positions.
Tom Borowski. President of Hudson (Wis.) Hospital & Clinic. Mr. Borowski is the president of Hudson Hospital & Clinic, a 25-bed critical access hospital that has earned local and national recognition for its sustainability and healing efforts. He leads the 60-person medical staff that treats nearly 20,000 emergency center and specialty clinic patients annually.
Doug Bush. President of ProMedica Defiance (Ohio) Regional Hospital. Mr. Bush was associate vice president of strategic planning and business development for ProMedica before becoming president of Defiance Regional Hospital in January 2018. He's helped develop ProMedica's strategy and led investigative business development efforts to expand access to care and develop new care delivery models.
Rebecca Carter, MSN, RN. President and CNO of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital (Spruce Pine, N.C.). Ms. Carter has spent 20 years of her career in hospital management, including time as COO and CNO of Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard, N.C., before becoming president and CNO of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. The hospital, which is part of Mission Health, was named an iVantage Health Analytics Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in 2019. Ms. Carter is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Jason Cleckler. CEO of Delta County (Colo.) Community Hospital. Under Mr. Cleckler's leadership, Delta County Community Hospital has developed into an award-winning facility that focuses primarily on access, quality of care and "treating the whole person." Mr. Cleckler is now focusing efforts on addressing the opioid prescription drug crisis in addition to his other responsibilities with the system.
Karen Cheeseman. CEO Mackinac Straits Health System (St. Ignace, Mich.). Ms. Cheeseman has served as CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System, a 15-bed hospital with an emergency medical center and outpatient surgery center, since 2017. She has spent more than 16 years with Mackinac Straits and serves on the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Small and Rural Council.
Paula Chermside. CEO of Aspirus Ironwood (Mich.) Hospital. As CEO of Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, Ms. Chermside aims to improve the collaboration between Aspirus hospitals in Ironwood, Ontonagon, Keweenaw and Iron River, Mich. She previously spent three years as COO of Aspirus Grand View. During her tenure there, she led the expansion and renovation of the emergency department, construction of an outpatient facility and the introduction of an EHR.
Natalie Couturiaux Ryder, MSN, RN. Chief Administrative Officer of Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital (Dowagiac, Mich.). Ms. Couturiaux Ryder is responsible for the development, design and operational improvement of systems for healthcare delivery at Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital, where she serves as chief administrative officer. Her role combines the functions of COO and CNO in the rural healthcare setting, where she aims to maximize the value of care and execute the hospital's strategic plan. During her first 15 months in her current role, she improved patient and employee satisfaction, and she reduced staff turnover within her first year.
Bruce Craven. Director of Operations and Finance at River Falls (Wis.) Area Hospital. Mr. Craven oversees River Falls Area Hospital's finances and is an integral member of the hospital's strategic planning, contracting and operational decision-making team. He joined Allina Health in 2008 after working in business and finance for Fairview Health Services. A25-bed critical access hospital, River Falls has 250 employees and 156 physicians on staff.
Dolan Dalpoas. President and CEO of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (Lincoln, Ill.). Mr. Dalpoas is the president and CEO of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital that serves the Logan County area. Under his leadership, the hospital's clinicians and staff aim to achieve higher-quality patient care, and the facility has been honored for superior clinical, operational and financial performance. For example, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health honored Abraham Lincoln Memorial with the Performance Leadership Award 2018, and iVantage Health Analytics named it among the 100 Top Critical Access Hospitals in 2019.
Jeremy P. Davis. President and CEO of Grande Ronde Hospital (La Grande, Ore.). Mr. Davis joined 25-bed Grande Ronde Hospital in 2018 after serving as CEO of Evanston (Wyo.) Regional Hospital for three years. Mr. Davis has more than 12 years of experience in the healthcare industry. He has earned the American College of Healthcare Executives Early Career Healthcare Executive Regent's Award.
Larry Davy. CEO of Wallowa Memorial Hospital (Enterprise, Ore.). Mr. Davy joined Wallowa Memorial Hospital in 1999 as CNO and became CEO in 2001. He oversaw the initiative to build a new hospital, which was completed in 2007. The 25-bed critical access hospital is a level 4 trauma center and serves about 7,000 residents in rural northeast Oregon.
Mike Delfs. President and CEO of Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Delfs serves as the president and CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, an award-winning critical access hospital built on innovation. He has spent more than 28 years in the healthcare industry, including time as director, COO and CEO of both independent hospitals and health systems. He is passionate about developing leadership skills in himself and others.
Brian Denton. Administrator of Mercy Hospital Kingfisher (Okla.). Mr. Denton became administrator of Mercy Hospital Kingfisher in November 2013 after serving as director of outpatient services at Mercy St. Francis Hospital in Missouri. He oversaw the hospital's EHR rollout as well. During his tenure as administrator of Mercy Hospital Kingfisher, the National Rural Health Association honored the hospital as a Top 20 Best Practice Critical Access Hospital in 2017.
Jake Erickson. CEO of Bingham Memorial Hospital (Blackfoot, Idaho). Mr. Erickson served as assistant administrator and COO of Bingham Memorial Hospital before being promoted to COO. He is considered a change agent for the hospital and ensures day-to-day operational efficiency. Over the past decade-plus, which includes time that Mr. Erickson spent as head of physician recruitment, BMH has increased its medical staff 400 percent to more than 150 providers. He has also been instrumental in the hospital's major partnerships in recent years and expanded service offerings to include more than 35 physician specialties.
Jeanie Gentry. CEO of Steele Memorial Medical Center (Salmon, Idaho). Ms. Gentry became Steele Memorial Medical Center CEO in April 2016. Before coming to Steele Memorial, she was CEO of St. Charles Health System hospitals in Madras and Prineville, Ore. She has experience implementing population health initiatives and overseeing large construction projects. Under her leadership, Steele Memorial was named among the country's Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals by the National Rural Health Association in 2017 and among iVantage Health Analytics' top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in 2018.
Keith Gnagey. CEO of Teton Valley Hospital (Driggs, Idaho). Mr. Gnagey became CEO of Teton Valley Hospital in August 2012 and led it through its transformation from a county-owned hospital to a private, nonprofit hospital. With the transition, the hospital increased its revenue by $7 million, to $24 million, and expanded its scope of services. Mr. Gnagey worked in the federal government and at tech startups before joining Teton Valley Hospital.
Martin Guthmiller. CEO of Orange City (Iowa) Area Health System. Mr. Guthmiller has spent more than 30 years of his career in healthcare. He became CEO of Orange City Area Health System in 1994 and since then the hospital moved to a new location and completed the Prairie Ridge Care Center, a dedicated center for obstetrics services. The hospital currently includes 19 family medicine providers as well as medical specialists, nurses and 500 support staff.
Hank Hanigan. CEO of Whitman Hospital and Medical Center (Colfax, Wash.). Mr. Hanigan became CEO of Whitman Hospital in 2014 after serving as COO of WhidbeyHealth in Coupeville, Wash. In addition to his responsibilities at Whitman, Mr. Hanigan is a member of the Washington State Hospital Association's Rural Hospital Committee and is on the board of Northwest Rural Hospital Committee.
Tim Herrmann. Chief Administrative Officer of PeaceHealth Cottage Grove (Ore.) Community Medical Center. Mr. Hermann became chief administrative officer of Cottage Grove Community Hospital in 2014 after serving manager of emergency and trauma services at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District in Eugene, Ore., where he is also interim CAO. At Cottage Grove, Mr. Hermann manages a 14-bed hospital that serves about 42,000 residents.
Brian Herwig. President and CEO of Perry County Memorial Hospital (Tell City, Ind.). Before coming to Perry County Memorial, Mr. Herwig was CEO of Estes Park Medical Center, where he led a financial turnaround and earned recognition from the Colorado Rural Healthcare Association for the hospital ranking among the top 25 percent in patient safety, outcomes and satisfaction. He became president and CEO of Perry County Memorial in June 2016. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Shannan Flach. CEO of Kingman (Kan.) Community Hospital. Ms. Flach oversees the strategic direction of Kingman Community Hospital, where she has created a positive and productive culture. During her tenure, she has mentored leaders to take on the "ownership" mentality and sets standards for excellence and accountability in performance. Ms. Flach also turned around the hospital's financial situation, and works with the hospital's staff to set goals for the future.
Toby Freier. President of New Ulm (Minn.) Medical Center. Mr. Freier gained experience as vice president of Tomah (Wis.) Memorial Hospital before joining New Ulm Medical Center and becoming president in January 2011. The nonprofit hospital serves patients in central Minnesota and includes more than 30 affiliated physicians as well as visiting specialists. In June 2019, the Minnesota Hospital Association honored New Ulm Medical Center with the Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace Award.
Stacy Johnson. CEO and CFO of Loring Hospital (Sac City, Iowa). Ms. Johnson became CEO and CFO of Loring Hospital in April. She joined Loring in 2018 after spending time as CFO of WCF Financial Bank in Webster City, Iowa, and serving as an instructor of accounting and business at Buena Vista University and Iowa Central Community College. Over the past year, Ms. Johnson has been instrumental in planning and implementing financial-related activities and policies, as well as rolling out a new financial management system.
M. Steven Jones. President of University Hospitals Geneva (Ohio) Medical Center. Mr. Jones oversees a medical staff of more than 100 physicians and nurses at the 25-bed critical access hospital. He previously was president of UH Community Hospitals-East region and has experience with hospital integration, growth and quality assurance.
Gary Jordan. President and CEO of Cherokee (Iowa) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Jordan serves as president and CEO of Cherokee Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital with four regional clinics, senior housing, wellness services and inpatient care. He has 28-plus years of hospital leadership, beginning when he was vice president of support services at Carroll Regional Medical Center in Berryville, Ark. Mr. Jordan also has experience as CEO of Saint Luke's Health System's Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, Mo.
Jackie Kernan, MSN, RN. President of OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center (Kewanee, Ill.) and OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center. Ms. Kernan was named president of OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center in January 2018 and will become president of a second hospital in the health system, Holy Family Medical Center, on July 15. She is responsible for internal operations and providing affordable, quality care at each hospital. Ms. Kernan has experience with healthcare strategy and served as CNO and director of inpatient and surgical services at Saint Luke before becoming president.
Burke Kline, DHA. CEO of Greeley County Health Services (Tribune, Kan.). Dr. Kline oversees operations at Greeley County Health Services, an 18-bed critical access hospital that includes long-term care and two rural health clinics. During his tenure as CEO, Dr. Kline has looked for innovative ways to improve the hospital and bring new services in-house. In 2019, he launched a $13.7 million renovation which includes adding 10 service lines to the hospital and investing in more emergency department equipment. The project also brought a specialty infusion center to the hospital.
Debra Knapheide, MSN. CEO, CNO and COO of Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital (Nogales, Ariz.). Ms. Knapheide established a culture of transformation at Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital, aiming to create an environment of evidence-based best practices and alignment between physicians and staff. She implemented physician and nurse shadowing and coaching programs and focused on collaboration that led to higher staff and patient satisfaction. During her tenure, the hospital earned recognition from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy for innovation in emergency medicine.
Jud Knox. President and CEO of York (Maine) Hospital. Mr. Knox has been president and CEO of York Hospital since 1982. The hospital has undergone several iterations since then, with the most renovations including the addition of a surgery center on the main campus completed in 2011.
Mark Kuhn. CEO of Hammond-Henry Hospital (Geneseo, Ill.). As CEO of Hammond-Henry Hospital, Mr. Kuhn is responsible for managing all departments and 400 employees. He came to Hammond-Henry in 2017 after serving as chief administrative officer for 17 years at Springfield (Ill.) Clinic, where he managed more than 400 physicians and 30 practice locations. He has also served as a senior leader at Lake Forest (Ill.) Hospital.
Dave Lord. President of OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group (Escanaba, Mich.). Mr. Lord launched his career in OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group's IT department in 1996 and rose in the ranks to become manager of planning and decision support and then vice president of operations. He became president of the hospital in 2013, responsible for overseeing operations at the 25-bed critical access hospital. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula and founding member of the Bay College Technology Degree Program.
Patricia G. Luker. President and CEO of OSF Holy Family Medical Center (Monmouth, Ill.). Ms. Luker manages the 23-bed OSF Holy Family Medical Center as president and CEO. The hospital serves patients in three western Illinois counties. She joined the OSF family in July 2009.
Connie McCahill. President and CEO of Cameron Memorial Community Hospital (Angola, Ind.). Ms. McCahill joined Cameron Memorial Community Hospital in 2012 and now serves as president and CEO. The hospital was named an iVantage Health Analytics Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in 2019. In addition to her role overseeing day-to-day operations at the hospital, Ms. McCahill is a member of the Steuben County YMCA Board of Directors and Steuben County Economic Development Corp.
Cynthia K. McGuire. CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital (Peterborough, N.H.). Ms. McGuire has served as the CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital since early 2014. She has more than 25 years of experience working in the healthcare industry. Ms. McGuire most recently served as the COO of Adirondack Health in Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Monty McLaurin. President of Ballad Health's Northwest Market (Sneedville, Tenn.). As president of Ballad Health's northwest market, Mr. McLaurin leads all facilities in that region, including Hancock County Hospital. Hancock County Hospital has appeared on the National Rural Health Association's Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals list. Mr. McLaurin previously served as CEO and vice president of Indian Path Community Hospital in Kingsport, Tenn. He has held many executive positions at hospitals over the past 35 years and plans to retire at the end of 2019.
Doug McMillan. CEO of Cody (Wyo.) Regional Health. As CEO, Mr. McMillan has grown Cody Regional Health into a large critical access hospital with 25 beds. He leads recruitment efforts and doubled Cody Regional's primary care and specialist physician teams during his tenure. In recent years, Mr. McMillan oversaw the hospital's efforts to open a new orthopedic clinic, negotiate a joint venture for a cath lab and expand its cancer center.
Tamara Miller. CEO of Madison (S.D.) Regional Health System. Ms. Miller serves as the CEO of Madison Regional Health System, a nonprofit, independent health system with 250 employees. She has worked at MRHS for 38 years, serving as CEO since 1996. Under her leadership, the critical access hospital moved to a larger facility in 2015. Ms. Miller serves on many boards, including the SD Association of Healthcare Organizations Council on Acute Care.
Tylie Mills. CEO and Administrator of Pike County Memorial Hospital (Louisiana, Mo.). Ms. Mills became CEO of Pike County Memorial Hospital in August 2018 after serving as its director of nursing. She also is a former emergency department and emergency medical services director. The same month she took the helm at Pike County Memorial, the hospital underwent an unannounced on-site survey from the Joint Commission and received its Gold Seal of Approval for hospital accreditation.
Kimberly Monjesky. President of UCHealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital (Woodland Park, Colo.). Ms. Monjesky was at the helm of Pikes Peak Regional Hospital when Dallas-based Steward Health Care System sold the hospital to Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth in mid-2018. She remains president of the 15-bed hospital, which has earned recognition as a 2018 Performance Leadership Award winner from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.
Robert F. Nutter. President of Littleton (N.H.) Regional Healthcare. Mr. Nutter serves as president of Littleton Regional Healthcare, a critical access hospital that received Press Ganey's 2018 Guardian of Excellence Award. He has spent more than 17 years in healthcare administration roles. Before assuming his current role in 2017, he was the vice president and COO of Mercy Health System in Portland, Maine.
Julie Petersen. CEO of Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital (Ellensburg, Wash.). Ms. Petersen oversees Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital's seven clinics and critical access hospital as CEO. She joined the organization in 2016 as interim CEO and accepted the permanent position the following year. Ms. Petersen has spent 30 years in the nonprofit healthcare industry. She most recently served as CFO and CEO at Prosser (Wash.) Memorial Hospital.
Michael Peterson. President of Androscoggin Valley Hospital (Berlin, N.H.). Mr. Peterson has served as president of 25-bed Androscoggin Valley Hospital since December 2015. He has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare, including 10 in as a senior executive of a rural community hospital. Mr. Peterson most recently served as COO of Sebasticook Valley Health in Pittsfield, Maine.
Dave Ressler. CEO of Aspen (Colo.) Valley Hospital. Mr. Ressler has spent 25 years as a hospital administrator, including 12 of them at Aspen Valley Hospital, where he is now CEO. He has previous experience as chief strategy officer and COO of the 600-plus-bed Tucson (Ariz.) Medical Center. During his tenure at Aspen, Mr. Ressler has worked with numerous rural hospitals to learn more about care and healthcare transformation.
Jeremy Roberge. President and CEO of Huggins Hospital (Wolfeboro, N.H.). Mr. Roberge has served as president and CEO of Huggins Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, since 2016. He is responsible for managing the delivery of care to the region's 30,000 residents. Mr. Roberge joined the senior leadership team at Huggins Hospital in 2012 as senior vice president and CFO before being promoted to his current role.
Bruce Roesler. CEO of Richland Hospital (Richland Center, Wis.). Mr. Roesler was president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center–New Hampton (Iowa) and CEO of Avera Marshall (Minn.) Regional Medical Center before becoming CEO of Richland. At Richland, he oversees a 300-member staff that serves southwest Wisconsin. During his tenure, the hospital has earned a spot on iVantage Health Analytics' Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals list.
George Rohrich. CEO of River's Edge Hospital & Clinic (St. Peter, Minn.). During Mr. Rohrich's tenure as CEO of River's Edge Hospital & Clinics, the hospital has earned the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's designation as a mentor hospital and a five-star rating from CMS for patient satisfaction and experience. He is overseeing a $33.8 million renovation that will add patient rooms and expand the emergency department. He became CEO in 2014 after serving as CEO of Memorial Regional Health Medical Clinic in Craig, Colo.
Shelly Russell. CEO of Mitchell County Regional Health Center (Osage, Iowa). Ms. Russell became CEO of Mitchell County Regional Health Center in 2014 after spending time as CNO of the critical access hospital. The hospital includes 135 staff members and is affiliated with Mercy Health Network. In 2019, iVantage Health Analytics named Mitchell County Regional Health Center a 100 Top Critical Access Hospital. She has previous experience in hospital administration at Memorial Health Center in Medford, Wis., and Aspirus, a Wausau, Wis.-based health system.
Todd Sandberg. CEO of Riverwood Healthcare Center (Aitkin, Minn.). Mr. Sandberg became CEO of Riverwood Healthcare Center in June 2018, having worked 20 years in healthcare leadership. He was vice president of regional operations for Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, Minn., and vice president and administrator for Ridgeview Sibley Medical Center before taking on his current role. The 25-bed critical access hospital has three primary care clinics and more than 40 affiliated physicians, surgeons and clinicians.
Rob Santilli. CEO of Gunnison (Colo.) Valley Health. Mr. Santilli serves as the CEO of Gunnison Valley Health, a 24-bed short-term critical access hospital with a level 4 trauma center. He joined GVH in 2012 with 27 years of experience in leading healthcare delivery operations. Before Mr. Santilli assumed his current role, he was the executive vice president and the COO of Riddle Health System in Media, Pa.
Michael Schafer. CEO of Spooner (Wis.) Health. Mr. Schafer is responsible for the direction of Spooner Health, which includes a 25-bed critical access hospital, and rural home health agency. He oversaw the construction of a replacement hospital in 2017 and negotiated with a larger health system to bring on a local clinic to its new campus, where it partners for some services. He also was instrumental in establishing a nurse practitioner hospitalist model. In addition to his role at Spooner Health, Mr. Schafer is on the board of the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
Matthew Sells. President and CEO of Shenandoah (Iowa) Medical Center. Mr. Sells became interim president and CEO of Shenandoah Medical Center in 2017 after serving four years as the hospital's CFO. Later that year, he was named permanent CEO. Shenandoah has an outpatient clinic facility, disease prevention and wellness center and women's health clinic in addition to its critical access hospital. Mr. Sells became a board member of Bank Iowa this year.
Matthew Shahan. CEO of West River Regional Medical Center (Hettinger, N.D.). Mr. Shahan is responsible for overseeing West River Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed hospital. He is also the CEO of West River Health Services Foundation, West River Health Services and Western Horizons Living Centers. The hospital was recognized as an iVantage Health Analytics' 100 Top Critical Access Hospitals in 2019 and National Rural Health Association's Top 20 Critical Access Hospital in 2018.
Tanya Sharp. CEO of Boone County Health Center (Albion, Neb.). As CEO of Boone County Health Center, Ms. Sharp oversees a 25-bed critical access hospital with 15 specialty clinics. Ms. Sharp also emphasizes the importance of investing in quality staff to treat the community at the health center.
Hank Simpson, MD. CEO Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar (Menomonie, Wis.). Dr. Simpson is the CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar, a physician-led hospital that cares for hundreds of patients each day. Dr. Simpson assumed this role in 2004 after spending seven years as the medical director of Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar.
Brian Stephens. President and CEO of Door County Medical Center (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.). Mr. Stephens is the CEO of Door County Medical Center, which has more than 175 physicians, an outpatient medical center and a skilled nursing facility. He spent time as the chief administrative officer before being promoted to CEO in January 2019.
Philip Stuart. Administrator of Tomah (Wis.) Memorial Hospital. Mr. Stuart oversees the 20-bed critical Tomah Memorial Hospital. In 2017, ground was broken on a new $66 million facility, expected to open in October 2019. Last year, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and the Chartis Center of Rural Health recognized the hospital with the Performance Leadership Award.
Patrick Swindle. CEO of UT Health Quitman (Texas) and UT Health Pittsburg (Texas). Mr. Swindle oversees the day-to-day operations of two 25-bed critical access hospitals in Texas, which includes level 4 trauma centers and five rural health clinics. He is responsible for 75 healthcare providers across both hospitals, which have 450 employees total. Since taking on the lead role at UT Health Quitman, Mr. Swindle has recruited two orthopedic surgeons as well as other specialists and brought the first in-house MRI to the hospital. He also focused on recruitment at UT Health East Pittsburg, which increased its primary care provider staff by 45 percent under his leadership.
Dawn Trompeter. President of OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center (Mendota, Ill.). Ms. Trompeter became president of OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in January 2018. She is responsible for aligning the hospital with OSF HealthCare's overall strategy and directing internal operations, maintaining a culture of collaboration and integration. She has previous experience as the vice president and CFO of OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, Ill., and Saint Paul Medical Center, where she helped the organizations improve HCAHPS scores.
Karissa Turner. President and CEO of Wabash General Hospital (Mount Carmel, Ill.). Ms. Turner became president and CEO of Wabash General Hospital in January. Since then, the hospital has earned recognition as one of the 2019 best places to work in Illinois from the Daily Herald Business Ledger. She's also presided over the opening of a new orthopedic clinic at Clay County Hospital Medical Clinic in Flora, Ill.
Allen Van Driel. CEO of Smith County Memorial Hospital (Smith Center, Kan.). Mr. Van Driel leads Smith County Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital. He has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare including as CEO and COO for Nebraska-based critical access hospitals. Mr. Smith has held leadership positions within the American Hospital Association, Nebraska Hospital Association and National Rural Health Association.
Harry Weis. CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System (Truckee, Calif.). Mr. Weis became CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System in December 2015. He has more than four decades in healthcare leadership, with experience in strategy, acquisitions, clinical and financial management in for-profit and nonprofit healthcare organizations. In his current role, he is responsible for a 25-bed critical access hospital providing care for residents in a 3,500-square-mile area.
Ken Westman. CEO of Barrett Hospital and HealthCare (Dillon, Mont.). Mr. Westman is the CEO of Barrett Hospital, a nonprofit critical access hospital that employs 275 individuals. He joined Barrett Hospital in 2011 and has more than 20 years of healthcare experience. Mr. Westman also serves on the Montana Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement Network Advisory Board.
Todd Willert. President and CEO of Community HealthCare System (Onaga, Kan.). Since 2015, Mr. Willert has served as president and CEO of Community HealthCare System, a health system with 450 associates that serve the residents of northeast Kansas. He manages the system's seven medical clinics, two nursing homes and the assisted living unit in addition to the critical access hospital. Mr. Willert previously served as CEO of Monroe County Hospital and Clinics in Albia, Iowa, and CEO of Story County Medical Center in Nevada, Iowa.
Aaron Wood. Administrator and CEO of Sanpete Valley Hospital (Mount Pleasant, Utah). Mr. Wood oversees Sanpete Valley Hospital, a nonprofit critical access hospital that is part of Intermountain Healthcare, a 24-hospital system. The Utah Hospital Association named Mr. Wood Rural Hospital CEO of the Year in 2019, recognizing his efforts to implement innovative healthcare delivery models. He has successfully recruited physicians and led the hospital to achieve one of the highest employee satisfaction scores in the Intermountain system.
Dustin Wright. CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare (Le Mars, Iowa). Since 2018, Mr. Wright has served as CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare, a leading critical access hospital that is nationally recognized for obstetrics. Starting in 2014, the healthcare center has had three multimillion-dollar additions. Mr. Wright most recently worked at UnityPoint Health's hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa, where he was vice president of operations.
Robert Wright. CEO of Newman Regional Health (Emporia, Kan.). Mr. Wright is the CEO of Newman Regional Health, a 25-bed critical access hospital with a 10-bed acute rehabilitation unit. The hospital has 600 employees and 130 physicians as well as 225 volunteers to provide inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services. Newman Regional is also a teaching hospital and appeared among the iVantage Health Analytics Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals for two consecutive years.