Becker's Healthcare is pleased to recognize 50 rural hospital CEOs to know in 2018.
The CEOs featured on this list have overcome significant challenges operating rural community and critical access hospitals to lead sustainable and thriving organizations. Many CEOs have served their institutions for decades, recruiting physicians, expanding services and implementing technology platforms to ensure the best care possible for their communities.
Becker's Healthcare accepted nominations for this list and considered leaders making a positive impact on their organizations. The CEOs featured lead hospitals consistently recognized by the National Rural Health Association, American Hospital Association and HIMSS as top institutions; others sit on local chamber of commerce boards and serve state hospital associations.
Note: This list is not an endorsement of any individual or institution featured. Individuals do not pay and cannot pay for inclusion on this list.
Contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com with any questions about this list.
Duke Anderson. President and CEO of Hillsdale (Mich.) Hospital. Mr. Anderson became COO of Hillsdale Hospital in 2006 and was later promoted to president and CEO. [CLICK HERE]
Donald Babb. CEO and Executive Director of Citizens Memorial Healthcare (Bolivar, Mo.). Mr. Babb became the founding CEO of Citizens Memorial Healthcare in 1981 and has since led the hospital through a transformation into a fully integrated healthcare system. [CLICK HERE]
Karen Barber, RN. CEO of Yoakum (Texas) Community Hospital. Ms. Barber joined Yoakum Community Hospital in 1992 and rose in the ranks to become CEO in 2006. [CLICK HERE]
Rebecca Beck. President of Hawkins County Memorial Hospital (Rogersville, Tenn.) and Hancock County Hospital (Sneedville, Tenn.). Since becoming president of Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, Ms. Beck has overseen efforts at the 50-bed hospital to achieve designation by Truven Health Analytics as one of the top 100 hospitals in the country in 2016. [CLICK HERE]
Syd Bersante, RN. Market President of Pierce County (Enumclaw, Wash.). Ms. Bersante became market president of CHI Franciscan Health's Pierce County in 2015 after spending eight years as president of Tacoma, Wash.-based St. Joseph Medical Center. [CLICK HERE]
Darrold Bertsch. CEO of Sakakawea Medical Center (Hazen, N.D.). Mr. Bertsch became CEO of Sakakawea Medical Center in 2009 and took responsibility for Coal Country Community Health Center in Beulah, N.D., in 2011. [CLICK HERE]
Gary Black. President and CEO of UNC Lenoir Health Care (Kinston, N.C.). As president and CEO of UNC Lenoir Health Care, Mr. Black oversees a 261-bed nonprofit hospital. [CLICK HERE]
Dan Brinkman, RN. Regional CEO of the East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. (Honolulu). Mr. Brinkman joined Hilo Medical Center in 2007 as the chief nurse executive and was promoted to regional COO in 2014. [CLICK HERE]
James B. Bross. CEO of St. Luke's Hospital (Columbus, N.C.). Mr. Bross became the CEO of St. Luke's Hospital in July 2016 after spending more than 30 years in hospital and health plan executive management. [CLICK HERE]
Katherine Bunting, PhD, MSN, RN. President and CEO of Fairfield (Ill.) Memorial Hospital. Dr. Bunting serves as president and CEO of Fairfield Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital with around 250 employees and 90 credentialed physicians and healthcare providers. [CLICK HERE]
Dennis Burke. President and CEO of Good Shepherd Health Care System (Hermiston, Ore.). As president and CEO of Good Shepherd Health Care System, Mr. Burke oversees Good Shepherd Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital in Hermiston, Ore., with 40 physicians on staff and more than 500 employees. [CLICK HERE]
Paul Chodkowski. CEO of St. Anthony Summit Medical Center (Frisco, Colo.). As CEO of St. Anthony Summit Medical Center, Mr. Chodkowski is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the 35-bed acute care hospital. He oversees a team of 200 employees and the hospital's level 3 trauma center. [CLICK HERE]
Jason Cleckler, BSN. CEO of Delta (Colo.) County Memorial Hospital. Since joining Delta County Memorial Hospital in 2012, Mr. Cleckler has overseen the hospital's transition into a healthcare system employing more than 600 people at locations throughout Delta County. [CLICK HERE]
John Dalton. President and CEO of Inland Hospital (Waterville, Maine). Mr. Dalton has served as president of the 48-bed Inland Hospital since 2006. [CLICK HERE]
Thomas Dee. President and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (Bennington). Southwestern Vermont Health Care named Mr. Dee CEO in 2009, and since then he has expanded the health system's partnership with Lebanon, N.H-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock and increased access to primary care services in the community. [CLICK HERE]
Kris Doody, RN. CEO of Cary Medical Center (Caribou, Maine). Ms. Doody began her career as a certified nurse's aide and rose in the ranks to become the COO of Cary Medical Center in 1994. [CLICK HERE]
Sean Fadale. President and CEO of Community Memorial Hospital (Hamilton, N.Y.). Mr. Fadale was named CEO of Community Memorial Hospital in 2012 after serving in management positions at Urbana, Ill.-based Carle Foundation Hospital and Warren (Pa.) General Hospital. [CLICK HERE]
Warren Forgey. President and CEO of Schneck Medical Center (Seymour, Ind.). Mr. Forgey joined Schneck Medical Center as assistant controller in 1992 and spent time as the controller, vice president and CFO before becoming the executive vice president and chief administrative and operations officer in 2012. [CLICK HERE]
Ed Harding. President and CEO of Bay Area Medical Center (Marinette, Wis.). Mr. Harding became president and CEO of Bay Area Medical Center in 2010. He spent the prior decade as president and CEO of Columbus (Wis.) Community Hospital. [CLICK HERE]
John Henderson. President and CEO of Childress (Texas) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Henderson became CEO of Childress Regional Medical Center in 2001, overseeing a 39-bed hospital operated by a county hospital district. [CLICK HERE]
Leonard Hernandez. CEO of Coffey Health System (Burlington, Kan.). Mr. Hernandez was named CEO of Coffey Health System in 2015. [CLICK HERE]
John Hill. President and CEO of Bozeman (Mont.) Health. Mr. Hill assumed the role of president and CEO of Bozeman Health, including the 86-bed Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, in August 2016, bringing more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience to the role. [CLICK HERE]
David Keith. President and CEO of McAlester (Okla.) Regional Health Center. Mr. Keith joined McAlester Regional Health Center in 2011 after spending time as COO of Bakersfield, Calif.-based Kern Medical. [CLICK HERE]
Steve Massey. President and CEO of Westfields Hospital & Clinic (New Richmond, Wis.). Mr. Massey joined Westfield Hospital & Clinic in August 2011 as president and CEO, responsible for the hospital's strategic initiatives. [CLICK HERE]
Frank May. CEO of Yampa Valley Medical Center (Steamboat Springs, Colo.). As CEO of Yampa Valley Medical Center, Mr. May led the hospital through efforts to join UCHealth in September 2017. [CLICK HERE]
Kim Miller. President and CEO of Beaver Dam (Wis.) Community Hospital. Ms. Miller oversees a 900-employee workforce as the president and CEO of Beaver Dam Community Hospital. [CLICK HERE]
Patrick O'Donnell. President and CEO of Summit Health (Chambersburg, Pa.). Mr. O'Donnell became president and CEO of Summit Health in 2013 after spending time as the health system's senior vice president and CFO. [CLICK HERE]
Vince Oliver. CEO of Island Hospital (Anacortes, Wash.). Mr. Oliver became CEO of Island Hospital in May 2000 and took the institution from losing $2 million that year to generating more than $10 million in net revenue over three years. [CLICK HERE]
Anne Platt. CEO of Sutter Amador Hospital (Jackson, Calif.). Ms. Platt spent time as CEO of Banner Health's East Morgan County Hospital in Brush, Colo., before joining Sutter Amador Hospital as CEO. [CLICK HERE]
Amy Pollard, BSN, RN. President and CEO of Noyes Health (Dansville, N.Y.). As president and CEO of Noyes Health, a member of UR Medicine, Ms. Pollard oversees a health system that includes the 67-bed Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital. [CLICK HERE]
Jayne Pope, RN. CEO of Hill Country Memorial Hospital (Fredericksburg, Texas). Ms. Pope became CEO of Hill Country Memorial in 2013 after serving as chief nursing officer in charge of all nursing activities. [CLICK HERE]
MaryEllen Pratt. CEO of St. James Parish Hospital (Lutcher, La.). As CEO, Ms. Pratt oversees St. James Parish Hospital's efforts to deliver the best patient care possible. [CLICK HERE]
Denise Ray, BSN, RN. CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (Jasper, Ga.). Ms. Ray spent time as COO of Atlanta-based Piedmont Hospital and president and chief administrative officer of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital before she became CEO. [CLICK HERE]
Steven Rose, RN. President and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services (Seaford, Del.). During his tenure as president and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services, Mr. Rose has overseen efforts to expand the health system. [CLICK HERE]
Ed Rush. President and CEO of Iredell Health System (Statesville, N.C.). Mr. Rush became president and CEO of Iredell Health System in October 2004. [CLICK HERE]
Maria Ryan, PhD, APRN. CEO of Cottage Hospital (Woodsville, N.H.). Dr. Ryan serves as the CEO of Cottage Hospital, overseeing operations at the 35-bed critical access hospital. [CLICK HERE]
Robert Schmitt. CEO of Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services (Gibson City, Ill.). Mr. Schmitt joined Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services in 2002 as CFO and was promoted to CEO in 2007. [CLICK HERE]
Rachelle H. Schultz. President and CEO of Winona (Minn.) Health. Ms. Schultz is president and CEO of Winona Health, which includes a 99-bed acute care hospital, physician clinics, a 110-bed nursing home and retail pharmacies, among other healthcare services. [CLICK HERE]
Emmett C. Schuster. President and CEO of Gibson General Hospital (Princeton, Ind.). Mr. Schuster joined Gibson General Hospital in 2007 as CEO after spending time as interim CEO at Weiser (Idaho) Memorial Hospital. [CLICK HERE]
Dennis Shelby. CEO of Wilson Medical Center (Neodesha, Kan.). As CEO of Wilson Medical Center, Mr. Shelby oversees operations at the 15-room private hospital that includes a large emergency department and two trauma rooms. [CLICK HERE]
Bryan Slaba. Administrator and CEO of Wagner Community Memorial Hospital - Avera (Sioux Falls, S.D.). As administrator and CEO of Wagner Community Memorial Hospital, Mr. Slaba oversees efforts at the 20-bed critical access hospital to provide care in a changing environment. [CLICK HERE]
Michael Stewart. CEO of Navarro Regional Hospital (Corsicana, Texas). Mr. Stewart joined Navarro Regional Hospital in April 2014 as CEO. [CLICK HERE]
Erik Thorsen. CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital (Astoria, Ore.). Mr. Thorsen became CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital in 2010 after serving as COO and CFO of the hospital. [CLICK HERE]
Russell Tippin. CEO of Permian Regional Medical Center (Andrews, Texas). As CEO of Permian Regional Medical Center, Mr. Tippin is responsible for overseeing a facility with a strong reputation in the community. [CLICK HERE]
Terri Vieira. President of Sebasticook Valley Health (Pittsfield, Maine). Ms. Vieira became president of EMHS' Sebasticook Valley Health and Greenville, Maine-based Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital in September 2017. [CLICK HERE]
Michael Wallace. President and CEO of Fort HealthCare (Fort Atkinson, Wis.). Mr. Wallace joined Fort HealthCare in 2006 and since then has implemented a vision to drive the community to be the healthiest in the state of Wisconsin.[CLICK HERE]
Louis Ward. CEO of Mayers Memorial Hospital District (Fall River Mills, Calif.). Mr. Ward became the CEO of Mayers Memorial Hospital District in November 2015 after spending time as COO and interim CEO. [CLICK HERE]
Pete Weber, RN. President and CEO of Gordon Hospital (Calhoun, Ga.). Mr. Weber joined Gordon Hospital in 2009 after serving as president and CEO of Burleson-based Texas Health Huguley, an Adventist Health System facility. [CLICK HERE]
Bernard Wheatley, DBA. CEO of Schneider Regional Medical Center (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands). Dr. Wheatley has been CEO of Schneider Regional Medical Center since April 2013, overseeing the hospital and three additional healthcare facilities. [CLICK HERE]
Mike Wiltermood. President and CEO of Enloe Medical Center (Chico, Calif.). Mr. Wiltermood became CEO of Enloe Medical Center in July 2009 after spending four months as interim CEO. [CLICK HERE]
Gerald Worrick. President and CEO of Door County Medical Center (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.). As president and CEO of Door County Medical Center, Mr. Worrick oversaw the hospital's efforts to affiliate with Hospital Sisters Health System. [CLICK HERE]