For millions of patients throughout the U.S., rural hospitals serve as the only feasible care option in their area. The CEOs who run these institutions understand that access to quality healthcare services in rural communities can make all the difference in both outcomes and overall patient experiences.
The leaders featured here are simultaneously chief executive, community anchor, workforce developer and crisis manager. They are charged with navigating razor-thin margins, persistent staffing shortages and the longstanding impact of the pandemic, all while actively driving growth, expanding services, modernizing facilities and cultivating skilled teams.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and is not an endorsement of included leaders, organizations or healthcare providers. Leaders and organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. We extend a special thank you to Rhoda Weiss for her contributions to this list. Leaders are presented in alphabetical order.
We accepted nominations for this list. Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments.
Marietta Abernathy, DNP, RN. President of Atrium Health Stanly (Albemarle, N.C.). Ms. Abernathy leads Atrium Health Stanly, capping a nearly three-decade career at Atrium Health that began at the bedside as a nurse. Under her leadership, Atrium Health Stanly became the first all-wired virtual nursing facility in rural North Carolina, supported by a $1.45 million grant from The Duke Endowment that is expected to reduce readmissions and create 50 new jobs in the county. The hospital has earned consecutive “A” Leapfrog hospital safety grades through fall 2025 and was named to Newsweek‘s “America’s Best Maternity Hospitals” 2025 list, as well as the U.S. News & World Report “high performing” rankings for maternity hospitals. Ms. Abernathy has also expanded the hospital’s community footprint, supporting more than 900 families through free mobile food pantries, enabling more than 640 individuals to access over-the-counter medications through NC MedAssist, and contributing more than $55,000 in financial support and 1,000 teammate volunteer hours to local nonprofits in 2025. Ms. Abernathy previously served as assistant vice president at Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, N.C. and Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C., and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Jose Acevedo, MD. President and CEO of UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health (Geneva, N.Y.). In his role as president and CEO of UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health, Dr. Acevedo oversees hospitals, long-term care facilities, numerous outpatient centers and over a dozen medical practices, ensuring comprehensive local access to care. Under his leadership, Geneva General Hospital earned Joint Commission certification as a primary stroke center and received gold seals of approval for disease-specific care in chest pain and joint replacement. He also spearheaded a $56 million modernization project at Geneva General, resulting in a new ICU, surgical unit, private inpatient rooms and emergency department. Dr. Acevedo also led the organization’s successful affiliation with the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center, and helped launch new specialty services including colorectal and breast surgery. He also serves as president of the Finger Lakes Health Foundation and the Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Brett Altman, DPT. CEO of Cass Health (Atlantic, Iowa). Dr. Altman oversees planning, direction, provider recruitment, coordination and overall executive leadership to support Cass Health’s mission. Thanks in large part to his leadership, the hospital has been named a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Hospital Association multiple times and has brought on over nearly a hundred new providers in less than a decade. From 2020-2023, Cass Health underwent a $20 million remodel, paid for with operating revenue without taking on any debt or touching reserves. Also in 2023, the system was awarded an $849,000 Iowa Workforce Development grant to establish a healthcare career registered apprenticeship program to assist individuals in becoming registered nurses. Cass Health has also doubled patient volume and market share during Dr. Altman’s tenure. Dr. Altman has announced his plans to retire in January 2027, which will mark a decade of leadership at Cass Health.
Jason Amrich. CEO of Gunnison (Colo.) Valley Health. As CEO of Gunnison Valley Health, Mr. Amrich leads a comprehensive rural health system in Colorado, encompassing a critical access hospital, specialty clinics, paramedic services and more than 500 employees. He has implemented groundbreaking initiatives to ensure that advanced care is available in remote communities, including an Epic EHR transition, service line expansions, surgical robotics and AI scribes. Mr. Amrich also spearheaded a $12 million campaign for a new paramedic station and introduced Lean and just culture practices to improve quality, safety and accountability. His leadership has unified orthopedic and primary care services, preserved the legacy of local providers and built lasting partnerships with community stakeholders. The system has earned numerous recognitions under his tenure, including CMS 5-star ratings, American Heart Association awards and a Baby-Friendly designation.
Ashley Bailey. CEO of Highlands Medical Center (Scottsboro, Ala.). Ms. Bailey brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to her role as CEO of Highland Medical Center. She previously led Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville, Ala. from the brink of closure to long-term sustainability, underscoring her strength in rural hospital turnarounds. At Highlands, she has maintained Joint Commission accreditation and achieved zero hospital-acquired infections in 2023. Ms. Bailey has a background in both nursing and healthcare management, combining clinical insight with strategic leadership. Her responsibilities span operations, financial performance and care quality, with a focus on aligning clinical priorities with business outcomes. She also serves on the Chamber of Commerce and the board of respiratory therapy, reinforcing her investment in regional health and economic development.
Kristi Barnd. CEO of Henry County Hospital (Napoleon, Ohio). Ms. Barnd leads Henry County Hospital, an independent community hospital. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to quality outcomes, financial sustainability and workforce development. She spearheaded the hospital’s implementation of Meditech’s cloud-based solution, improving care coordination and operational efficiency while reducing server infrastructure and freeing IT staff to focus on direct clinician support. Under her leadership, the hospital has earned 5-star ratings across multiple inpatient HCAHPS categories, the Partnership for Excellence “Silver Award” and the Ohio Department of Health’s “Healthy Worksite Award” at the gold level. Ms. Barnd has championed robust professional development programs that have yielded strong employee satisfaction and retention, recognizing that staff wellbeing is directly tied to patient care quality. She previously held roles as COO, risk manager, compliance officer and manager of quality improvement at the hospital. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and serves on the boards of both the United Way of Henry County and the Henry County Community Improvement Corporation.
Dara Bartels. CEO of Mile Bluff Medical Center (Mauston, Wis.). Ms. Bartels leads Mile Bluff Medical Center, an independent rural health system serving more than 55,000 residents across eight counties in south-central Wisconsin. She has positioned the organization as a forward-thinking competitor against large academic medical centers in Madison. Ms. Bartels piloted and implemented an AI-powered solution integrated directly into the EHR, saving clinicians more than seven minutes per patient encounter and reclaiming hundreds of administrative hours each month, with impact felt across departments including the emergency department, pharmacy, infusion centers and outpatient clinics. She has overseen the transition to a subscription-based software model and capital improvements that support the medical center’s continuum of life mission, ensuring comprehensive care from birth to end-of-life across acute, rehabilitation and specialized service lines. Under her leadership, the organization received the 2024 Chartis Center for Rural Health “Performance Leadership Award.” Ms. Bartels brings more than 20 years of healthcare finance and executive experience, including prior roles as Mile Bluff’s CFO and leadership positions at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wis., and UnityPoint Health in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Kelly Beach. Administrator and CNO for Ascension Sacred Heart (Gulf Port St. Joe, Fla.). Since taking on the dual role of administrator and CNO at Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf in 2021, Ms. Beach has led significant operational and clinical improvements at the rural Florida hospital. Under her leadership, the hospital earned the 2024 “Performance Leadership Award” by The Chartis Center for Rural Health in all three categories: quality, outcomes and patient perspective, making it the only hospital in the state to do so. She has expanded surgical capacity by recruiting a general surgeon and upgrading equipment, all while maintaining zero surgical site infections and hospital-acquired conditions for over five years. Ms. Beach also developed a pipeline program with local high school students, offering certifications in phlebotomy and electrocardiograms before graduation. She also helped secure over $1 million in state grants, raised hundreds of thousands for breast cancer initiatives, and oversaw the implementation of a new 3D mammography unit and the construction of a women’s center.
Jason Beck. President and CEO of Columbus Regional Healthcare System (Whiteville, N.C.). Mr. Beck leads Columbus Regional Healthcare System, managed by Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health, bringing more than two decades of healthcare experience that began as a respiratory therapist and has since driven measurable operational and clinical transformation in the rural county. Under his leadership, the organization became the region’s first accredited center of excellence in robotics, doubled operating revenues and increased surgical volumes by more than 60%. Mr. Beck has also demonstrated steady leadership under pressure, serving as incident commander through multiple hurricanes and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, maintaining patient safety and workforce support during the organization’s most challenging moments. Columbus Regional earned the 2025 American Heart Association “Get With the Guidelines Rural Stroke Gold” designation under his tenure. Mr. Beck previously served as the organization’s COO and interim CEO before being named permanently to the role.
Justin Benfield. CEO of Prisma Health Laurens County Hospital (Clinton, S.C.) and Prisma Health Hillcrest Hospital (Simpsonville, S.C.). Mr. Benfield has led Prisma Health Laurens County Hospital since 2017, with his responsibilities expanded in 2023 to include Prisma Health Hillcrest Hospital. Since then, he has driven quality improvements, service line growth and workforce development across both facilities. In 2024 and 2025, Mr. Benfield worked alongside elected officials and community leaders to secure a $1 million grant from the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, part of a nearly $4 million statewide award, to expand rural healthcare access in Laurens County. He also serves as Prisma Health’s executive lead for its federally designated rural health clinics and systemwide robotics committee. Under his leadership, Laurens County Hospital has earned Leapfrog straight “A” grades, “Top Teaching Hospital” recognition and a Leapfrog “Top Hospital” designation for 2025, while Hillcrest Hospital has been ranked among the best hospitals in South Carolina by U.S. News and World Report and earned “Pathway to Excellence” designation, Vizient “Top Performer” recognition and Healthgrades specialty excellence awards for gastrointestinal care. Mr. Benfield has championed service line expansions including cardiology, sports medicine, orthopedic surgery and podiatry at Laurens and expanded gastrointestinal services at Hillcrest, while reducing reliance on travel nursing through culture and retention initiatives. Mr. Benfield was named among the “Top 25 Executives of South Carolina” by C-Suite Spotlight, which is now called Key Executives, in 2023. Previously, he held leadership roles in invasive cardiology and physician group operations at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, S.C. and the University Hospital in Augusta, Ga.
Doug Bentz. CEO of Roane General Hospital (Spencer, W.Va.). Mr. Bentz has led Roane General Hospital for 25 years, guiding the rural health system through major expansions and a transformative renovation completed in 2021 that established a one-stop shop for community care, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for specialized care. Mr. Bentz pioneered a shift from reactive sick care to proactive wellness through his “Prescription for Your Health” program, a free initiative built on medical planning, nutritional education and guided medical fitness that helped roughly 300 participants collectively lose more than 1,000 pounds of body fat in under a year. He further expanded these efforts by securing a $250,000 grant to launch a “Food is Medicine” initiative providing culinary education and healthy groceries to participants weekly. Under his leadership, the hospital’s long-term care facility earned a CMS 5-star rating, and Roane General received the West Virginia “Community Star Award for Rural Health Excellence” for 2025. Mr. Bentz currently serves as chair of the West Virginia Hospital Association quality committee and as an at-large member of the association. He was named the American College of Healthcare Executives “Young Healthcare Executive of the Year” in 2004.
Mark Boucot. President and CEO of Garrett Regional Medical Center (Oakland, Md.). Mr. Boucot, president and CEO of Garrett Regional Medical Center, has over 30 years of healthcare experience. He has been serving the medical center’s 55-inpatient bed facility since 2013. The medical center has more than 500 team members. Under Mr. Boucot’s direction, the medical center has been named a two-time top 20 rural and community hospital. Mr. Boucot is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Jeremy Bradford. President and CEO of Calvert Health System (Prince Fredrick, Md.). Mr. Bradford became president and CEO of CalvertHealth in 2023, bringing over two decades of experience across hospital, hospice and outpatient operations. Since assuming leadership, he launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan, alongside a new mission, vision and core values developed with input from over 500 stakeholders and community members. Mr. Bradford previously held senior leadership roles at St. Louis-based SSM Health and Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, Fla. He has also served on boards in both Illinois and Maryland. Under his leadership, CalvertHealth has earned national recognition for critical care, oncology and stroke care, as well as The Joint Commission’s gold seal of approval. He was also a 2024 participant in the nonprofit Leadership Southern Maryland.
Steven J. Brockman-Weber, DNP, RN. President of Ascension Seton Northwest, Southwest, Shoal Creek (Austin, Texas), Highland Lakes (Burnet, Texas), Edgar B. Davis (Luling, Texas) and Smithville (Texas) Hospitals. Dr. Brockman-Weber is president of six rural hospital sites within the Ascension Texas market. He has launched robotics programs at Ascension Seton Highland Lakes and Southwest hospitals, helping drive innovation in rural surgical services. His hospitals consistently earn accolades both statewide and nationally, for excellence in specific procedures and for exceptional patient experience. In addition to executive leadership, Dr. Brockman-Weber has held numerous influential roles in national nursing and healthcare leadership organizations, including the American Nurses Association, the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Texas Organization of Nursing Leaders, among others.
Joseph “Scott” Broome. CEO of MUSC Health Catawba Division (Charleston, S.C.). Mr. Broome is CEO of MUSC Health’s Catawba Division, where he provides executive leadership over board collaboration, strategic direction, profit and loss management, development, and recruitment and retainment. His role entails oversight of MUSC Lancaster (S.C.) Hospital and MUSC Chester (S.C.) Medical Center. His work has helped to retain staff, enhance patient satisfaction, improve performance quality and grow service lines. Thanks to expanded service lines, critically ill patients are able to stay closer to home and achieve exceptional clinical outcomes.
Chad Brown. President of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center (North Wilkesboro, N.C.) and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Lexington (N.C.) Medical Center. Mr. Brown has served as a rural hospital CEO or president since 2011. Currently, he leads both Wilkes Medical Center and Lexington Medical Center, where he focuses on expanding access to high-quality care in underserved communities. Mr. Brown has championed programs including a rural obstetrics program, behavioral health peer support specialists, virtual health, specialty consults, new cancer services and clinical trials, all of which are delivered closer to home for rural patients. He has also built robust workforce development pipelines through partnerships with local community colleges, offering career-pathway programs, clinical rotations, and preceptorships designed to keep local residents trained and employed in their own communities. Under his leadership, Wilkes Medical Center earned the Leapfrog “Top Rural Hospital” designation, and multiple facilities achieved EPA “Energy Star” certification, placing them in the top 25% of buildings nationwide. Prior to joining Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Mr. Brown served as CEO of Duke LifePoint—Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro, N.C. He holds board appointments with the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, the Wilkes and Lexington chambers of commerce and the Davie Community Foundation.
Cheryl Brown. CEO of Henderson (Neb.) Health Care Services. Ms. Brown has served as the CEO of Henderson Health Care Services since 2009. The institution comprises two rural health clinics, a 13-bed critical access hospital, various specialty clinics, diagnostic and laboratory services, long-term and assisted living facilities and a surgical suite.
Doris Brown. CEO of Osborne (Kan.) County Memorial Hospital. Ms. Brown joined Osborne County Memorial Hospital in 2022. Prior, she was CEO of Gordon (Neb.) Memorial District Hospital for four years. She provides leadership for Osborne County Memorial Hospital’s five family medicine providers, as well as six specialists who also come to Osborne. The hospital is governed by a five-member board of directors appointed by the Osborne County Commissioners.
Dennis Campbell, RN. President of ECU Health Beaufort Hospital (Washington, N.C.). Mr. Campbell is president of ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, a 142-bed facility and home to Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center. He has improved employee, physician and provider satisfaction and retention through a collaborative leadership approach focused on culture and connection. In 2024, he simultaneously served as interim president of ECU Health North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., successfully leading both hospitals during a critical transition. As a board member for Beaufort County Community College and the Eastern Area Health Education Center, he supports local education and health workforce pipelines. With a background in nursing and executive healthcare administration, he brings both clinical understanding and operational strategy to his leadership.
Matt Campion. Administrator of Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital (Miller, S.D.). Mr. Campion has served as administrator and interim CEO for Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital since July 2022. He bolstered his skills for the role through Avera’s administrative fellowship program before stepping into the role. The rural hospital has 25 staffed beds and newly renovated same-day surgery and recovery rooms.
Patrick A. Charmel. President and CEO of Griffin Health (Derby, Conn.). Mr. Charmel is president and CEO of rural health system Griffin Health, transforming it into a leader in person-centered care. He led the 160-bed Griffin Hospital, the system’s flagship, in dramatically reducing patient wait times in the wound healing center, in maintaining exceptional outcomes and in receiving gold certification for excellence in person-centered care from Planetree International. Mr. Charmel also champions community wellness, spearheading initiatives to address social determinants of health including food access, housing and economic stability. As chairman of Planetree, he supports over 800 care sites globally in their pursuit of patient empowerment and humanistic care. He also chairs the Value Care Alliance of Connecticut, promoting collaborative, efficient, high-quality healthcare statewide. He is also a published author and decorated industry leader in rural and community health.
Chris Clark, DO. President of AHN Grove City (Pa.) Hospital. A practicing family physician with years of leadership experience across Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network, Dr. Clark assumed the role of president of AHN Grove City Hospital in 2023. Among other roles, he has previously served as senior vice president of medical affairs, chief quality officer and director of medical education. In his current role, he leads the rural acute care facility, as well as its outpatient clinics and lab sites. Dr. Clark has been focusing on hospital improvement, following a 2022 plan to invest $20 million into an emergency room expansion, Epic EHR integration and more. Dr. Clark also serves as president of AHN Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, Pa.
Carl Cline. President and Administrator of Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital (Rocky Mount, Va.). Mr. Cline leads Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, a 37-bed community hospital in rural Virginia. During his tenure, he has overseen significant facility modernization, service expansion and sustained quality improvement. Under his leadership, the hospital opened a new pediatric clinic, expanded neurology services from one exam room to four, completed major inpatient renovations and added a new administrative building with expanded parking. The hospital has earned a Leapfrog “A” grade, a CMS 4-star rating, and recognition by Forbes as one of “America’s Top Hospitals” for 2026. Mr. Cline has been a registered nurse since 1989, bringing clinical experience from the emergency department and trauma center at Carilion Roanoke (Va.) Memorial Hospital, flight nursing with Carilion Life-Guard and neuroscience service line leadership at Centra Health in Lynchburg, Va. In addition to his hospital leadership, he oversees police, security, guest services, environment of care, safety and emergency management for Carilion Clinic. He previously served as senior director of nursing at the hospital before ascending to his current role.
Will Cook. President and CEO at Vail (Colo.) Health. Mr. Cook oversees the execution of the system’s strategic pillars of affordability, accessibility, population health and sustainability to forward Vail Health’s mission of elevating health across rural mountain communities. During his tenure as president and CEO, he has focused on expanding access to high-quality, affordable patient care, led the integration of primary and specialty care with the addition of Colorado Mountain Medical, oversaw the completion of a $350 million hospital renovation, and expanded operations in neighboring counties, including the opening of two new ambulatory surgery centers and a comprehensive outpatient medical center. He is passionate about addressing the community’s behavioral health crisis, leading the launch of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center and the opening of both an outpatient behavioral health clinic and a 28-bed inpatient behavioral health hospital.
Teresa Cornelius, DNP, RN. Chief Administrative Officer of HSHS Holy Family Hospital (Greenville, Ill.) and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland (Highland, Ill.). Dr. Cornelius oversees both HSHS Holy Family Hospital, a 28-bed rural hospital, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, a 25-bed critical access hospital. She brings 19 years of progressive leadership experience at HSHS to her role as chief administrative officer. Dr. Cornelius began her career at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland in 2006 as a registered nurse and advanced through charge nurse, nurse manager, director, COO and CNO roles before serving as interim CEO prior to her appointment to her current role in June 2024. She is particularly passionate about substance use disorder recovery, donating her time to organizations including the Partnership for Drug-Free Communities, the Metro East Recovery Council and the Bond County Recovery Council. She also supports Overdose Awareness Days and safe drug disposal programs at both hospitals. Under her leadership, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland earned the 2023 Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network “Community Project Award” for its work reducing overdoses and expanding resources for those struggling with substance use disorder. The hospital has also received CMS 5-star ratings for nurse communication, cleanliness and low catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates. Dr. Cornelius also led HSHS Holy Family Hospital through a reimagining of its inpatient floors and supported the hospital’s achievement of Joint Commission accreditation in 2023.
Randall Dauby. CEO of Pinckneyville (Ill.) Community Hospital District. Mr. Dauby leads a $36 million healthcare organization consisting of a critical access hospital, rural health clinic, senior life behavioral program and a rehabilitation and fitness center. He has served in rural healthcare leadership throughout his entire career and understands the fragile environment of rural health. He is constantly advocating for the needs of rural healthcare providers near and far. He has been essential to growing services at Pinckneyville Community Hospital and oversaw a $12 million expansion project there.
Paulette Davidson. President and CEO of Monument Health (Rapid City, S.D.). Ms. Davidson has been with Monument Health since 2015. She was previously the health system’s COO. She is credited with initiating a $350 million project to expand several services at the hospital, including primary care, emergency services and hospital bed capacity.
Susan Davila. CEO of Desert View Hospital (Pahrump, Nev.). Ms. Davila leads Desert View Hospital, a rural critical access hospital in Nevada, bringing more than 40 years of healthcare operations experience to a challenging environment defined by workforce shortages, shifting reimbursement models, and the complex needs of a largely rural and aging population. Under her leadership, the hospital has maintained financial stability and regulatory compliance while strengthening revenue cycle performance, reducing clinical staff turnover and building a leadership team capable of managing the unique demands of rural critical access care. Ms. Davila has built a strong record of engagement with state government officials, working directly with legislators, regulators and state health agencies to ensure rural hospital perspectives are reflected in policy decisions and funding discussions. She has also deepened the hospital’s community ties through extensive nonprofit leadership, serving as board president of Nevada Outreach, No To Abuse and Advocates for Children of Rural Nevada, which are organizations providing crisis intervention, domestic violence support and advocacy for abused children in foster care. The hospital received the “Corporate Stewardship Award” from the Nye Communities Coalition in recognition of its community contributions.
William Davis. Regional President for Deaconess Illinois. Mr. Davis serves as Illinois region president for Deaconess, overseeing strategic and operational functions. He has implemented systemwide “unreasonable hospitality” initiatives to elevate patient experience and oversaw the go-live of critical IT systems including Epic EHR and Pyxis, significantly enhancing clinical operations. He has expanded service lines, most notably by introducing dialysis and preparing a neuro unit launch, while also modernizing equipment across multiple sites ranging from imaging tools in cath labs to surgical video towers and chemistry analyzers. Mr. Davis’s influence extends beyond hospital walls through his active civic engagement, including board roles with the Illinois Hospital Association, American Red Cross of Illinois and more. Recognized for his contributions, he recently received the “President’s Award” from Rend Lake College Foundation and helped secure a 4-star patient survey rating from CMS at Deaconess Illinois Crossroads.
Mike Delfs. President and CEO of Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Delfs serves as president and CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital in a rural area. He has 30 years of experience in healthcare. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Delfs held leadership roles, including director, COO and CEO, at various independent hospitals and large integrated health systems. He also taught leadership coursework at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Robyn Dunckhorst, BSN, RN. CEO of Humboldt General Hospital (Winnemucca, Nev.). As the sole direct employee of the board of trustees at Humboldt General Hospital, Ms. Dunckhorst implements policies directed by the board. She recommends financial, legislative and administrative initiatives to the hospital to maintain and enhance existing service lines and add new lines. She coordinates staff concerns and recommendations with the board and handles disciplinary matters. She was recently invited to appear before a group of state legislators to discuss and recommend actions regarding concerns being considered in the upcoming, biennial legislative session. This year, Ms. Dunckhorst earned the “25-Year Service Award” at the hospital’s Employee Milestone Celebration.
Dar Elbert. CEO of Kossuth Regional Health Center (Algona, Iowa). Ms. Elbert has been with Kossuth Regional Health Center since 1987. She oversees an organization with a 25-bed critical access hospital, two family medicine clinics, home care, hospice and public health nursing agencies. She is also responsible for overseeing 250 staff members.
Chris Ellington. President and CEO of UNC Health Southeastern (Lumberton, N.C.). Since 2021, Mr. Ellington has served as president and CEO of UNC Health Southeastern, a health system that sees 13,000 inpatients and 60,000 emergency patients each year. UNC Health Southeastern is the only hospital in rural Robeson County. Under his leadership, the organization has seen significant improvements in publicly reported quality scores, including improved patient experience scores. Mr. Ellington spearheaded a $40 million investment in women’s and children’s health services, resulting in the first new labor and delivery unit with NICU in the county in decades. He also enhanced the organization’s visibility and community engagement through a media campaign and initiatives like an annual 5K health event. His tenure has stabilized financial outcomes, expanded medical education funding and strengthened community partnerships. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health and Hazard, Ky.-based Appalachian Regional Healthcare.
Soniya Fidler. President of UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center (Steamboat Springs, Colo.). As president of UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, Ms. Fidler is responsible for the long and short-term strategic planning of the hospital, leading strategic, growth and operational objectives on a broad basis across hospital operations. She leverages her expertise and administrative knowledge to facilitate, measure, evaluate and interpret the needs of patients and performance of staff while directing activities accordingly. She has led several major projects for the hospital including a partnership with Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute to create Steamboat Surgery Center. Ms. Fidler has also helped develop a relationship with Old Town Hot Springs to benefit patients and the community as well as a new partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield that enabled a more affordable insurance plan. She also was instrumental in cementing a longtime partnership with Steamboat Resort with the opening of an urgent care clinic at the base of the ski mountain.
Patricia Finn. CEO of Fulton County Health Center (Wauseon, Ohio). Ms. Finn has led Fulton County Health Center as CEO since 2012, working to keep the independent, nonprofit critical access hospital focused on its local community while building regional collaborations to strengthen rural healthcare across Ohio. In 2024, she spearheaded the establishment of the FCHC Foundation, a cornerstone of the hospital’s long-term strategic plan to improve overall community health. These efforts have already funded the expansion and reopening of the hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center, doubling its size, adding a second catheterization lab and enabling 24/7 level 2 cardiac intervention services. Ms. Finn joined the Ohio High Value Network, a consortium of 25 rural hospitals caring for more than 2.5 million patients, to share best practices and strengthen rural healthcare services statewide. She currently serves as chair of the board of trustees for the Ohio Hospital Association and as vice president of the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation board of directors. Under her leadership, the health center received the 2024 “Cancer Screening Excellence Award” from the Ohio Department of Health and the 2024 “Healthy Worksite Gold Level” designation from the Healthy Business Council of Ohio. Ms. Finn began her career at Fulton County Health Center in 1983 and has held roles across medical records, quality assurance, health information and administration.
Conner Fiscarelli. CEO of Gove County Medical Center (Quinter, Kan.). Since August 2021, Mr. Fiscarelli has helmed Gove County Medical Center. He is in charge of managing all workflows in the practice and developing the skilled nursing service line. Having grown up in a rural area, his career has revolved around serving rural areas as an executive team member. Most recently, he served as senior director of skilled nursing and long-term care services at Rapid City, S.D.-based Monument Health.
Lukas Fischer. CEO of Linton (N.D.) Regional Medical Center and South Central Health (Wishek, N.D.). Mr. Fischer has nearly two decades of healthcare experience and has previously held COO and CNO roles. As CEO, he oversees hospitals and rural health clinics. In his current role, he has overseen hospital renovations, along with expansions of the laboratory department and the additions of negative pressure rooms to the MedSurg and emergency departments. During his tenure, his facilities have expanded multiple service lines and increased quality.
Eric Fish, MD. President and CEO of Schneck Medical Center (Seymour, Ind.). Since September 2020, Dr. Fish has led a team of 1,000 employees at Schneck Medical Center. He also serves as president of the Health Development Corporation and as president of Coordinated Health, wholly owned subsidiaries of the medical center. He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. After joining the medical center in 2005, he founded Schneck Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2006.
William Flattery. CEO of Carilion New River Valley Medical Center (Christiansburg, Va.) and Vice President of Carilion Clinic Western Region (Roanoke, Va.). Mr. Flattery oversees Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, a 110-bed acute care facility, which offers modern medical operating rooms, state of the art technology like advanced imaging and robotic surgery, and multiple surgical and medical specialties. He first joined Carilion in 2007, bringing extensive healthcare management experience. He also oversees many primary care sites, helping to ensure rural residents have local access to highly trained specialists. Mr. Flattery regularly works with Carilion’s nearby academic partners, Virginia Tech, Radford University and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, to provide and maintain care. The medical center also helps to provide specialty care to Virginia Tech and Radford athletes.
Casey Fleckenstein. CEO of Monroe County Hospital (Forsyth, Ga.). Ms. Fleckenstein leads Monroe County Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in rural Georgia, boasting more than 20 years with the organization. She first joined the hospital as a high school student completing clinical rotations. Ms. Fleckenstein has since held roles spanning bedside nursing, emergency management, case management and CNO before ascending to CEO, giving her a ground-up understanding of the hospital’s clinical and operational needs. Under her leadership, the hospital completed a soft reopening of its operating room in 2025 to take on cardiac procedures ahead of planned renovations and a full reopening in 2026, significantly grew its swing bed program in 2024, and expanded specialty care offerings in its medical office suites to keep services local for a rapidly growing community. In 2025, Monroe County Hospital completed participation requirements in the Kids Alliance for Better Care, a collaborative with Mercer University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta that equips rural hospitals to better care for pediatric patients. The hospital was named “Hospital of the Year” by Hometown Health. Ms. Fleckenstein serves on the boards of the Forsyth-Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the Monroe County College and Career Academy.
Estevan Garcia, MD, DrPH. President and CEO of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (Bennington). Dr. Garcia leads Southwestern Vermont Health Care, a rural $220 million integrated delivery system, bringing nearly 30 years of clinical practice and an extensive record of healthcare leadership across public health, higher education and health system settings. A board-certified pediatrician and pediatric emergency medicine specialist, Dr. Garcia previously served as chief medical officer of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, where he focused on improving statewide pediatric acute care capacity, ensuring access to reproductive care and leading clinical services across four public health hospitals. Before joining Southwestern Vermont Health Care, he served as chief health and wellness officer for Dartmouth College. Dr. Garcia has held senior leadership positions across community, academic and integrated delivery system environments. He has served on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s national commission to transform public health data systems and on the boards of the Child Advocacy Center of Northampton, Mass., and GLMA, the nation’s oldest and largest association of LGBTQ+ and allied health professionals.
Laura T. Gentry, BSN, RN. CEO of Atrium Health Navicent Peach (Byron, Ga.) and Vice President of Georgia Primary Care at Advocate Health (Charlotte, N.C.). Ms. Gentry leads Atrium Health Navicent Peach, a critical access hospital serving Peach County and surrounding communities in central Georgia, while also serving as Atrium Health’s Georgia vice president for primary care. Under her leadership, the hospital raised nearly $1 million through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program in 2025, which is a record high for the facility and provides critical funding to sustain and reinvest in rural patient care. Ms. Gentry has driven strong quality outcomes, including more than one year without a hospital-acquired infection and a likelihood-to-recommend score that exceeds both state and national averages. She has expanded community health access through school-based virtual care partnerships with Peach County Schools and on-campus medical and behavioral health services at Fort Valley State University. The hospital earned the Emergency Nurses Association “Lantern Award” in 2025, the American Nurses Credentialing Center “Pathways to Excellence” designation in 2024, and second place in the critical access hospitals category at the Georgia Hospital Association “Patient Safety and Quality Awards” for 2026. Ms. Gentry serves on the Georgia Hospital Association Rural Hospital board and holds additional board roles with Central Georgia Technical College and Peach County High School’s career, technical and agriculture education program. She previously served as Atrium Health Navicent Peach’s CNO when it was called Medical Center of Peach County.
Ben Gill. President and CEO of Southern Ohio Medical Center (Portsmouth, Ohio). Since 2020, Mr. Gill has served as president and CEO of Southern Ohio Medical Center, a 211-bed independent nonprofit hospital serving a rural region of approximately 275,000 people near the Kentucky border. Under his leadership, the medical center has maintained a positive operating margin for nearly 30 consecutive years. The medical center also received consecutive “A” hospital safety grades from The Leapfrog Group, most recently in November 2025, along with the Healthgrades “Outstanding Patient Experience Award” in 2025. Mr. Gill has driven notable operational and technological advancements, including implementing robotic surgery, introducing an automated pharmacy checking system that made it the first hospital in Ohio to use the technology, and constructing a new multispecialty facility in Raceland, Ky. that’s scheduled to open in 2026. He serves as chair-elect of the Ohio Hospital Association board of directors and as a board member of the Ohio High Value Network, advocating for the coexistence of competition and collaboration among rural providers. Mr. Gill began his career at the medical center in 2001 as a physician office manager and rose through successive leadership roles before assuming the president and CEO position.
Austin Gillard. CEO of Clay County Medical Center (Clay Center, Kan.). Since 2015, Mr. Gillard has led Clay County Medical Center, a 25 bed critical access hospital that spans five rural health clinics and employs over 300 staff members across 30 departments. He has led the medical center through its acquisition of additional rural health clinics, family practice physicians and advanced practitioners. Before coming to Clay County, Mr. Gillard was CEO of Genoa (Neb.) Medical Facilities.
Tina Gillespie. CEO of Harrison County Community Hospital (Bethany, Mo.). Ms. Gillespie has led Harrison County Community Hospital for more than 20 years, building a record of fiscal stewardship, quality improvement and community-centered care in northwest Missouri. Under her leadership, the hospital was recognized as a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” by the Chartis Group in 2023 and received the 2024 “Compass Honor” from the Missouri Hospital Association. Ms. Gillespie is currently overseeing the construction of a new 73,000-square-foot medical center designed to replace the hospital’s nearly 70-year-old facility, with completion expected around June 2026. She also expanded community access in 2025 with the opening of a rural health clinic in Pattonsburg, Mo. Beyond the hospital, Ms. Gillespie serves as treasurer of the Missouri Hospital Association board of trustees, chairperson of the Hospital Association Trust and a director on the Healthcare Services Group board. She previously held roles as COO and CFO at Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo.
Ruth Glaser. President of Novant Health Pender Medical Center (Burgaw, N.C.). Ms. Glaser serves as president of Novant Health Pender Medical Center, a 25-bed, federally designated critical access hospital serving rural communities along North Carolina’s coast. She has held the role for 15 years, building a career and personal life rooted in the very community she leads. Under her leadership, the hospital earned the 2023 Chartis Center for Rural Health “Performance Leadership Award” for excellence in outcomes and achieved ISO 9001 quality management system certification through DNV. Ms. Glaser is currently guiding a $50 million transformation of Pender Medical Center into a community hospital, overseeing extensive renovations that culminated in a grand reopening in 2025, along with the 2024 addition of a new outpatient infusion center expanding access to IV treatments for chronic conditions. In 2025, she led the development of Novant Health’s first rural family medicine residency in partnership with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. and other regional partners, securing more than $2 million in grants to launch the program and expand Atkinson, N.C.-based Black River Health Services, thus creating the region’s first rural family medicine interprofessional training site in Burgaw, N.C. Ms. Glaser also oversees a comprehensive suite of mobile integrated health services, including emergency medical services, AirLink, VitaLink and community paramedics, delivering critical care and transport to thousands of patients annually. She previously served as senior vice president and COO at Laurinburg, N.C.-based Scotland Health and has held past leadership roles with the Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Burgaw.
Lari Gooding. CEO of Allendale County Hospital (Fairfax, S.C.). Since January 2015, Mr. Gooding has led the 25-bed critical access Allendale County Hospital, as well as a 44-bed skilled nursing center and two rural health clinics. He wants to provide the region with the best care, aided by advances in medicine and technology. Prior to becoming CEO of Allendale County Hospital, Mr. Gooding held several administrator positions at different health systems.
Jill Graziano, BSN, RN. President and COO of United Memorial Medical Center (Batavia, N.Y.). Ms. Graziano serves as president and COO of United Memorial Medical Center, a community hospital serving Genesee County and surrounding rural communities in western New York, while concurrently holding the same role at Unity Hospital within the Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health system. A registered nurse by training, Ms. Graziano brings more than a decade of senior executive experience within Rochester Regional Health, including service as senior vice president overseeing extended care, pharmacy and care management operations. At United Memorial Medical Center, her leadership is focused on strengthening operational performance, advancing integration with system resources and improving access to high-quality care for rural communities in western New York. The hospital received the 2025 “Lantern Award for Excellence in Emergency Medicine” from the Emergency Nurses Association, and Rochester Regional Health has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare” in 2025 and “America’s Greatest Workplace for Culture, Belonging and Community” in 2026.
Dan Grigg. CEO of Wallowa Memorial Hospital (Enterprise, Ore.). Mr. Grigg took on the CEO role at the 25-bed critical access hospital and level 4 trauma center in September 2023. He brings deep experience at both large and small hospitals. Prior to his current role, he was the CEO of small Oregon hospitals.
Adam Groshans. President of Mercy Health–Springfield (Ohio) Market. Mr. Groshans is market president for Bon Secours Mercy Health’s Springfield Market, which includes acute care hospitals in two counties and health services in two more counties. He took on his current role in 2019 and has since spearheaded the growth of several service lines, including interventional neurology, rheumatology, a midwife program and maternal fetal medicine program. He also addresses social determinants of health through initiatives like a local housing project, small business loan funding, and the discounted sale of a Mercy Health space to facilitate the creation of a mental health and drug treatment center. Prior to joining the Mercy system, he served on the administrative leadership team at Lebanon, Tenn.-based Tennova Healthcare.
Jason Harrington. President and CEO of Lakes Regional Healthcare (Spirit Lake, Iowa). Mr. Harrington has held leadership positions in healthcare since 1999, beginning with a more than seven-year tenure at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. He has served as president and CEO of Lakes Regional for over a decade. Mr. Harrington has also taught at Colorado Springs-based Colorado Technical University as an adjunct associate professor.
Amy Hart. CEO of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (Crosby, Minn.). Ms. Hart leads Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, a nationally recognized critical access hospital generating more than $190 million in annual net revenue and employing more than 1,000 staff members in rural Minnesota. Under her leadership, the medical center has earned recognition on Newsweek‘s 2025 “Best Hospitals in the Nation” list, a “high performing” rating from U.S. News & World Report, and designation as a center of excellence from DNV, making it Minnesota’s first and only critical access hospital certified in four orthopedic programs. Ms. Hart led the development and execution of $100 million in construction projects, including a 100,000-square-foot surgical and clinical facility and two off-site facilities, all completed on time and under budget, while introducing more than 10 specialty service lines and driving a 40% revenue increase from 2013 to 2020. Her process improvements in joint replacement reduced length of stay from 2.1 days to 17 hours, and she spearheaded the “Resumption of Surgery” committee during the Covid-19 pandemic, recovering 90% of pre-pandemic surgical volumes within six weeks. Employee engagement has grown more than 50 percentage points during her tenure as well. Ms. Hart previously served as the medical center’s COO and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Brian Harvill. President at ECU Health Chowan, Bertie and Roanoke-Chowan Hospitals (Edenton, Windsor and Ahoskie, N.C.). Mr. Harvill became president of ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in September 2023 after serving as interim president since March. In addition, he continues to serve as president for ECU Health Chowan and Bertie Hospitals. Mr. Harvill has served in leadership roles at ECU Health for over a decade.
Jonathan Hatfield. CEO of Klickitat Valley Health (Goldendale, Wash.). Mr. Hatfield leads Klickitat Valley Health, a rural critical access hospital, having risen from a janitor at the organization to its chief executive. Mr. Hatfield spearheaded the rapid implementation of a new cloud-based EHR platform and data center in just seven months, consolidating disparate systems onto a single platform and delivering significant gains in operational agility, cybersecurity, and clinician and patient satisfaction. He also implemented AI-driven automation for denials management, eligibility checks and remittance posting, achieving a 400% return on investment and recovering more than $1 million annually, while shifting the organizational culture toward employee-driven innovation. Mr. Hatfield is a prominent advocate for rural healthcare sustainability, engaging legislative representatives through the Washington State Hospital Association’s public policy committee on Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement reform. He serves on the board of the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts and the executive boards of The Rural Collaborative and the Rural Health Enterprise. The hospital received a “Best Regional Hospitals” designation from U.S. News & World Report in 2025.
Martha Henley. CEO of Unity Medical Center (Manchester, Tenn.). Ms. Henley leads Unity Medical Center, a rural community hospital serving a medically underserved population. She has focused on stabilizing operations, strengthening core services and positioning the hospital for long-term sustainability. Under her leadership, Unity Medical Center earned a CMS overall hospital quality 5-star rating, Chartis “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital” recognition and a Healthgrades “Outstanding Patient Experience Award.” Ms. Henley is recognized for her steady, decisive leadership style and her ability to align operational priorities with community needs, overseeing strategic investments in key service lines to ensure patients can access essential care close to home. She serves as the primary executive liaison to the hospital’s governing board, regulators and community partners, and has built a reputation for communicating complex healthcare challenges with clarity and credibility. Beyond Unity Medical Center, Ms. Henley actively contributes to statewide and national discussions on rural hospital sustainability, reimbursement and access, ensuring rural perspectives are represented in broader healthcare policy conversations. She also serves as COO of Java Medical Group, a hospital management company.
Eric Heupel. CEO of Ashley (N.D.) Medical Center. Ashley Medical Center is a critical access hospital and skilled nursing facility, where Mr. Heupel leads strategic, financial and clinical operations as its CEO. Under his leadership, the organization has earned key designations, including acute stroke ready status, trauma 5 designation, and a “Bronze Quality Award” for excellence in skilled nursing care from Agency for Health Care Administration/National Center for Assisted Living. He has driven a major financial turnaround by boosting revenue and cutting operational costs through contract renegotiations and improved revenue cycle management. He has also led upgrades to clinical technology and facilities, while launching new community-focused services like eye care and chiropractic care. Notably, Mr. Heupel remains hands-on in care delivery, serving as an on-call paramedic 5 to 6 days a week.
Jeremiah “JJ” J. Hodshire. President and CEO of Hillsdale (Mich.) Hospital. Mr. Hodshire serves as the leader of Hillsdale Hospital, defining strategic goals and plans to support the institution’s philosophy and general objectives. He initiates policies and procedures to achieve the hospital’s aims, objectives and programs. In part due to his leadership, Hillsdale Hospital has previously received the “Performance Leadership Award” from The Chartis Center for Rural Health for and has been named a “Healthcare Top Workplace” by Energage.
Jamie Houseman. President of Mercy Health–Urbana (Ohio) Hospital. Known for her hands-on leadership, Ms. Houseman stepped into frontline roles during the Covid-19 pandemic and continues to foster a culture of teamwork and recognition through her current position as president. Under her leadership, Urbana Hospital secured key funding for initiatives like a redesigned radiology department and community paramedicine program, and completed major upgrades including a new hospital entrance. The hospital achieved a 5-star CMS rating in 2026 for the second year in a row. Ms. Houseman’s community involvement includes previously serving as president of the Urbana Rotary Club and holding leadership roles with several local nonprofits.
Loy Howard. President and CEO of Tanner Health System (Carrollton, Ga.). Mr. Howard serves as president and CEO of Tanner Health System, a rural health system spanning five hospitals. He oversees strategic goals and daily operations, expands clinical services, and grows the health system’s hospitals. Mr. Howard also established and leads Tanner Medical Group, which has grown into one of metro Atlanta’s largest multispecialty physician groups. He currently serves on the board for Tanner Health System, the Heard County Water Authority and the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, while serving as chair of economic development organization Carroll Tomorrow.
Carrie Jankowski. President of Mercy Health–Allen Hospital (Oberlin, Ohio). Ms. Jankowski has served Mercy Health for nearly 30 years, starting in 1997 as a radiology technician. She rose through the ranks, eventually becoming vice president of ancillary and support before being appointed to her current role as president of Allen Hospital in 2021. Her leadership has driven significant improvement in Allen Hospital’s quality, culture and financial performance. Ms. Jankowski is responsible for strategic leadership and growth of the hospital, executing the organization’s strategic plan and developing growth opportunities to expand the hospital’s presence within the Oberlin community. She also serves on the American Heart Association’s board of directors.
Arlan Johnson. CEO of Howard County Medical Center (St. Paul, Neb.). Mr. Johnson began his career at Howard County Medical Center in 2007 as a clinic director. After three years, he was promoted to CEO. Prior to joining the staff at HCMC, he worked in the banking industry for more than 15 years. The hospital is a 10-bed critical access hospital.
Jeremy Jones. CEO of Arbuckle Memorial Hospital (Sulphur, Okla.). Since 2017, Mr. Jones has led Arbuckle Memorial Hospital, a rural critical access hospital, overseeing a period of sustained financial strength and strategic expansion in a challenging rural healthcare environment. Under his leadership, the hospital achieved a total margin of 10.77% and net income of more than $3 million in 2025, with 387 days cash on hand and a debt service coverage ratio of 4.66. Mr. Jones has driven meaningful capital investments without compromising the hospital’s balance sheet, including a 2018 bond refinancing that saved $2.7 million and funded a rural health clinic attached to the hospital, as well as the 2025 opening of a second rural health clinic along with the cash purchase of land for a third clinic. The hospital recorded 39,247 unique encounters across inpatient, outpatient, rural health clinic and swing bed settings in 2025. Mr. Jones first built his career in human resources, developing expertise in insurance, compensation, employee orientation and benefits planning.
Gary Kartchner. CEO of Benson (Ariz.) Hospital and Northern Cochise Community Hospital (Willcox, Ariz.). Mr. Kartchner leads two critical access hospitals as part of Tucson, Ariz.-based TMC Health’s effort to align leadership and strengthen care coordination across its rural facilities. A Benson native and registered nurse, Mr. Kartchner brings both personal community ties and frontline clinical insight to his executive decision-making, staying closely connected to staff and day-to-day care realities. He is leading the integration of EHRs across both hospitals to improve continuity of care, while expanding specialty services through initiatives including a remote cardiac rehabilitation program, enhanced diagnostic services and swing bed certification for Benson Hospital. Mr. Kartchner has also focused on workforce stability, driving meaningful reductions in turnover by fostering a culture where employees feel supported. He previously served as director of essential services and emergency services manager at Benson Hospital. TMC Health was named to Forbes‘ 2026 list of “America’s Best Large Employers.”
Chuck Kassis. Operations Executive at Adventist Health Clear Lake (Calif.). Mr. Kassis serves as operations executive for Adventist Health Clear Lake, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Lake County, where he also provides operational leadership for more than 20 healthcare clinics across Lake, Butte and Tehama counties in Northern California. With more than 38 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience, Mr. Kassis has held executive roles across the continuum of care, including CEO at Providence Santa Rosa (Calif.) Memorial Hospital and president and CEO at Mercy Medical Center in Merced, Calif. He began his career as a respiratory therapist, a clinical foundation that continues to inform his executive decision-making in patient safety and provider engagement. Under his leadership, Adventist Health Clear Lake has earned a CMS 5-star rating, a Cal Hospital Compare “Patient Safety Honor Roll” designation and recognition as a U.S. News & World Report “high performing” hospital for pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chris Klay. Southern Illinois Market CEO and President and CEO of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (O’Fallon, Ill.). Mr. Klay oversees four hospitals across the HSHS Southern Illinois market, including three rural facilities, while also serving as CEO of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, a 144-bed regional medical center in O’Fallon, Ill. A physical therapist by training, Mr. Klay brings clinical insight to executive decision-making and has spent his entire career with HSHS since 2009, advancing from director of rehabilitation services to market-level leadership. In fall 2025, he announced $116 million in growth projects for the St. Elizabeth’s campus, expanding the emergency department, increasing inpatient nursing capacity, adding an outpatient surgery center and advanced imaging options to serve a rapidly growing community. Under his leadership, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, Ill. was named a Chartis “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital” and a “Top 20 Rural and Community Hospital” by the National Rural Health Association in 2025, while multiple Southern Illinois market hospitals earned CMS five-star ratings for quietness, nurse communication and low catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates. Mr. Klay is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and previously served as president and CEO of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, Ill.
Andrew Knust. CEO of Gothenburg (Neb.) Health. Mr. Knust was named CEO of Gothenburg Health, a rural healthcare organization in west-central Nebraska offering both clinical and hospital care, in September 2025 after eight years with the organization. Mr. Knust joined Gothenburg Health in 2017 as director of finance and central supply and was promoted to CFO in 2022, strengthening the hospital’s financial health and expanding its services. Under his leadership, Gothenburg Health aims to continue growing and enhancing patient care, building on a culture of excellence that has defined the organization since its founding in 1969. Mr. Knust and his hospital staff bring unwavering commitment to patients, families and the broader community.
Hunter Kome. CEO of Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital (Seneca, S.C.) and Prisma Health Baptist Easley (S.C.) Hospital. Mr. Kome leads 169-bed Oconee Memorial Hospital and 109-bed Baptist Easley Hospital, where teammate engagement at both facilities stands at 90% as measured by an annual survey. Under his leadership, Oconee Memorial Hospital has earned 16 consecutive “A” safety grades from the Leapfrog Group, the most in South Carolina, and four consecutive “Top Rural Hospital” awards from the Leapfrog Group, which is a distinction held by only five rural hospitals nationally. The hospital also achieved Magnet recognition in 2024 and has been ranked in the top 5% of hospitals for quality by Healthgrades. Mr. Kome received the 2025 “Zero Harm Leadership Award” from the South Carolina Hospital Association, judged by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, recognizing his commitment to promoting quality and safety at every level of the organization. He serves on the boards of the Oconee County, Clemson and Easley chambers of commerce, the Oconee Economic Alliance and the Pickens County Worklink Board of Directors. Mr. Kome previously served as COO of Oconee Memorial Hospital and vice president of communications at Premier.
Colleen Koski, MSN, RN. Chief Administrative Officer of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital (Oconto Falls, Wis.). Ms. Koski leads HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, drawing on a 36-year nursing career that began at the bedside and progressed through successive clinical and operational leadership roles at HSHS since 2008. A longstanding resident of the county, Ms. Koski brings deep community ties to her leadership, having witnessed the hospital’s growth firsthand and fostered a cross-trained, mission-driven workforce that she credits as central to the hospital’s sustained success. Under her tenure, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital was recognized as a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” by the Chartis Center for Rural Health and received the Chartis “Performance Leadership Award” in 2023 for quality, outcomes and patient experience. The hospital also earned a Press Ganey “Human Experience Guardian of Excellence” award in 2023 and received American Heart Association “Get With the Guidelines” recognitions in 2025 for its care of patients experiencing severe heart attacks. Ms. Koski served as nursing director at the hospital from 2008 to 2024 before being appointed CAO, and previously held clinical manager roles in medical-surgical, surgical and oncology units at other healthcare organizations dating back to 1993.
Clint Kotal. CEO of Methodist Hospital | Hill Country (Fredericksburg, Texas). Mr. Kotal became the first CEO of Methodist Hospital | Hill Country in 2023. He has nearly two decades of healthcare leadership experience, and most recently served as the hospital’s chief health integration officer. Under his leadership, the hospital consistently saw high marks in patient experience, quality performance and market share growth.
Bob Kroese. CEO of Pella (Iowa) Regional Health Center. As CEO, Mr. Kroese leads the 25-bed Pella Regional Health Center, a private, nonprofit hospital accredited by The Joint Commission. Established in 1960, Pella Regional has grown into a system that includes the hospital, outpatient services and numerous medical clinics.
Michael Lane. CEO at Sutter Coast Hospital (Crescent City, Calif.). Mr. Lane leads this acute-care facility that is part of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health’s integrated, nonprofit network, located in far northern California near the Oregon border. Investments in the area in 2025 alone include: expansions at Sutter Coast; a new 18,000-square-foot clinic adjacent to the hospital to provide primary care, urgent care and rehabilitation services; advancement in new workforce housing to support recruitment and retention; and the development of a nationally recognized “EmPATH” behavioral health unit, designed to reduce emergency department wait times and inpatient stays, expected to open this year. This year also marks the beginning of a new family medicine rural residency program based at Sutter Coast that received accreditation in 2025. Mr. Lane’s leadership focuses on operational excellence, strengthening patient access, improving care coordination and expanding services.
Diana Laquinta. President of St. Luke’s University Network Miners Campus (Coaldale, Pa.). Ms. Laquinta has been president of St. Luke’s Miners Campus in rural Pennsylvania since 2024, after serving numerous leadership roles within St. Luke’s, including director of laboratory outreach services, network director of operations, and vice president of network operations. Under her leadership, the campus has consistently earned “A” grades in safety from The Leapfrog Group and was one of Newsweek/Statista’s “Best In-state Hospitals.” St. Luke’s Miners Campus features advanced inpatient and outpatient services with full access to the latest treatments and technologies. Patients benefit from quality inpatient care, emergency room services, surgical services, radiology services, laboratory services and more. In 2025, the Miners campus was part of an onsite visit that helped lead to St. Luke’s being ranked No. 1 in the country for quality, safety and patient experience by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Laquinta’s employment prior to St. Luke’s was with Vanguard, a financial service firm. She is a proven leader with a record of successful operational results, strong interpersonal skills and an authentic leadership style. She is a former board member of the United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley.
Ryan Larsen. CEO of Community Medical Center (Falls City, Neb.). Mr. Larsen has served in his role since September 2005. During his tenure, the medical center built a new facility, which opened in November 2009, and completed an expansion in 2018. He was previously CFO of Memorial Hospital (now UnityPoint Health) in Carthage, Ill. He was also CFO of Wamego (Kan.) City Hospital.
Steve Leffler, MD. CEO of UVM Health Network and President and COO of UVM Medical Center (Burlington, Vt.). Dr. Leffler leads the University of Vermont Health Network, an academic health system serving rural Vermont and northern New York. Half of the system’s member hospitals hold critical access designation, preserving local services while connecting patients to a broader system of care. Dr. Leffler began his career at UVM Medical Center more than 30 years ago as an emergency physician and subsequently advanced through successive leadership roles, including medical director of the emergency department, chief medical officer, and chief population health and quality officer for UVM Health. He took on his current executive role in January 2026. Dr. Leffler also serves as a professor of surgery at the UVM College of Medicine and has held leadership roles as president of the UVM Medical Center medical staff, president of the Vermont Medical Society and as member of Vizient’s academic medical center CEO executive advisory council.
Lisa LeTexier. CEO of Pembina County Memorial Hospital (Cavalier, N.D.). As CEO, Ms. LeTexier leads the 20-bed critical access Pembina County Memorial Hospital, which has been operating for more than 60 years. The hospital also includes a rural healthcare clinic, independent living apartment complex and a 40-bed skilled nursing home. The hospital was named a “Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” for 2026 by the National Rural Health Association.
Marcus Lewis. CEO of First Care Health Center (Park River, N.D.). Mr. Lewis came to First Care Health Center in 2017. He was previously CFO of Cavalier County Memorial Hospital in Langdon, N.D. He has also worked as an emergency medical responder technician.
Ingrid Long, MSN, RN. CEO and CNO at Banner Torrington (Wyo.) Community Hospital. Ms. Long serves in a dual leadership role at Banner Torrington Community Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital serving rural Wyoming. Under her leadership, the hospital achieved continuous improvement in CMS star ratings. It also earned a perfect score on the Leapfrog hospital safety grade, demonstrating exceptional commitment to patient safety. Ms. Long’s highly engaged care team focused on delivering safe, quality care to the community and has been instrumental in expanding healthcare access in the rural setting, addressing the unique challenges faced by critical access hospitals. A key initiative under her leadership is the hospital’s partnership with Eastern Wyoming Community College to develop a robust nursing program, creating a sustainable pipeline for future healthcare professionals and addressing workforce succession planning needs in rural healthcare. Ms. Long was honored with the prestigious “Norman S. Holt Nursing Excellence Award” from the Wyoming Hospital Association, recognizing her outstanding contributions to nursing leadership and patient care. She is an active community leader, serving on numerous local boards and advisory committees. With 13 years of experience as a nursing executive prior to assuming her current dual role in 2023, she brings extensive healthcare leadership expertise to her role.
Kim Lucero. CEO of Mt. San Rafael Hospital (Trinidad, Colo.). Ms. Lucero serves as CEO of Mt. San Rafael Hospital and Clinics, bringing a deep commitment to innovation, quality and community connection. She has reshaped the trajectory of the organization by ensuring sustainable growth, operational excellence and improved patient access. Under her leadership, Mt. San Rafael Hospital and Clinics was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” by the Chartis Center for Rural Health in 2025. Ms. Lucero has spearheaded major advancements across the enterprise, including digital transformation, AI-driven clinical innovation, employee engagement and a long-range master facility plan to meet future community needs. Her leadership has also positioned the hospital as a model for cybersecurity readiness and care delivery in rural America.
Michael Lynch, MD. President and CEO of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (Lebanon, N.H.). Dr. Lynch was appointed president and CEO of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in September 2025, having joined the organization in June 2019 as chief medical officer. During his tenure as CMO, Dr. Lynch led the implementation of Epic as the hospital’s EHR, integrated Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center’s hospital medicine team into the Alice Peck Day’s patient services and transitioned Dartmouth Hitchcock’s emergency providers into the hospital’s emergency department staffing. He also stewarded growth in surgical services, guided the organization through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and reinforced the hospital’s commitment to primary care as a cornerstone of community health. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Lynch has worked clinically in emergency services and serves on the faculty of the Geisel School of Medicine as a clinical instructor. Prior to joining the hospital, he served as executive medical director of same day services at Reliant Medical Group in Worcester, Mass., and before that practiced as an emergency physician at Concord (N.H.) Hospital, where he served as medical director of urgent care, president of Concord Emergency Medical Associates, chair of emergency medicine and chair of the Concord Hospital Charitable Trust.
Greg Madsen. CEO of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital (Lexington, Va.) and VIce President of Carilion Clinic Eastern Division. Mr. Madsen serves as vice president and CEO of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital, which is part of Roanoke, Va.-based Carilion Clinic. His role includes overseeing the 25-bed critical access hospital and outpatient care as well as outreach activities. He has regional responsibility over care delivery in four Carilion regions. Since the pandemic, the facility has been steadily working to expand surgical services and capacity. Mr. Madsen has overseen renovations to the hospital system’s operating rooms, new pharmacy space, labs and staff work areas and consolidated ambulatory and post-anesthesia care units. He has also brought new services and offerings like neurology and family medicine to the region.
Mary Mannix. President and CEO of Augusta Health (Fishersville, Va.). Ms. Mannix has served as president and CEO of 255-bed, community-owned Augusta Health for more than 16 years. She has worked to transform it from a hospital-centric model into a fully integrated regional health system, now serving more than 300,000 residents across seven counties. Under her leadership, the system’s mobile neighborhood clinic program now operates at 17 partner sites, including community centers, churches, firehouses and homeless shelters, reducing barriers to care for vulnerable populations and earning Augusta Health one of only two 2024 CMS “Health Equity Awards” given nationwide. Ms. Mannix has expanded specialty services across oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology and other disciplines, developed a multispecialty employed physician group of 250 providers across 35 practice sites, and guided the formation of a Medicare-approved accountable care organization serving approximately 8,400 beneficiaries. She secured national affiliations with the Duke Cancer Network and the Mayo Clinic Care Network, bringing advanced research and specialty consultation capabilities to rural Virginia while preserving the system’s independence. Augusta Health has maintained a Leapfrog hospital safety grade “A” every year since 2016 and received the 2024 “Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award” from the American Hospital Association. Ms. Mannix serves on the American Hospital Association board ad hoc workforce task force and its committee on rural healthcare, and previously served as president of Robert Packer Hospital at Guthrie Clinic in Sayre, Pa.
Peter Marinoff. President of Munson Healthcare Cadillac (Mich.) Hospital. Mr. Marinoff is president of Munson Healthcare Cadillac. He was previously interim president of the hospital, starting in July 2021. He joined the health system in 1999, beginning as an accountant. Previously, he worked at public accounting firms in Virginia and Traverse City, Mich.
Jim Marshall. President and CEO of Uintah Basin Healthcare (Roosevelt, Utah). Mr. Marshall’s leadership has led to significant improvements in the health and wellbeing of Uintah Basin Healthcare and its community since taking on the president and CEO role in 2014. Achievements include enhancements in care quality, safety and experience, and continued service line expansion. Mr. Marshall aims to ensure that the system will be among the nation’s most advanced and comprehensive rural healthcare systems for a community of its size.
Steve Massey. President of Western Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics (New Richmond, Wis.). Mr. Massey, in February 2026, took on the role of president of Western Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics. There, is helping the organization to address the region’s healthcare needs via strengthened community partnerships and improved access to local care. He most recently served as president and CEO of Westfields Hospital and Clinics since 2011. He led the hospital in the merger between Westfields Hospital and New Richmond Clinic in 2013. He previously served as CFO at Osceola (Wis.) Medical Center.
Garett May. President and CEO of West Jefferson Medical Center (Marrero, La.). Mr. May was named president and CEO of West Jefferson Medical Center in April 2025. A seasoned healthcare executive with experience across the Gulf South, Mr. May most recently served as COO of Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, Ala., and previously held the CEO role at Merit Health Natchez in Natchez, Miss. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for optimizing patient care and driving operational excellence through collaboration and communication. Mr. May has been praised for his deep understanding of healthcare operations and his passion for patient-centered care. Under his leadership, West Jefferson Medical Center is committed to maintaining its high standards of care and professionalism.
Christina McCulloch, BSN, RN. President of Sharon Hospital (Danbury, Conn.). Ms. McCulloch is responsible for the overall fiscal, operational and strategic direction of Sharon Hospital and is accountable to the board of directors and system leadership. She ensures appropriate structures are in place for the effective management and control of resources. She also has a background in clinical nursing, allowing her to quickly assess and navigate challenging situations. She helps direct human, material and financial resources to appropriately meet community needs. In her role, she has enhanced and developed integral services, including launching a telemedicine asset during the Covid-19 pandemic. She has been a clinician for over 20 years and has been a leader at Sharon for 15. The hospital joined forces with New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health thanks to a recent merger.
Donna McGregor. President of Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health St. Lawrence Region. Ms. McGregor serves as president of Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Gouverneur Hospital and Massena Hospital, overseeing a combined workforce of 2,165 employees and 234 medical staff. Gouverneur and Massena hospitals are designated as critical access hospitals, providing inpatient, surgical and emergency care to communities across New York’s North Country. Ms. McGregor joined the organization in 2020 as CFO and was promoted to president in 2022. She holds a strong track record in transforming rural health systems and driving strategic growth. Among her key accomplishments are the successful implementation of a region-wide EHR system and the acquisition of more than $20 million in state and federal funding to advance a rural health strategy focused on transportation, maternal and child health, behavioral health, primary care and workforce development.
Thomas Mee, BSN, RN. CEO of North Country Healthcare (Whitefield, N.H.). Mr. Mee leads North Country Healthcare, a system comprising three rural critical access hospitals. The system includes Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, N.H., Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, N.H. and Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, N.H., along with the North Country Home Health and Hospice Agency, making it the largest employer in northern New Hampshire. With more than 30 years of healthcare administration experience spanning nursing, physician practice and operations, Mr. Mee has prioritized cultural unity and operational integration, most notably overseeing the unification of three previously competitive organizations under a single EHR that enabled shared services such as maternity care. He championed a staff-initiated Lean Six Sigma project to standardize tracking of indwelling urinary catheters and central lines, achieving 100% documentation compliance across all three hospitals and zero catheter-associated urinary tract infections for more than eight months. Mr. Mee also leveraged data analytics through the “Sleepless Nights” campaign to reduce average waiting time for biopsy results by 50%, significantly reducing patient anxiety around cancer screenings. North Country Healthcare earned the 2024 National Rural Health Association “Outstanding Rural Health Organization” award for its shared EHR implementation and achieved College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ “Digital Health Most Wired Level 9” status for both acute and ambulatory settings in 2025. He previously served as president and CEO of McLaren Greater Lansing in Michigan, and has presented at American Hospital Association rural healthcare sessions on strategies for building successful rural systems.
Jeff Mengenhausen. CEO of Montrose (Colo.) Regional Health. Mr. Mengenhausen has led Montrose Regional Health, an independent rural hospital in western Colorado, since September 2021, and is the only former U.S. Navy SEAL currently serving as a hospital CEO in the country. In his first four years, Mr. Mengenhausen oversaw completion of a four-story, 90,000-square-foot ambulatory care center, hired more than 120 new providers, launched a digestive health service line with 24-hour coverage, opened a neurology clinic and outpatient infusion center, and expanded the San Juan Cancer Center into a new state-of-the-art facility. In 2025, Montrose Regional Health earned Chartis “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital” recognition, Healthgrades “Outstanding Patient Experience” and “Patient Safety Excellence” awards, and a “Women’s Choice Award” for best hospital obstetrics. Mr. Mengenhausen has made leadership development a central priority, conducting six full-day offsite trainings for more than 85 leaders in 2025 and completing more than 20 human resources and leadership development programs across the organization. He previously served as CEO of Madelia (Minn.) Health and serves on the boards of Western Slope Health Alliance and the Montrose economic development committee.
Jason Merkley. President and CEO of Brookings (S.D.) Health System. Mr. Merkley was appointed CEO of Brookings Health System in 2011. Before joining Brookings, Mr. Merkley served as manager of managed care services and care analyst of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera Health. He has experience in leading both clinical and ancillary support departments and has overseen numerous construction projects.
Trevor Micklos. President of St. Luke’s University Health Network Warren Campus (Phillipsburg, N.J.). Mr. Micklos oversees all the overall operations of St. Luke’s University Health Network’s rural campus in Warren County, N.J. He has been president of the campus since 2022. He joined St. Luke’s in 2017 as the service line administrator for musculoskeletal service before being promoted to vice president of operations in 2019, while continuing to lead impressive growth in the musculoskeletal service line. Prior to joining St. Luke’s, Mr. Micklos spent 13 years in various leadership roles with Coordinated Health. Under his leadership, the Warren Campus has achieved Leapfrog “Top Hospital” status the last two years and earned “A” safety grades from the Leapfrog Group each year. St. Luke’s Warren Campus has invested $250 million in patient friendly upgrades at its main campus and satellite locations throughout the area. His goals are twofold: to provide patients with excellent laboratory services and medical care in comfortable surroundings, and to provide easy access to St. Luke’s services where the patients live and work. In 2025, St. Luke’s was ranked No. 1 for quality, safety and patient experience by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Candace Miller. President and CEO of WVU Medicine Jackson General Hospital (Ripley, W.Va.). Ms. Miller serves as president and CEO of WVU Medicine Jackson General Hospital, where she leads efforts to improve access to care for Jackson County and the surrounding Mid-Ohio Valley region. A West Virginia native, Ms. Miller held multiple senior leadership positions at Columbus-based OhioHealth, including vice president and COO of OhioHealth O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, before returning to her home state to help transform rural healthcare delivery. Her expertise spans hospital operations, patient flow optimization, strategic planning, quality management and compliance. She is recognized as a thought leader among peers both inside and outside the WVU Health System for her advocacy against certificate of need changes that would have harmed rural healthcare access. Ms. Miller is leading the organization during a period of significant growth, including the opening of a $35 million state-of-the-art patient care wing.
Jeff Mock. Operations Executive of Adventist Health Mendocino County (Calif.) Hospitals. Mr. Mock provides executive leadership for three hospitals, including two critical access facilities, serving exceptionally rural communities across Mendocino County in Northern California. There, he has demonstrated that disciplined financial stewardship and mission-driven care can coexist in one of the state’s most challenging healthcare environments. Among his most significant accomplishments, Mr. Mock led a 21% improvement in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation margin through scalable operational standardization across multiple facilities, and the North Coast facilities achieved positive EBITDA performance in 2025. The hospitals under his leadership have earned a range of national quality recognitions, including CMS 5-star ratings, Leapfrog “A” safety grades, Forbes “Top Hospital” designations for 2026, and Lown Institute rankings that place Adventist Health Ukiah (Calif.) Valley first in the state and fourth in the nation for social responsibility. Mr. Mock also brings enterprise-level healthcare experience, having previously served as CFO for Roseville-based Adventist Health’s systemwide post-acute care services and its hospital at home program during the Covid-19 pandemic. All three Mendocino County hospitals have achieved geriatric emergency department accreditation and opioid care “Honor Roll” recognition for superior performance. Earlier in his career, Mr. Mock served as a senior accountant at Ernst & Young before transitioning to healthcare finance and operations leadership.
Cassie Mogg. CEO for Covenant Health Plainview (Texas). As CEO for Covenant Health Plainview, Ms. Mogg oversees the planning, administration, coordination and evaluation of departments. She also maintains standards compliance, budget development and administration, community relationship management, public administrations, medical staff support, recruitment, retention and more. The hospital achieved ANCC Pathways to Excellence and completed the steps to achieve a Joint Commission Joint Replacement Center of Excellence in 2022. The hospital also acquired a Da Vinci surgical robot in fall 2023.
Andrew Morgan. President of Mercy Health–Tiffin and Willard Hospitals (Ohio). Since taking on the role of president in 2022, Mr. Morgan has led an ncrease in acute care volume at Willard Hospital and an increase in emergency visits at Tiffin. He oversaw a $3.1 million labor and delivery expansion at Tiffin and introduced new service lines like behavioral health at Willard. He also expanded oncology care at both hospitals. Mr. Morgan strengthened education pipelines by launching clinical training partnerships with Mercy College and local universities. Under his leadership, both hospitals have achieved top-tier patient experience scores.
Scott Neeley, MD. President and CEO of Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital (Grass Valley, Calif.). Mr. Neeley leads Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, a 104-bed rural hospital where he has driven a sustained cultural and operational transformation grounded in high reliability organizing and a commitment to zero harm. Under his leadership, the hospital has earned five consecutive Leapfrog “A” safety grades and three consecutive Leapfrog “Top Rural Hospital” designations from 2023 through 2025, making it the only hospital in California to achieve that distinction during that period. Dr. Neeley has overseen year-over-year growth in admissions, emergency department visits, surgeries and deliveries while leading successful physician recruitment in general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine and other key specialties. A signature accomplishment has been the launch of a rural family medicine residency program, which has achieved outstanding match results for three consecutive years and serves as a cornerstone of the hospital’s long-term workforce strategy. Beyond hospital walls, Dr. Neeley co-founded HealthSpan Nevada County with Nevada County, a community collaborative dedicating startup funding to improving access to healthy movement, nutrition, social connection and supportive environments for youth and families. A practicing internist and critical care specialist with more than 30 years of clinical experience, he previously served as chief medical officer at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, Calif., and currently serves as president of the Nevada County economic resource council.
Jody Nelson. CEO of St. Luke’s Medical Center (Crosby, N.D.). Mrs. Nelson has been in charge of the 20-bed St. Luke’s Medical Center since 2016. In 2021, the hospital was named one of the “Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals for Best Practice in Quality” by National Rural Health Association. Ms. Nelson is passionate about healthcare accessibility within the community.
Gregory Nielsen. CEO of East Jefferson General Hospital (Metairie, La.). Mr. Nielsen brings extensive healthcare leadership experience from both nonprofit and investor-owned sectors, currently serving as CEO of East Jefferson General Hospital. Prior to joining New Orleans-based LCMC Health, he held senior roles at organizations including American Physician Partners and RCCH HealthCare Partners, overseeing hospitals across 18 states. Mr. Nielsen’s career has spanned executive roles at various regional health systems, where he led improvements in care delivery, financial performance and physician alignment. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, he is known for orchestrating systemwide performance transformations in complex, multi-site organizations. His deep operational knowledge and strategic clarity enable him to adapt to the shifting demands of modern healthcare. At East Jefferson, Mr. Nielsen is focused on building capacity, improving patient outcomes and strengthening service lines to support the long-term needs of the greater New Orleans community.
Chuck Nordyke, MSN, RN. President and CEO of Clarinda (Iowa) Regional Health Center. Mr. Nordyke has served as president and CEO of Clarinda Regional Health Center since 2018. During his tenure, the hospital has launched a dedicated mental health clinic through a partnership with Azria Health Clarinda and expanded emergency services by establishing an air evacuation lifeteam base. In recognition of these efforts, the organization earned a 5-star rating from the National Rural Rating System in 2024 and a 4-star CMS rating in 2023. Clarinda Regional Health Center has also received the “Governor’s Volunteer Award” and top-tier certification from the Iowa Hospital Association for board leadership. With a career spanning leadership roles at various healthcare organizations and in healthcare consulting, Mr. Nordyke brings deep expertise and a culture-driven leadership approach to rural health.
Mark O’Hern. Regional President of WVU Medicine East Hospitals and President and CEO of WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center (Martinsburg, W.Va.). Mr. O’Hern oversees a $1 billion portfolio as regional president of WVU Medicine East and CEO of Berkeley Medical Center, leading a rapidly expanding network of more than 500 providers serving West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle within the 25-hospital, Morgantown-based WVU Medicine Health System. Since stepping into the role just over a year ago, Mr. O’Hern has driven a values-centered turnaround, reducing rolling 12-month turnover to 18% through January 2026, the lowest level since 2017, while filling 875 positions and reducing new patient wait times at family medicine clinics from more than 100 days to fewer than 30. He is advancing a $200.9 million patient tower at Berkeley Medical Center, driving an ambulatory campus expansion at Jefferson Medical Center and preparing to launch an open-heart surgery program in collaboration with the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute by the end of 2026. Berkeley Medical Center received Healthgrades recognition in 2025 as one of “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” for gastrointestinal care and gastrointestinal surgery, along with 5-star ratings in more than 10 clinical categories. Mr. O’Hern is known for his hands-on leadership style, which includes monthly “Day in the Life” sessions working alongside frontline teams across departments. He previously served as market president at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, overseeing two hospitals and more than 100 primary and specialty care practice sites.
Jill Ostrem. President of River Falls (Wis.) Area Hospital, United Hospital (Saint Paul, Minn.) and United Hospital-Hastings (Minn.) Regina Campus. Ms. Ostrem brings more than 30 years of experience managing hospitals, clinics and multispecialty group practices to her role as president of Allina Health’s River Falls Area Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in western Wisconsin, as well as United Hospital and United Hospital-Hastings Regina Campus in Minnesota. Under her leadership, River Falls Area Hospital earned a CMS 5-star inpatient experience rating, placing it among only 25 hospitals in Wisconsin and 273 in the U.S. to receive that distinction. Ms. Ostrem has driven significant growth in the hospital’s transitional care unit program, enabling most patients to return home rather than transfer to higher-level facilities, while also entering the 10th year of hosting the “Project SEARCH” employment preparation program for individuals with developmental disabilities. She has built a career-long reputation for developing high-performing teams and collaborating effectively with physicians to achieve organizational goals. Ms. Ostrem previously held senior vice president and vice president roles at various healthcare organizations.
Rodger Page. North State Market President at CommonSpirit/Dignity Health and President of Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta (Calif.) and St. Elizabeth Community Hospital (Red Bluff, Calif.). Mr. Page oversees Dignity Health’s North State Market, a rural region of far Northern California encompassing four hospitals, three of which are trauma centers, serving more than 130,000 patients annually across a primary service area exceeding 200 miles. Mercy Medical Center Redding (Calif.) functions as a level 2 trauma hub for roughly 45,000 square miles of Northern California. A native of the region who was born at one of the hospitals he now leads, Mr. Page brings more than 37 years of progressive healthcare leadership to a role that holds deep personal meaning, having begun his career with Catholic Healthcare West/Dignity Health in 1988. Under his leadership, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital has earned Leapfrog straight “A” safety grades for eight consecutive years and was recognized as a top 100 hospital and top rural hospital by Leapfrog in 2022 and 2024. Meanwhile, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley, Calif. earned top 100 and top rural hospital recognition from Leapfrog in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and a CMS 5-star rating in 2024. Mr. Page has driven major facility investments including emergency department renovations, a neuro interventional radiology suite, and expanded cardiology and surgical services. He also launched a mobile rural health clinic to bring care directly to patients facing transportation and access barriers. He serves on multiple boards including Mercy Housing, the Mercy Foundation corporate board and Corban University’s board of trustees.
Ralph L. Parker, MSN, RN. CEO and CNO at Banner Page (Ariz.) Hospital. Since 2020, Mr. Parker has led the 25 bed critical access hospital serving Northern Arizona’s geographically unique, rural region. Banner Page also supports a significant seasonal population driven by tourism, requiring flexible operations and surge-ready care delivery. A level 4 trauma center stabilizes patients over a vast area with the nearest tertiary facilities over 120 miles away. Comprehensive services rare for its size include emergency, surgery, obstetrics, imaging, cardiopulmonary care and rehabilitation. Mr. Parker has guided service expansion, quality advances, operational improvement and community partnerships, and led multiple accreditation and regulatory initiatives, including successful Joint Commission survey, high reliability care and clinical excellence. He expanded care access and clinical capabilities with new orthopedic surgery and sleep programs, dramatically reducing patient travel barriers. He oversees hospital operations, nursing, clinical services, business development, contracts, staffing optimization and quality improvement. His focus on workforce development and team based culture helps stabilize and strengthen clinical staffing in a challenging rural labor market nationwide. Banner Page twice earned Banner Health’s “Best of the Best” award for exceptional operations, patient experience and team engagement. He has 20 years in leadership with previous roles at multiple Western hospitals including in Washington, Wyoming and several Banner facilities.
Rozanna Penney. President and CEO of Heywood Hospital (Gardner, Mass.). Ms. Penney oversees the community hospital’s strategic development, quality and patient safety initiatives, financial stewardship, medical staff relations and community health advocacy. She is recognized for steering the hospital through Chapter 11 restructuring, achieving operational turnaround, and expanding key service lines like inpatient mental health and surgical volumes. She champions health equity through programs like school-based telebehavioral health and the “Handle With Care” initiative for trauma-affected youth. As the first female CEO of Heywood and a Mass Hospital Association board member, Ms. Penney serves as a dedicated mentor advancing women in healthcare leadership and a community advocate addressing regional health disparities.
Joseph Perras, MD. President and CEO of Cheshire Medical Center (Keene, N.H.). Dr. Perras ensures Cheshire Medical Center provides the highest quality care in the safest possible environment for its staff and patients. Cheshire is the largest provider of healthcare in the county and serves as a regional referral center for parts of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts. Under Dr. Perras’ leadership, Cheshire has committed to its people, patients and community through growth of clinical service lines and long term financial sustainability. He previously served as chairperson of the American Hospital Association’s small or rural hospital council and has been appointed to its Institute of Diversity and Health Equity, working with health services organizations to advance healthcare equity and leadership opportunities for underrepresented groups in healthcare management.
Cathy Pimple, DNP. CEO of Newman Regional Health (Emporia, Kan.). Dr. Pimple has served as CEO of Newman Regional Health since 2023, becoming the first woman to lead the 25-bed critical access hospital, which she has positioned as a regional hub for specialty services in rural Kansas despite the financial pressures facing approximately 87% of the state’s rural hospitals. Dr. Pimple secured a strategic affiliation with Kansas City-based The University of Kansas Health System and Lawrence, Kan.-based LMH Health to expand local service lines while preserving independent governance. In addition, she invested in cardiovascular lab upgrades and a high-speed CT scanner to bring advanced cardiac care closer to home, including reaccreditation for percutaneous coronary intervention from the American College of Cardiology, a rare distinction for a critical access hospital. She secured nearly $600,000 in grant funding to advance telehealth infrastructure, maternal health services and a free laundry program addressing social determinants of health through the community care team. Newman Regional Health has earned recognition as a Chartis “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital,” a CMS “Birthing-Friendly Hospital” designation and a “Gold Level” designation from Kansas’s “Fourth Trimester Initiative,” among numerous other quality distinctions. Dr. Pimple continues to teach as adjunct faculty at Emporia State University, where she championed development of a simulation hospital to strengthen nursing education and rural workforce recruitment. She previously served as Newman Regional Health’s chief administrative officer and chief quality officer.
David Pope. President and CEO of Scotland Health Care System (Laurinburg, N.C.). Mr. Pope leads Scotland Health Care System, managed by Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health. Before entering healthcare administration, Mr. Pope served as a military lawyer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009, an experience that continues to shape his commitment to integrity, accountability and service. In 2025, he was honored as “North Carolina’s Community Star” by the North Carolina Office of Rural Health and received the “Dr. Collie Coleman Spirit of Unity Award” from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He was also named Richmond Community College’s “2026 Citizen of the Year.” Under his leadership, Scotland Memorial Hospital earned a Forbes 5-star hospital designation and consecutive “A” Leapfrog hospital safety grades in spring and fall 2025. Mr. Pope currently serves as chair of the Laurinburg/Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce and previously held the COO role at Scotland Health before being elevated to president and CEO.
Lance Porter. CEO of Banner Wyoming Medical Center (Casper, Wyo.). Mr. Porter leads a regional referral center in the most rural U.S. state. The hospital is Wyoming’s largest, serving 250,000 and supporting an area that faces transportation challenges due to weather and limited health services and specialists. Mr. Porter became CEO shortly after Phoenix-based Banner Health acquired the hospital in 2020. He has led the hospital and community through immense change, integrating the formerly independent hospital with a large multi-state health system during the depths of the pandemic. Under his leadership, the hospital regained its American College of Surgeons level 2 trauma center status, expanded telestroke access to nine sites across Wyoming and maintained its American Heart and Stroke Associations “Gold Plus Stroke Award” and Joint Commission primary stroke center status. He has led more than $70 million in capital improvements, including a comprehensive maintenance and upgrade plan and a new electrophysiology lab. He successfully recruited dozens of primary care providers and high-level specialists, while decreasing traveling staff and employee turnover and leading an increase in employee satisfaction scores in 2024. He was previously CEO at Banner Payson (Ariz.) Medical Center.
Candy Powell. Administrator of Collingsworth General Hospital (Wellington, Texas). Ms. Powell was named administrator of Collingsworth General Hospital in 2006. Prior to her role as administrator, Ms. Powell was director of radiology and also oversaw laboratory operations, housekeeping, maintenance and the central supply department at the hospital.
Jeff Prater. CEO of Carson Valley Health (Gardnerville, Nev.). Mr. Prater has served as CEO of Carson Valley Health, a critical access hospital, since June 2018, bringing more than 30 years of healthcare experience that began as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy. Under his leadership, Carson Valley Health made history in 2025 as the first critical access hospital in Nevada to be designated a level 4 trauma center, a milestone that enables life-saving decisions to be made locally rather than requiring patients to travel to larger facilities. Mr. Prater has grown net patient service revenue by 26.6% over four years while reducing employee turnover from 28% to 17%, below the industry standard. He has expanded services to include outpatient behavioral health, robotic-assisted surgery, a cancer care center, and employed hospitalists and anesthesiologists. Mr. Prater currently serves as chairman of Nevada Rural Hospital Partners and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
August Querciagrossa. CEO of OSF HealthCare’s Western Region (Peoria, Ill.). Mr. Querciagrossa is a driving force in efforts to improve access to care in the rural communities he serves. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding emergency services and developing a robust model of care in his region following the sudden closure of a community hospital in Peru, Ill. Under his guidance, OSF quickly established local options for urgent care, primary care, digital care, obstetrics and gynecology, occupational health and rehabilitation services. He has successfully reopened the second OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center campus in rural Peru, Ill.. With approval from the state of Illinois, the campus is growing and thriving, providing jobs and security for the entire region. Overall, he oversees eight hospitals, including a critical access hospital. Several of the hospitals he oversees have achieved national recognition over the years.
Ross Ramsey, MD. President and CEO of Scheurer Health (Pigeon, Mich.). Dr. Ramsey leads Scheurer Health, a network of approximately 800 employees serving rural Michigan’s Thumb region, encompassing a 25-bed critical access hospital, a 13-bed critical access hospital, a skilled nursing facility, seven outpatient communities, senior living, four outpatient pharmacies and a wellness center. He manages this executive role while maintaining an active clinical practice. Under his leadership, Scheurer Health has grown network revenue by 63% in three years, and in 2025 the organization acquired Harbor Beach (Mich.) Community Hospital and two additional retail pharmacies. Dr. Ramsey grew the employed medical staff from 27 to 35 physicians in his first two years, adding two new specialties, and the organization is completing a third operating room and breaking ground on a 60,000-square-foot medical hub and an additional 30,000-square-foot outpatient facility in 2026. Scheurer Health earned Chartis “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” recognition for quality and patient perspectives in 2024 and was named a “Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” for patient satisfaction in 2025 by Press Ganey, with employee engagement at the 90th percentile. Dr. Ramsey received the American Hospital Association’s “Most Valuable PAC Player” award in 2025 and chairs the Michigan Health and Hospital Association small or rural hospital council. He previously served as Scheurer Health’s chief medical officer and vice president of quality and medical affairs.
Andrew Raymond. President and CEO of Kalkaska (Mich.) Memorial Health Center. Mr. Raymond leads Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, a critical access hospital in northern Michigan that operates two rural health clinics, a 104-bed long-term care facility, an assisted living facility, a dialysis center and an ambulance service. Since joining the health center in 2016, Mr. Raymond has overseen more than a 130% increase in net revenues, reflecting sustained operational growth across the organization’s broad continuum of services. Known for his servant leadership approach and quick recognition of his team’s contributions, he was named among the top 40 regional influential leaders under 40 by Traverse City Business News in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Mr. Raymond is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and previously served as CFO of Kalkaska Memorial Health Center for eight years before being named CEO.
Benjamin “Ben” Richaud. CEO of Lakeview Hospital (Covington, La.). Mr. Richaud was named CEO of Lakeview Hospital, a 167-bed, full-service community hospital serving patients across Louisiana’s Northshore. A native of the area, Mr. Richaud brings more than 10 years of healthcare management experience with a strong background in hospital operations, strategic planning and financial management. He most recently served as CEO of Baptist Medical Center, a 603-bed flagship hospital within the Baptist Health System, now Tenet Healthcare, in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Richaud has been praised for his strategic vision and commitment to patient-centered care, both of which make him an ideal fit for the organization. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing hospital operations, leading strategic initiatives and ensuring high-quality care delivery.
Ted Rogalski. Administrator for MercyOne Genesis Aledo (Ill.) and MercyOne Genesis DeWitt (Iowa) Medical Center. Mr. Rogalski oversees a combined $60 million in revenue and 350 employees across two critical access hospitals, three rural health clinics and two retail pharmacies. Under his leadership, DeWitt Medical Center expanded outpatient services such as physical therapy, infusion and cardiac rehab, resulting in over 30% growth in each area and a $16 million year-over-year revenue increase. He also led the conversion of family practice groups into rural health clinics and acquired a local pharmacy to integrate into the hospital system. Under his leadership, both hospitals have recently expanded mental health services for older adults via a “Senior Life Solutions” program that aims to improve senior mental health with evidence- and outcomes-based treatment. Mr. Rogalski is a former chair of both the Illinois Hospital Association and Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network, where he wielded statewide influence in rural healthcare policy.
Rena Salamacha. CEO of Mee Memorial Healthcare System (King City, Calif.). Ms. Salamacha is responsible for leading a team of executives and care providers that offer high-quality healthcare services to the local community. After taking over as CEO in early 2019, she went into the Covid-19 pandemic facing a unique challenge and maintained round-the-clock healthcare delivery. She also expanded services, campus locations and led her organizationwide revitalization of the system’s business functions. Under her leadership, the hospital has recently focused on ongoing facility renovations that improve patient experience. In addition, she’s helped bring cutting-edge imaging technology and new streamlined layouts to the hospital. The hospital is the only one in the area, and Ms. Salamacha is committed to ensuring patients have easy access to care without traveling far from home.
Preston Sauers. CEO of Kingman (Kan.) Healthcare Center. Prior to joining Kingman Healthcare Center, Mr. Sauers served as the director of business operations at Ellsworth (Kan.) County Medical Center for 17 years. He was appointed CEO of Kingman in April 2021. The 25-bed facility has a level 4 trauma emergency department and has been recognized as a “Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” by the National Rural Health Association for 2026.
Brent Schmidt. Hospital President of Intermountain Sevier Valley Hospital (Richfield, Utah). Mr. Schmidt was appointed administrator and CEO of Sevier Valley Hospital in April 2021, where he previously served as director of ancillary and support services. In that role, Mr. Schmidt oversaw operations for 11 departments, as well as the completion of a construction project in the facility’s emergency department and women’s center. Sevier Valley Hospital was named a “Top 20 Rural and Community Hospital” by the National Rural Health Association in 2026, the seventh time that the hospital achieved this distinction.
Annette Schnabel. President of Parkland Health Center (Farmington, Mo.). Ms. Schnabel leads Parkland Health Center’s two campuses in southeastern Missouri, overseeing a full-service acute care hospital in Farmington and a rural critical access hospital in Bonne Terre. She made history by securing Missouri’s first rural emergency hospital designation for Parkland, positioning the system as a statewide leader in emergency care access for rural communities. Under her leadership, Parkland has launched or expanded several key facilities, including a $2.3 million women’s center, a new pain management clinic, and a comprehensive medical office building with 20 physician practices and centralized outpatient services. The organization has also acquired a surgical building for ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology and orthopedic procedures, and expanded sleep disorder services to drastically cut patient wait times.
Mary Beth Seals. President of HH Lincoln Health (Fayetteville, Tenn.). Ms. Seals manages day-to-day operations, strategic planning and new physician recruitment for HH Lincoln. She leads every aspect of the health system and oversees quality, customer service, staff satisfaction, physician alignment, community support and financial performance. She is accountable for ensuring that HH Lincoln Health fulfills its strategic role within the overall vision and strategy for the Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital Health System. Since entering her role, she has guided the system through several disasters, including broken pipes and a tornado that damaged the facility. She has also implemented programs to establish HH as a high-reliability organization.
Sonya Selhorst. President and CNO of Mercy Health–Defiance (Ohio) Hospital. With nearly 40 years of experience within the overarching system, Ms. Selhorst’s leadership has earned more than a dozen national recognitions for Defiance Hospital. She led the integration of a large multi-specialty physician group into the system and strengthened physician recruitment in the rural market through partnerships with Wright State University. Ms. Selhorst also organized suicide prevention events that directly fund mental health initiatives and school-based programming. As both president and CNO, she has elevated care quality, staff engagement and operational efficiency.
Carl Selvick, PharmD. CEO of Black River Health (Black River Falls, Wis.). Dr. Selvick oversees all aspects of the hospital, outpatient services and strategic developments at Black River. He orchestrated a financial revitalization at the hospital, transitioning from a negative operating margin in 2022 to a positive operating margin in 2023, surpassing the organizational budget by 2% just 18 months after assuming the CEO role. His targeted approach focuses on the effective operational costs management, strategic planning and service line development, as well as collaborations and partnerships with local and regional healthcare providers. He has led the hospital to actively participate in initiatives such as formulating a health equity plan, establishing a foundation and expanding the 340B program.
Joshua Shepherd. President of Buffalo (Minn.) Hospital and Cambridge (Minn.) Medical Center. Mr. Shepherd serves as president of both Buffalo Hospital and Cambridge Medical Center within Allina Health, and in July 2025 expanded his role to market president for Allina Health’s regional hospitals and emergency medical services, supporting four regional hospitals across Minnesota. Mr. Shepherd is leading the planning and development of a new, innovative Cambridge Medical Center campus in collaboration with Allina Health, the city of Cambridge, staff and architects. Under his leadership, Cambridge Medical Center earned recognition on Newsweek‘s list of “World’s Best Smart Hospitals” in 2025, driven by investments in robotics, AI, telehealth and stroke care capabilities. Mr. Shepherd previously served as director of operations and COO for both hospitals and held leadership roles at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare across Utah and Idaho. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Tammy Smith, MSN, RN. CEO of Pratt (Kan.) Regional Medical Center. Ms. Smith is CEO of Pratt Regional Medical Center. She previously worked as the CNO for the medical center, and brings her long track record of experience to her current position after serving as interim CEO. She is now heading the 35-bed facility, which is a sole community provider for the surrounding area.
John Snow. CEO of Newberry (S.C.) Health. Mr. Snow leads Newberry Health, a comprehensive independent health system anchored by a 90-bed hospital in rural South Carolina, where he has overseen a strategic transformation that includes a new organizational identity, expanded outpatient services and national recognition as the No. 1 rural hospital in the state by the Chartis Center for Rural Health in 2025. Under his leadership, Newberry Health was named a 4-star hospital on the inaugural Forbes “Top Hospitals” 2026 list, earning a 5-star ranking specifically for patient experience and placing it in the nation’s top 15% and among only 12 hospitals recognized statewide. Mr. Snow proposed and secured board approval for the “Newberry Health” rebrand to unify the hospital, outpatient clinics, specialty labs and county facilities under a single identity, better reflecting the organization’s expanded community mission. A new adult center for physical, speech and occupational therapy opened in 2024, and a new pediatric and primary care clinic followed in 2025, advancing the system’s strategic plan to strengthen and expand access across the region. The system has also earned American Heart Association certifications for emergency heart and stroke capabilities, as well as multiple Healthgrades and Women’s Choice Awards for orthopedic surgery and patient experience. Mr. Snow previously served as CEO of Granville Health System in Oxford, N.C., and Blue Ridge Community Health Services in Hendersonville, N.C.
Jeff Sollis. CEO of St. John’s Health (Jackson, Wyo.). St. John’s Health welcomed Mr. Sollis as its CEO in January 2023. Mr. Sollis brings more than 18 years of healthcare leadership experience to his role. Mr. Sollis successfully led a comprehensive strategic planning process at St. John’s Health, resulting in a five-year plan focused on strengthening the workforce, enhancing care and driving clinical excellence. Since taking on his current role, he has onboarded several physicians in key clinical specialties. He also is working with the board’s finance committee to explore sustainable funding options for workforce housing. Prior to joining St. John’s, he served as CEO for Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.
Kevin Stansbury. CEO of Lincoln Health (Hugo, Colo.). Mr. Stansbury is the CEO of Lincoln Health, a critical access hospital and health system in Hugo, Colo. He is a dynamic leader with a knack for building a positive culture in his team. He is constantly looking to involve others around him, open up discussion, and look to improve the health care services for the eastern plains of Colorado.
Pam Stewart. CEO of Washington County Regional Medical Center (Sandersville, Ga.). Ms. Stewart leads Washington County Regional Medical Center, a 56-bed hospital with a 60-bed extended care facility in rural middle Georgia, where her connection to the organization spans decades. It began with childhood hours spent in the hospital kitchen where her mother worked as food service manager and dietician, and continued through a nursing career that started at the medical center in 1992. Ms. Stewart advanced through nursing leadership roles including director of nursing and CNO before spending nearly a decade as a nurse surveyor at The Joint Commission, an experience that deepened her expertise in accreditation standards and broad healthcare operations. She then returned to the medical center as CEO in 2023. Under her leadership, a hospital once commonly found on lists of facilities at risk of closure earned a spot on the Chartis 2026 “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals” list, achieved a significant financial turnaround, expanded orthopedic surgery services and is set to open a brand new emergency department in spring 2026. Ms. Stewart has also channeled her personal resilience into community impact following a 2017 stage 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme diagnosis, founding the Pam Stewart Cancer Foundation to support brain cancer research and spreading a message of hope to others facing similar battles. She serves on the Washington County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the executive committee of the UGA Archway Partnership with Washington County.
Bobby Stitt. Chief Administrative Officer of Mercy Hospital Ada (Okla.). Mr. Stitt leads Mercy Hospital Ada as chief administrative officer, bringing nearly two decades of progressive nursing and hospital leadership experience across rural Oklahoma. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Stitt began his healthcare career in 2006 as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City (Okla.) before joining Kingfisher (Okla.) Regional Hospital in 2007, where he served as director of medical/surgical and obstetrics and later advanced to CNO. He subsequently served as administrator of Mercy Hospital Kingfisher, Mercy Hospital Logan County in Guthrie, Okla. and Mercy Hospital Watonga (Okla.), all critical access hospitals. Mr. Stitt’s clinical foundation as a registered nurse informs his executive approach, giving him a frontline perspective on patient care that complements his operational and administrative responsibilities.
Trena Stocker. President of Mercy Health–Marcum & Wallace Hospitals (Irvine, Ky.). In 2019, Ms. Stocker stepped into the role of president for Mercy Health–Marcum and Wallace Hospitals. Her strengths lie in planning, growth strategies and the oversight of daily operations. In addition to her work overseeing departments like respiratory, sleep lab, speech therapy and specialty clinic, she takes regular rotations as administrator and nursing administrator on call. During her tenure, the hospital has received several grants to improve population health, expand the quick response team, promote health equity, purchase new equipment and more. Ms. Stocker brings nearly 30 years of healthcare leadership and clinical experience to her position.
Kurt Stuenkel. President of Atrium Health Floyd (Rome, Ga.). Mr. Stuenkel has led Atrium Health Floyd since 1996, building a nearly three-decade record of preserving and expanding access to care through a system that now encompasses three hospitals, a freestanding behavioral health hospital, multiple medical practices and urgent care centers, and more than 5,200 teammates. He guided the successful public-private partnership that resulted in the construction of Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Ga., and intervened to preserve hospital and emergency medical services for more than 25,000 residents in Cherokee County, Ala., investing more than $1 million to modernize emergency and imaging services. Mr. Stuenkel also led the investment of more than $18 million to build Georgia’s first standalone, ground-up emergency department in Chattooga County, and introduced methodologies that have produced more than 17,000 documented improvements and over $230 million in annualized savings. He championed workforce development investments including a nearly $1.1 million commitment to Georgia Northwestern Technical College, 100 additional annual nursing student slots at Georgia Highlands College and a $2 million investment to launch a physician associate program at Berry College focused on rural health. In 2025, he received both the Georgia Hospital Association “W. Daniel Barker Leadership Award” and the University System of Georgia Foundation’s “Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award.” He was also named to Georgia Trend Magazine‘s “Georgia 500” list of influential Georgians.
Todd Suntrapak. President and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare (Madera, Calif.). Mr. Suntrapak leads Valley Children’s Healthcare, one of the nation’s few freestanding pediatric health systems, serving more than 1.3 million children across a 45,000-square-mile service area in California’s Central Valley, a primarily rural region where 73% of patients rely on Medicare or Medi-Cal and more than 100 languages are spoken. Under his leadership, the system has expanded from a single pediatric hospital into a comprehensive regional healthcare delivery network, maintaining continuous Joint Commission accreditation, an “AA” rating from Standard & Poor’s and recognition as a top children’s hospital by Leapfrog and a U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospital.” Mr. Suntrapak is guiding the development of The Hill, a mixed-use retail and residential campus designed to generate non-patient revenue to sustain the system’s quaternary and tertiary services, and is overseeing the creation of the nation’s first pediatric hospital microgrid, targeting net zero carbon emissions and continuous power self-sufficiency by 2030. He partnered with Fresno State to commit to increasing nursing school graduates by 50% in five years and launched a paid internship program through which more than 120 students have progressed since 2023. Mr. Suntrapak also led a pioneering international partnership with Armenia’s Wigmore Woman’s and Children’s Hospital, resulting in Valley Children’s physicians training Armenian surgeons who in April 2025 successfully performed the first operations in Armenia on children with drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy. He has served three terms as chair of the California Children’s Hospital Association and currently sits on the California Hospital Association executive committee and the American Hospital Association region nine policy board.
Eric Swanson. President of Adventist Health Tillamook (Ore.). Mr. Swanson has spent his career serving the Tillamook community, beginning as a teen volunteer and progressing through more than 20 roles before becoming president of Adventist Health Tillamook, a critical access hospital on Oregon’s north coast. A licensed paramedic since 1989, Mr. Swanson has guided the hospital through pandemics, wildfires, winter storms and flooding in one of the most presidentially declared disaster-prone counties on the West Coast. He also chairs the Tillamook County emergency management committee. Among his most significant recent accomplishments, he led the reopening of the Tillamook Kidney Center in 2025, restoring local dialysis services after a closure had forced medically vulnerable patients to travel long distances multiple times per week for life-sustaining treatment. Mr. Swanson also led a $22 million surgical services expansion and championed passage of a $14.4 million bond for a health education facility at the local community college to strengthen the rural workforce pipeline. Under his leadership, Adventist Health Tillamook achieved a 4-star CMS hospital rating in 2025 and received the 2025 “Oregon Rural Health Excellence Award” from Oregon Rural Health for its community-based nursing services program. He serves on the board of the Columbia Pacific Coordinated Care Organization and the Tillamook Family Counseling Center.
Tri Tang, DBA. President of Atrium Health Lincoln (N.C.). Dr. Tang leads Atrium Health Lincoln with more than 20 years of healthcare operations and strategy experience, grounded in his early service as a U.S. Army combat medic. Under his leadership, the hospital achieved its first-ever Magnet Recognition with distinction, expanded spinal surgery services, launched hospital at home, and grew a school-based virtual therapy program. The virtual program now operates across 10 counties and 170 schools, making it the largest such program in the Southeast, completing nearly 4,000 virtual visits with 69% of students returning to class the same day. Dr. Tang partnered with Gaston College and Lincoln County Schools to launch the Lincoln County Health Academy in fall 2024, the first program in the state to offer a practical nursing pathway for high school students, earning the 2025 Governor’s “NCWorks Award of Distinction” for outstanding innovative partnership. Atrium Health Lincoln has earned consecutive “A” Leapfrog hospital safety grades, a CMS 5-star rating and recognition on Newsweek‘s “World’s Best Hospitals” list. Dr. Tang currently serves as a lieutenant in the Navy Reserve Medical Service Corps, chairs the American Hospital Association “LEAD Roundtable” and is a recipient of the American College of Healthcare Executives’ “Regent Award.”
Craig Thompson. CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (Clinton, Mo.). Mr. Thompson has led Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, a rural health system in west-central Missouri comprising a 56-bed hospital, several clinics, outpatient services and a cancer center, after beginning his career there more than 20 years ago as a physical therapist. Under his leadership, the organization opened the Dr. James and JoAnn Bourland Radiation Oncology Center, a new therapy facility in Warsaw, Mo., and invested in the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system and a state-of-the-art CT scanner, expanding clinically advanced care close to home. Mr. Thompson received the Missouri Hospital Association’s “Visionary Leadership Award” in November 2024, and the system has earned recognition including a Leapfrog “A” hospital safety grade, U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” designation for 2025-2026, and the Missouri Hospital Association’s “Compass Honor” in 2026. He launched the “At Last Pediatric Asthma Care at Home” telehealth program to overcome rural access barriers for children, and developed a simulation-based nurse education program funded through a federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant. Mr. Thompson currently serves on the American Hospital Association regional policy board and is a past chair of the Missouri Hospital Association board of trustees.
Robert J. Trenschel, DO. President and CEO of Onvida Health (Yuma, Ariz.). Mr. Trenschel leads Onvida Health, a 430-bed independent rural health system located 10 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. He has done so for more than a decade, committing $438 million in investments over five years to modernize and expand healthcare infrastructure in one of the country’s most challenging payer environments, where 83% of patients are covered by government programs. A board-certified family physician, Dr. Trenschel has overseen the opening of a new campus, a 24-bed behavioral health hospital and an expanded cancer center, while growing the system’s robotic surgery program to seven surgical robots and adding more than 65 clinical services over his tenure. He spearheaded Arizona’s first rural regional medical school branch in partnership with the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, offering full-tuition scholarships through a three-year primary care pathway designed to train and retain physicians in rural communities, complementing a family and community medicine residency program that has graduated 65 physicians with a 100% board pass rate. Dr. Trenschel also initiated a first-of-its-kind partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to construct a $33 million outpatient clinic bringing primary and specialty services to local veterans, with construction beginning in 2026. During his tenure, Onvida Health earned the Baldrige Foundation’s “Leadership Excellence in Healthcare Award,” a Forbes “Best Employer” designation and the “Pathway to Excellence” designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, making it the first hospital in Arizona to receive that honor. Dr. Trenschel currently serves as chairman of the board of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Daryle Voss. President of Mercy Southern Oklahoma Communities (Ardmore). Mr. Voss oversees five rural hospitals in southern Oklahoma with total annual net revenues of over $400 million. Under his leadership, Mercy Hospital Ardmore (Okla.) made the Forbes list of “America’s Top Hospitals” in 2025 and was recognized as a 2025 “Certified Healthy Business” by the State of Oklahoma. Mercy Ardmore and Mercy Ada (Okla.) have had consistent CMS 4-star ratings along with Leapfrog safety grades of “A.” Mr. Voss has served on many boards and committees and worked with numerous community organizations. These include several Chambers of Commerce and Rotary Clubs. Mr. Voss also is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was honored with its “Early Career Achievement Award” in 2002. He also received the “Advocacy in Action Award” by the Oklahoma Hospital Association in 2020. Mr. Voss currently serves on the Oklahoma Hospital Association board of directors as well as the American Hospital Association’s region seven policy board.
Michael Waldrum, MD. CEO of ECU Health (Greenville, N.C.). As CEO of ECU Health and dean of the university’s medical school, Dr. Waldrum oversees ECU Health and Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University team members. The academic health system is focused specifically on rural care across 29 counties. Dr. Waldrum has been an outspoken advocate for Medicaid expansion, appealing to elected officials and the public in support of critical funding for rural health care in the state. Dr. Waldrum is devoted to improving rural health care for eastern North Carolina and beyond.
David Walz. CEO and President of Madelia (Minn.) Health. Mr. Walz has led a financial and cultural turnaround at Madelia Health, transforming it into an award-winning, fully independent critical access hospital and healthcare system. Under his leadership, the organization achieved positive net income for the first time in years and earned multiple accolades for workplace excellence. Mr. Walz has fostered a culture of transparency and trust, with a caregiver retention rate exceeding 90% and strong community volunteerism. He has strategically partnered with external high-performing organizations while controlling costs and increasing service access across the region. As founding CEO of the Headwaters High Value Network and regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives Minnesota Chapter, he leads collaborative efforts to improve rural health statewide. With a background in women’s health and kidney care programs, he brings operational expertise and mission-driven leadership to the forefront of rural hospital excellence.
Chris Ware. CEO of Russellville (Ala.) Hospital. Mr. Ware leads Russellville Hospital, a community-based rural hospital serving Franklin County and the surrounding region in northwest Alabama, where he has focused on strengthening access to quality care, workforce development and long-term financial sustainability. Under his leadership, Russellville Hospital has earned DNV hospital accreditation, a CMS 5-star rating and recognition among the top 10 cleanest hospitals in Alabama. Mr. Ware prioritizes cultivating a supportive workplace culture and community partnerships, serving on the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Alabama Hospital Association state and regulatory committee and the Russellville Hospital foundation board. He began his healthcare career as a respiratory therapist before advancing through COO and CEO roles at Panola Medical Center in Batesville, Miss., bringing operational and executive experience to his current position.
Lindsay Weber. President and CEO at Avera St. Benedict Health Center (Parkston, S.D.). Ms. Weber brought 17 years of experience as a frontline, rural care RN and nurse practitioner to the CEO role, which she began in 2022. Her facility includes three rural health clinics, a critical access hospital, and a center for assisted living and long-term care. As a provider, she pioneered critical access hospital hospitalist services, a model largely unheard of in rural settings. Now, Ms. Weber guides retention and recruitment efforts. Despite nationwide shortages, she helped establish psychiatry outreach and behavioral health counseling for the region. Ms. Weber helped increase clinic revenues through EHR efficiency, provider education and use of practices like patient self-rooming.
Meagan Weber, DPT. CEO at Scotland County Hospital (Memphis, Mo.). Dr. Weber, CEO of Scotland County Hospital since 2022, has led a financial and operational turnaround rooted in community commitment and healthcare access. She has secured hundreds of thousands in new revenue through targeted cost report reforms and pricing strategies, strengthening the hospital’s long-term financial outlook. A former director of therapy services and co-COO, Dr. Weber brings deep organizational knowledge and a multidisciplinary leadership approach to her role. She actively partners with the National Rural Health Association and U.S. Department of Agriculture to recruit qualified providers and promote sustainable rural healthcare models. Dr. Weber is also a frequent speaker and advocate for rural health.
Ken Westman. CEO of Riverwood Healthcare Center (Atkin, Minn.). Mr. Westman has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare field, 10 of which were spent as CEO of Dillon, Mont.-based Barrett Hospital & Healthcare. Mr. Westman began his current role as CEO of the 475-person, 25-bed center Riverwood Healthcare Center in 2022.
Chris Wibbenmeyer. Administrator at Mercy Hospital Perry (Perryville, Mo.). As administrator, Mr. Wibbenmeyer is responsible for overseeing operations of Mercy Hospital Perry, a 25-bed critical access hospital. He also oversees primary care and specialty care clinics that employ more than 400 caregivers. Under his leadership, Mercy Hospital Perry continues to raise its CMS star rating and forge strong community partnerships. The hospital has added occupational therapy for kindergarten students to help them through early developmental screenings and develop personalized learning strategies. It also added cognitive stimulation therapy to its care suite for older adults and those with dementia. Mercy Perry serves as a rotation location for Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. It also works closely with Mineral Area College to provide nursing education, including hosting a satellite campus for the college where students gain real life experience. Mercy Perry earned a “Rural Silver” recognition for stroke care from the American Heart Association in 2025. Mr. Wibbenmeyer has been a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2012 and was president of Missouri Hospital Association’s Southeast District Council in 2024. He has been with Mercy since 1998.
Kristie Williams, MSN, RN. President of Carilion Giles Community Hospital (Pearisburg, Va.). Ms. Williams serves as president of Carilion Giles Community Hospital and also oversees operations at Carilion Tazewell (Va.) Community Hospital, leading access expansion across rural southwest Virginia. With more than 25 years at Carilion Clinic, she has driven significant growth in specialty access, bringing services such as ear, nose and throat, urology, neurosurgery, pulmonology, cardiology and orthopedics to local communities. She played a key role in advancing the system’s swing bed strategy, increasing volumes while enabling patients to recover closer to home and easing capacity constraints at tertiary facilities. Ms. Williams also led the deployment of robotic support team members at Giles, making it the first hospital in western Virginia to adopt this innovation to enhance staff and patient experience. She expanded virtual and telemedicine services at Tazewell to increase access to specialty care in remote areas. Recognized with Carilion’s highest honor, the “President’s Award,” she aims to advance rural care delivery through innovation, workforce support and community-focused leadership.
Sue Ann Williams. Administrator at Mercy Hospital Stoddard (Dexter, Mo.). Ms. Williams leads Mercy Hospital Stoddard, a 43-bed hospital that saw 9,600 emergency department visits and 41,200 outpatient visits in the last year. She led the hospital through a successful transition to the St. Louis-based Mercy health system in January 2024 and the implementation of the EHR system in the hospital and clinics in July 2025. The hospital works closely with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, serving as a rotation location. Under Ms. Williams’ leadership, Mercy Hospital Stoddard became one of only 13 hospitals in the state with a 5-star patient recommendation based on patient survey data from CMS. Ms. Williams is a past president of the Missouri Hospital Association, SoutheastHEALTH District Council. She is also an active community volunteer, working with organizations like the Regional Healthcare Foundation, Stoddard County Health Care Coalition, Dexter Chamber of Commerce and local Kiwanis club. For this work, Ms. Williams was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce in 2025. She has been administrator at the Dexter hospital since 2015.
Francine Witt, DNP. President and CEO of Effingham Health System (Springfield, Ga.). Dr. Witt leads a rural critical access healthcare system comprising a 25-bed hospital, a level 4 trauma emergency department, specialty clinics including oncology, cardiology, orthopedics and pediatrics, and a skilled nursing facility. Under her leadership, patient volumes have significantly increased, highlighted by the 2025 launch of pediatric ear-nose-throat surgery and an award-winning school-based telemedicine program. Dr. Witt has transformed the health system into Georgia’s only critical access hospital offering robotic surgery, all while improving throughput in the emergency department to reduce wait times below national averages. She has secured vital funding and regional partnerships to advance health equity, maintain fiscal health, and expand infrastructure and technology. Dr. Witt is the first African American woman hospital CEO in Georgia. She also serves on multiple state and national healthcare boards and has been nationally recognized for her innovation in rural healthcare.
Jason Wren. CEO of Medical City Decatur (Texas). Mr. Wren has led Medical City Decatur, a 150-bed rural community hospital, since 2017, guiding the organization through its 2023 acquisition by Medical City Healthcare and steering a strong financial recovery in 2025 after a period of serious fiscal challenges, during which employee retention increased by 57%. Under his leadership, the hospital performed the first atrial fibrillation ablation procedure in Wise County in 2025 and added orthopedic spine care services, while a $400,000 emergency department renovation modernized facilities and technology. Medical City Decatur earned the American College of Cardiology’s “NCDR Chest Pain—MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award” in 2025, placing it among only 323 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor, and an American Heart Association “Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus” quality achievement award in 2024. An attorney by background, Mr. Wren practiced law privately before joining the hospital as general counsel in 2013 and ascending to CEO in 2017. He serves on the board of directors for the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals, is president of the City of Decatur’s economic development corporation board and co-founded Acts 4 Others, a nonprofit combating homelessness in the community. Mr. Wren is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Jeff Zewe. President and CEO of Northern Maine Medical Center (Fort Kent). As president and CEO of Northern Maine Medical Center, Mr. Zewe oversees all aspects of hospital and nursing home operations, financial health and governance. Since joining, he has led a financial turnaround that brought the organization from years of debt to breaking even, all while improving operational stability. Under his leadership, both patient satisfaction and quality metrics have significantly increased, resulting in multiple quality awards for the hospital and its skilled nursing facility. Northern Maine Medical Center was named a Newsweek “Best in State Hospital” for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Before relocating to Maine, he held leadership roles at Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network.
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
