The community hospital CEOs recognized here are community stewards, strategic visionaries and patient advocates. While acute care remains central to their mission, these forward-thinking executives also prioritize expanding their institutions’ offerings, making sure to weave primary care, specialty treatments, rehabilitation and public health programs into a broader picture of community health.
Simultaneously, they are shaping the cultures that attract and retain talented caregivers, building the long-term strategies that position their hospitals for growth, and maintaining the financial discipline that keeps high-quality, cost-effective care within reach for their communities.
Note: Becker’s Healthcare developed this list based on nominations and editorial research. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of included leaders or associated healthcare providers. Leaders cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Leaders are presented in alphabetical order. We extend a special thank you to Rhoda Weiss for her contributions to this list.
Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments.
Bob Adams. Senior Vice President of Atlantic Health (Morristown, N.J.) and President of Atlantic Health Hackettstown (N.J.) and Atlantic Health Newton (N.J.) Medical Centers. Mr. Adams serves as president of Atlantic Health Hackettstown and Atlantic Health Newton Medical Centers, where he oversees operations and ensures quality, safety and financial integrity across both community hospitals and their ambulatory operations. He also serves as senior vice president at their broader system, Atlantic Health. Since arriving in 2019, Mr. Adams has become embedded in the communities the two hospitals serve, and under his leadership both facilities have earned quality recognitions from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Healthgrades, The Leapfrog Group and U.S. News & World Report. Atlantic Health Newton earned Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in May 2025 and was named one of Healthgrades’ “100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care and Critical Care” for a third consecutive year in 2026, while Atlantic Health Hackettstown ranked in the top 10% nationally for overall pulmonary services and critical care for two years running this year. Atlantic Health Newton also earned a high-performing designation in stroke from U.S. News & World Report in 2026. Mr. Adams was recognized through the American College of Healthcare Executives with its “Early Career Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award” in 2010. Before joining Atlantic Health, he served as COO and then president of Southern Ocean Medical Center, part of Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health.
M. Shafeeq Ahmed, MD. President at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center (Columbia, Md.). As president, Dr. Ahmed is responsible for the overall operation and direction of Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. He also serves as president of the Howard Hospital Foundation, an assistant professor in the department of gynecology/obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and affiliate faculty within the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he served as incident commander and interim president, leading the hospital through the crisis and establishing what became the only inpatient Covid-19 behavioral health unit in Maryland. After being named permanent president, Dr. Ahmed revamped the executive team, reduced staff turnover and increased employee engagement while adding two inpatient units and overseeing a hospital name change. Under his leadership, the hospital achieved its initial Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and its first Joint Commission certification for its total hip and knee program, and it was ranked No. 7 in Maryland on U.S. News & World Report‘s 2023-24 “Best Hospitals” list, with high-performing marks in nine procedures and conditions. The hospital also earned the Executive Alliance’s “Honor Roll Award for Women’s Representation,” was named one of nurse.org’s “10 Best Nurse Residency Programs” and improved its Leapfrog hospital safety score from a “C” to a “B.” Dr. Ahmed serves on the Howard County Economic Development Authority. He previously served as COO and chief medical officer of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region in Springfield, Mass., and was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Medical Corps.
Kandice Allen. CEO of Share Medical Center (Alva, Okla.). Ms. Allen oversees Share Medical Center, which consists of a 25-bed critical access center, two rural health clinics, one outreach clinic, an 80-bed nursing home and The Homestead, a 52-unit independent living center. She joined the organization over three decades ago and worked alongside providers and staff to drive improvements in patient care, culture and communication. Ultimately, she was promoted to CEO in July 2011. Ms. Allen also serves as a board member for the Oklahoma Hospital Association.
Brett Altman. CEO of Cass Health (Atlantic, Iowa). Dr. Altman has led Cass Health through an organizationwide rebrand in 2021, leading to recognition by the National Rural Hospital Association. Under his leadership, the hospital has nearly doubled patient volume and market share while recruiting new providers to expand access to rural care across southwest Iowa. Cass Health completed a $20 million remodel using operating revenue, without incurring debt, between 2020 and 2023. In 2023, the hospital received an $849,000 grant to launch a healthcare career apprenticeship program aimed at growing the nursing workforce. Dr. Altman’s leadership also earned the organization designation as a rural hospital center of excellence for maternal health outreach. He also holds roles with the Iowa Hospital Association, local boards and professional associations. Mr. Altman is retiring this year, and will be part of the leadership team through January 1, 2027.
Michael Antoniades. President of UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital (Harvey, Ill.). Mr. Antoniades serves as president of UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital, a 103-year-old safety-net community hospital, where he has led the hospital’s integration with UChicago Medicine since 2023 and now serves as interim chair of the Ingalls Development Foundation Board. Since joining as interim president in March 2023, he has overseen a financial and operational turnaround that moved the hospital from a significant earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization loss to strong profitability between fiscal years 2023 and 2025. Under his leadership, outpatient visits through the family care centers grew by more than 26%, interventional cardiology expanded by 90%, inpatient behavioral health volume rose 30% and home health grew by 32%, among other service-line gains. Mr. Antoniades has also driven clinical integration with the biological sciences division and UChicago Medical Group, expanding surgical services to include colorectal, bariatric, surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology, thoracic and neurosurgery programs. He also guided the hospital toward Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approval of a family medicine residency, with an internal medicine residency and academic community hospital designation expected in 2027. He has also prioritized workforce stability, cutting agency spending by more than 50% in two years and reducing nursing turnover to 10-12%. He founded the Ingalls Leadership Circle, a 12-month mentoring program for mid-career leaders now in its third cohort. Mr. Antoniades previously served as executive vice president and COO of Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., and founder and principal of Alfa Healthcare Group, a healthcare consulting firm.
Sandy Badinger. CEO of Slidell (La.) Memorial Hospital. Ms. Badinger is CEO of the Slidell division, which includes 223-bed Slidell Memorial Hospital, the Slidell Memorial Hospital East campus, and related clinics and outpatient facilities. As CEO, she sets the hospital’s strategic direction, formulates policies, and ensures adherence to legal and regulatory standards. She maintains the hospital’s fiscal health through budgeting, revenue generation and cost control measures. She also provides operational oversight, collaborating with service line leaders to optimize processes across all areas of care delivery and back-office functions. Prioritizing patient wellbeing, Ms. Badinger champions quality improvement initiatives, monitors patient outcomes and upholds stringent standards of care. Beyond the hospital’s walls, she fosters relationships with local stakeholders and promotes the hospital’s services within the community. Ms. Badinger also led a year-long project to integrate two separate healthcare facilities, furthering an existing partnership between Slidell Memorial Hospital and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health to create Slidell Memorial Main and East campus hospitals. Thanks to the endeavor, the system has seen expanded access to care, the implementation of new technology and improvements in patient safety.
Denyse Bales-Chubb. President and CEO of AdventHealth Palm Coast and Market CEO for Flagler and St. Johns Counties (Fla.). Ms. Bales-Chubb oversees strategy and daily operations of AdventHealth’s care network across two of Florida’s fast-growing counties. She leads two hospitals, three outpatient centers, and expansion efforts to meet the region’s rising demand for healthcare services. Since taking on her current role in 2022, she has led several major projects to improve access to care, including investing more than $200 million in the local care infrastructure. In 2023, she oversaw the opening of AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway, a 100-bed hospital built to relieve capacity pressures in the area. Earlier this year, the Freytag Cancer Center in Palm Coast opened, bringing enhanced radiation therapy and oncology services to the community. She also led groundbreaking for AdventHealth’s first facility in St. Johns County, a 12-bed offsite emergency department. Ms. Bales-Chubb’s career spans more than 30 years, including previous CEO roles at AdventHealth Tampa (Fla.) and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (Fla.). In an earlier leadership position in California, she helped integrate new hospitals into a larger system. In addition to her operational work, she serves on the board of Florida Hospital Association’s rural hospital council, helping ensure the voice of her community is heard at the state level.
Michael D. Barber. CEO at Penn Medicine Lancaster (Pa.) General Health. Mr. Barber became CEO of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health in February 2026. He took on the role after serving as interim CEO the previous year and as the system’s COO beginning in 2023, following a 27-year tenure on the senior leadership team at Penn Medicine’s Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pa. He provides executive leadership for Lancaster General Health’s community hospitals and facilities, including Lancaster General Hospital and Women & Babies Hospital, the Downtown and Suburban outpatient pavilions, and a network of more than 500 primary and specialty care physicians across more than 40 offices. Under his leadership, it has expanded access to advanced care through its integration with other facilities that are part of Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine, including proton therapy and CAR T-cell therapy for cancer at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute. Mr. Barber serves as a board member of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, and also serves on the boards of Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital and Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital.
Kay Barnett. CEO of AdventHealth Minneola (Fla.). Ms. Barnett is committed to enhancing the wellbeing of the communities served by AdventHealth. As CEO of AdventHealth Minneola, she leads a high-performing healthcare team serving South Lake County. Ms. Barnett is focused on bringing AdventHealth’s whole-person care model to the new hospital by prioritizing clinical excellence, expanding access and delivering compassionate, high-quality care. Under her leadership, the organization is driving strategic growth in the county via community investments. A seasoned health care executive with 13 years of experience in business development, strategic planning and operations, she has played a pivotal role in advancing the AdventHealth Central Florida Division and positioning it for continued growth.
Dara Bartels. CEO at Mile Bluff Medical Center (Mauston, Wis.). Ms. Bartels is the strategic and operational leader of Mile Bluff Medical Center, an independent rural health system serving more than 55,000 residents across eight counties in south-central Wisconsin while competing with large academic medical centers in Madison. She piloted and rolled out an AI-powered solution embedded directly in the EHR that saved clinicians more than seven minutes per patient encounter and reclaimed hundreds of administrative hours each month, with the technology reaching departments including health information management, obstetrics, outreach clinics, pharmacies, infusion centers, wound care and the emergency department. She oversees the medical center’s continuum of life mission, ensuring comprehensive care from birth to end-of-life across acute care, rehabilitation and specialized service lines. Ms. Bartels has driven capital improvements including facility expansions and enhanced service lines, transitioned the organization to a subscription-based software model to support financial sustainability, and updated ambulatory solutions to create a unified patient record across all care settings. She brings more than 20 years of healthcare finance and executive experience, including prior leadership roles at Mile Bluff as CFO and earlier positions at La Crosse, Wis.-based Gundersen Health System and UnityPoint Health in West Des Moines, Iowa. The medical center earned a 2024 “Performance Leadership Award” from the Chartis Center for Rural Health.
Kurt Barwis. President and CEO of Bristol (Conn.) Health. Since becoming CEO of Bristol Health in 2006, Mr. Barwis has driven transformation centered on patient satisfaction, operational excellence and health equity. His leadership expanded community health programs targeting chronic diseases and mental health services, while also earning Bristol Health a Leapfrog “Top Hospital” designation and Magnet recognition for nursing excellence. Mr. Barwis championed partnerships to address social determinants of health and boosted employee engagement through wellness initiatives and professional development. His efforts resulted in accolades from Healthgrades, as well as national rankings in patient safety and community service. Mr. Barwis serves on the American Hospital Association board of trustees and is a past governor of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He will retire at the beginning of January 2027.
Russell Baxley. President and CEO at Beaufort (S.C.) Memorial. Mr. Baxley serves as president and CEO of Beaufort Memorial, where he directs strategic expansion across the South Carolina Lowcountry, oversees systemwide operations, and leads physician and provider recruitment efforts, having recruited more than 150 providers to make the community hospital the region’s largest primary care provider. Under his leadership, Beaufort Memorial expanded service lines including urology, psychiatry and plastic surgery, partnered with Yuma, Ariz.-based Amedisys Home Health, and introduced robot-assisted surgery and the “BMH Care Anywhere” telehealth platform, while surgical volumes more than doubled from 5,000 procedures to more than 12,000 in 2025. Mr. Baxley has led major capital projects, including the development of Bluffton (S.C.) Community Hospital and an emergency department/urgent care on Hilton Head Island, a $25 million surgical pavilion renovation supported by $18 million in federal funding, and roughly $5 million in upgrades to the angiography suite, interventional radiology, MRI and cardiac cath labs. To address workforce needs, he created the “People Achieving Their Highest” program and the PATH Career Development Center, and he led the development of an employer-subsidized childcare center and workforce housing initiatives. In 2025 alone, Beaufort Memorial provided $35.6 million in uncompensated charity care and Mr. Baxley guided more than $100,000 annually in support to local nonprofits. He has also led the hospital through a crisis, directing an evacuation during Hurricane Matthew in just his second week on the job and later steering the organization through the Covid-19 pandemic. He serves as president of nonprofit South of Broad Healthcare and Broad River Healthcare, as well as on the boards of the South Carolina Hospital Association and the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Robert “Bob” Begliomini, PharmD. President of Jefferson Health–Lehigh Valley Region (Allentown, Pa.). Dr. Begliomini has spent more than 30 years in healthcare and currently serves as president of Jefferson Health’s Lehigh Valley Region, providing executive leadership for a network of community hospitals. He oversees the following: Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th Street in Allentown, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Tilghman in in Allentown, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton (Pa.), Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill in Pottsville, Pa., Lehigh Valley Hospital-Carbon in Lehighton, Pa., Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono in East Stroudsburg, Pa., Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Allentown, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City (Pa.) and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, Pa. When a fire broke out on the roof of an outpatient orthopedic area at LVH-Dickson City in February 2026 and spread through the building, Dr. Begliomini directed a response that safely evacuated every patient, visitor and staff member and transferred 77 patients, including six in the ICU, to other area hospitals with no loss of life. Under his leadership, the hospital’s emergency department reopened within eight days, orthopedic, rheumatology and podiatry services were relocated to nearby facilities, and nearly 250 patients received care within the first three days of reopening. Dr. Begliomini first began his career as a pharmacy administrator and spent more than a decade at LVH-Muhlenberg, rising to vice president and senior vice president of operations during a period when the hospital opened a family health pavilion, including a family birth and newborn center and a level 2 neonatal ICU, and earned level 2 trauma center accreditation. He is a fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and serves on the board of trustees for ArtsQuest and the board of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. He received the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 “Frank L. Marcon Award,” was named to the 2023 Lehigh Valley Business “Power List for Healthcare,” and was included on City & State Pennsylvania‘s “Healthcare Trailblazer List” for 2024.
Deirdre A. Blaus. Chief Administrative Officer at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (Somerville, N.J.). Ms. Blaus has served at the helm of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset since April 2025, overseeing daily operations at the 343-bed hospital, which employs 2,100 people and a medical staff of 900 physicians. The hospital records 15,000 admissions, 134,000 outpatient visits and 52,000 emergency department visits annually. In her 10 years in various leadership roles at the hospital, she has led the expansion of its cancer services and helped the hospital earn three consecutive “A” patient safety scores from the Leapfrog Group, as well as recognition among Healthgrades’ “America’s 250 Best Hospitals” for three consecutive years. Ms. Blaus oversaw the completion of a 76,000-square-foot two-story vertical expansion, the largest construction project on the hospital’s campus in nearly two decades, which opened in February 2025 with 45 all-private patient rooms and brought the hospital’s medical/surgical rooms to two-thirds single-occupancy, along with a new 18-bed rapid decision unit. Under her leadership, the hospital has also added technologies including focused ultrasound for essential tremors, cardiac PET/CT, the Mako Robot for joint replacement and Aquablation therapy for benign prostate disease. In 2025, the hospital conducted more than 500 community outreach events, reaching 53,000 people. The community hospital also operates the Healing Homes transitional housing program, which provides two homes for local families facing financial hardship due to illness. Ms. Blaus serves on the board and executive committee of the Somerset County Business Partnership and on the boards of Safe + Sound Somerset and the Raritan Valley Community College Foundation. She first joined RWJUH Somerset in November 2015 as director of the Steeplechase Cancer Center and rose through several roles, including vice president of cancer services and business development and vice president of operations, before being appointed interim chief administrative officer in June 2024.
Edward “Eddie” Borrego. Senior Vice President and CEO at Jackson South Medical Center (Miami) and Jackson West Medical Center (Doral, Fla.). Mr. Borrego serves as senior vice president and CEO of both Jackson West Medical Center and Jackson South Medical Center, overseeing strategic leadership, operational performance and long-term growth at two rapidly evolving community hospitals. At Jackson West, Miami-based Jackson Health System’s first academic medical center in Doral and its first built-to-suit campus, he led the multiyear planning, design and execution of the $280 million project before its 2021 opening, which included a 100-bed hospital, a diagnostic center, outpatient clinics, adult and pediatric emergency rooms and an ambulatory medical pavilion. The campus filled a critical gap in access to high-quality care for the rapidly growing Doral and west Miami-Dade area. At Jackson South, a 262-bed acute care hospital, Mr. Borrego has directed clinical operations, service line development and performance improvement initiatives, first as COO and now as CEO, strengthening the hospital’s role in trauma, emergency and specialty care for South Miami-Dade. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he played a key role in countywide testing and vaccination efforts aimed at ensuring equitable access for vulnerable populations. Before joining Jackson Health System, Mr. Borrego served as chief of staff to a Miami-Dade commissioner and as South Florida regional director for a U.S. senator. He currently serves on the boards of the Orange Bowl Committee, Voice for Children, the World Trade Center Miami and the Prospera Business Fund.
Stephen Bowerman. President and CEO at Midland (Texas) Health. Mr. Bowerman serves as president and CEO of Midland Health, a system anchored by Midland Memorial Hospital, a 540-bed community hospital that holds level 3 trauma center status and the highest Leapfrog safety grade in the region, a “B.” He oversees a growing network of employed physician practices spanning cardiology, neurology, orthopedic surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, and he is leading a $157 million campus expansion designed to increase capacity and modernize facilities. Mr. Bowerman also provides executive oversight for a 200-bed behavioral health hospital developed through a joint venture with the State of Texas, meant to expand access to behavioral health services across West Texas. He has championed workforce culture initiatives, including the relaunch of Midland Health’s “Culture of Ownership” program, an organizationwide effort focused on accountability and shared purpose. Under his leadership, Midland Health has earned its fourth American Nurses Credentialing Center “Pathway to Excellence” designation in 2023, as well as its third nurse residency program accreditation through the ANCC’s “Practice Transition Accreditation Program” in 2025. The hospital also holds American College of Surgeons “National Surgical Quality Improvement Program” recognition for meritorious surgical outcomes and multiple American Heart Association “Mission: Lifeline” gold-level awards. Mr. Bowerman first joined Midland Health in 2009 and rose from CFO to COO before being named president and CEO in April 2023. He also serves as a board member for Senior Life Midland and the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center.
Robert Braithwaite. President and CEO of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian (Newport Beach, Calif.). Mr. Braithwaite serves as president and CEO of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, leading a 20-member executive leadership team and overseeing two community hospitals and the Hoag Orthopedic Institute, totaling approximately 600 beds and more than 6,000 employees. Under his leadership, the community hospital system secured a $25 million donation to establish a facility dedicated to treating substance use disorders, set to open in 2028, and is completing a $1 billion expansion of its Irvine, Calif. campus, opening in fall 2026, which will add a women’s hospital and outpatient pavilion, a digestive health and cancer hospital and outpatient pavilion, and a surgical pavilion. The system has expanded to seven specialized institutes under his tenure, including cancer, spine and cardiovascular health. Mr. Braithwaite also oversees philanthropic efforts through the Hoag Hospital Foundation and community outreach programs tied to the hospital’s community benefit goals. During his tenure, Hoag has been named the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County by U.S. News & World Report for a ninth consecutive year in 2026, ranking No. 4 in the Los Angeles metro area and No. 9 in California. He previously served Hoag as COO from 2009 to 2013 and chief administrative officer of Hoag Hospital Irvine in 2010, following earlier roles including senior vice president of hospital operations, vice president of support services and director of materials management. Mr. Braithwaite serves on the boards of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and the Irvine Public School Foundation, and is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Aimee Brewer. President and CEO of Sturdy Health (Attleboro, Mass.). Since 2021, Ms. Brewer has led Sturdy Health through transformative growth as president and CEO of the independent, community-focused health system serving Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Under her leadership, the system achieved its first positive balance sheet in four years, with a $51.7 million net gain in fiscal year 2024 despite financial headwinds from uncompensated care and rising labor costs. Ms. Brewer spearheaded multiple capital projects, including a $60 million cancer and specialty care building and a $112 million emergency department expansion, and launched a landmark collaboration with Boston-based Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to bring world-class cancer services to the region. She has grown the provider network, modernized facilities and expanded key specialties. A recognized leader across state and national platforms, Ms. Brewer serves on the boards of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association and the American Hospital Association regional policy board.
Lisa A. Breza, MSN, RN. Chief Administrative Officer at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (N.J.). Ms. Breza serves as chief administrative officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, the hospital’s highest-ranking role, where she is responsible for all administrative aspects of the organization, regulatory compliance and aligning hospital strategy with the broader health system. She sits on the hospital’s board, its finance committee, its quality and patient safety committee and the medical executive committee. Her career at the community hospital spans 40 years, including as CNO, a role in which she led the nursing team to the hospital’s first Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She was appointed chief administrative officer in November 2023 after four months serving in the role on an interim basis, and since then has worked with the executive team to improve quality of care, patient satisfaction, nursing recruitment and financial performance. In 2024, Ms. Breza received the hospital’s inaugural DAISY Foundation “DAISY Nurse Leader Award” for leading by example. Under her leadership, RWJUH Hamilton has achieved a Leapfrog “A” hospital safety grade and was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a high-performing hospital for heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while remaining one of only two New Jersey hospitals to receive the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s “Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award.”
Chad Brown. President at 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 serves as president of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Lexington Medical Center, where he guides strategic direction, operational performance, workforce engagement and community partnerships for both rural hospitals. He has served as a rural healthcare CEO or president since 2011 and has strengthened Wilkes Medical Center’s rural obstetrics program, expanded behavioral health support through peer support specialists, prioritized virtual health and specialty consults, and established new cancer services and clinical trials in rural areas. Under his leadership, both medical centers have deepened partnerships with local community colleges to build career-pathway programs, clinical rotations and hands-on preceptorships that strengthen the rural workforce pipeline. Wilkes Medical Center earned the Leapfrog “Top Rural Hospital” designation under Mr. Brown’s leadership, and multiple facilities under his direction achieved U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “Energy Star” certification. He holds board appointments with the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce and the Davie Community Foundation. Prior to joining Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Mr. Brown served as CEO of Duke LifePoint’s Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro, N.C., where he was instrumental in integrating the hospital into the broader system.
Gregory Brown. Administrator of Ascension St. Vincent’s Blount Hospital (Oneonta, Ala.). Mr. Brown serves as hospital administrator of UAB St. Vincent’s Blount, where he oversees the evaluation, design and implementation of administrative strategies and systems, develops long-range strategic plans and short-range operating plans, and has oversight of the planning, coordination and delivery of patient care. He coordinates financial management for the hospital, including development of annual operating and capital budgets, variance analysis and monthly financial reporting, while monitoring the safety and quality of care across the facility. Under his leadership, the hospital has added a wide range of service lines, including inpatient and outpatient wound care, hospitalist medicine, a retail pharmacy, cardiopulmonary rehab, a two-bed sleep lab, an outpatient geri-psych program, an infusion clinic, hospice and respite care, a pain management program and two rural health clinics. Mr. Brown has also expanded telehealth services at the hospital to include telepsychiatry, telestroke, telecardiology, telenephrology, tele-hospitalist, tele-ICU and tele-trauma programs. The hospital recently added a large-bore MRI to its radiology department, as well as a 128-slice CT scanner. Beyond the hospital, Mr. Brown has served as president of the Oneonta Business Association for the past seven years and as Grand Knight of the local Knights of Columbus council for the past eight years.
Thomas Burke. Chief Administrative Officer at Clara Maass Medical Center (Belleville, N.J.). Mr. Burke has served as chief administrative officer of Clara Maass Medical Center, part of West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health, since February 2025. In the hospital’s top leadership role, he provides executive leadership and operational oversight for the hospital and partners with clinical leadership and system executives to drive strategic growth, quality and patient experience. With more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience spanning academic, mission-based, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, he brings a background as both a pharmacist and healthcare executive to his current role. Under his leadership, Clara Maass has earned 5-star distinctions from Healthgrades in cardiac care, bariatric surgery, orthopedics and women’s health, and has received a 12th “A” hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, along with Joint Commission certifications in stroke, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, cardiac rehabilitation, joint replacement and palliative care. The medical center is also one of only 101 hospitals nationwide named to Money.com’s first “Best Hospitals for Bariatric Surgery” list, and holds a bariatric surgery center of excellence designation from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Before joining Clara Maass, Mr. Burke served as president of the Hartford, Conn. market for Trinity Health Of New England, where he oversaw Saint Francis Hospital, a level 1 trauma center and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. Mr. Burke serves on the Connecticut Science Center’s board of trustees and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Connecticut Society of Health System Pharmacists.
Michael Calhoun. CEO at Citizens Memorial Hospital (Bolivar, Mo.). Mr. Calhoun leads Citizens Memorial Hospital, which serves an eight-county region in rural Missouri, treating more than 73,000 patients annually with a workforce of more than 2,200 staff. He has prioritized healthcare equity and access, helping it become one of only six hospitals in Missouri selected to pilot MO HealthNet’s “Transformation of Rural Community Health” program, which connects Medicaid recipients with social services through community partnerships. Mr. Calhoun is overseeing a $100 million expansion that will double the hospital’s capacity with a new three-story tower, expanded emergency department, all-private inpatient rooms and enlarged ICU, pharmacy, laboratory and birth place facilities, a project expected to finish in December 2026. He also led the introduction of nephrology and dialysis services, including a dialysis center operational since late 2025 that spares local patients from traveling for care. He also spearheaded a partnership with Unite Us to integrate community resource connections into the hospital’s EHR system. Under his leadership, the community hospital invested millions of dollars in staff retention, resulting in pay adjustments for 70% of the team. Mr. Calhoun serves on the board of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics and previously served as president of the Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce. He has spent 23 years at the hospital, including 12 years as administrative director of clinics and a term as COO from 2020 to 2024, during which it earned a Leapfrog “A” hospital safety grade and was named a 2024 “Health Quality Innovator of the Year” by Health Quality Innovators.
Dennis Campbell II, DHA, RN. President of ECU Health Beaufort Hospital (Washington, N.C.). Dr. Campbell leads a 142-bed community hospital, comprehensive cancer center and several ambulatory clinics serving a largely rural and medically underserved region. He has focused on strengthening access to high-quality, financially sustainable care while advancing service line growth, workforce engagement and community partnerships tailored to local needs. Combining clinical nursing experience with executive discipline, Dr. Campbell emphasizes physician and advanced practice provider engagement, recruitment and retention as strategic priorities, building trust-based relationships with medical staff through transparent communication and shared governance. His leadership has helped stabilize essential healthcare services for a medically underserved population, reducing the need for patients to seek care outside their community. He has also supported service line development and operational improvements while maintaining disciplined financial performance in a challenging rural market. Dr. Campbell serves as enterprise executive lead for digestive health and sits on the boards of Beaufort County Community College and the Washington Beaufort Chamber of Commerce.
Suzannah C. Campbell. CEO of UAB St. Vincent’s East (Birmingham, Ala.). Ms. Campbell oversees hospital operations, strategic growth, physician alignment, financial performance and quality outcomes as CEO of UAB St. Vincent’s East, a 368-bed acute care hospital. Under her leadership, the hospital’s observed-to-expected mortality ratio improved from 1.90 to 0.728, with similar gains in acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and sepsis outcomes. Ms. Campbell recruited specialists across cardiovascular surgery, orthopedics, pulmonology, critical care and neurology, and she strengthened the cardiology program by adding electrophysiology services and a dedicated 23-bed cardiology unit. She expanded telehealth access through telecardiology, telestroke and teleICU services, supported the transition of a pulmonology practice to an employed model and helped establish an intensivist program to improve care coordination. Ms. Campbell has sustained effective staffing models while fostering a culture of accountability among medical staff and leadership. Previously, as administrator of UAB St. Vincent’s Chilton in Clanton, Ala., she led the opening of a new community hospital that achieved zero serious safety events within its first year. She chairs the Samford University School of Public Health advisory board and serves on the boards of the Alabama Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce, among other civic roles.
Eric Carney. President and CEO for Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (Long Branch, N.J.). Mr. Carney serves as president and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center, a 514-bed teaching hospital with more than 2,000 employees that sees more than 23,000 inpatients and 46,000 emergency visits annually, and of Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, a 241-bed community hospital with nearly 750 staff members. He also leads the radiology service line for the broader West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health system. Under his leadership, Monmouth Medical Center opened the Anne Vogel Family Care & Wellness Center in 2022, whose LiveWell Center has delivered nearly 21,000 community health education programs, and broke ground in 2023 on a specialty and cancer care center at the Vogel Medical Campus in Tinton Falls, N.J., expected to open in early 2027 in partnership with the New Brunswick-based Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Mr. Carney provided key leadership in securing the New Jersey Department of Health’s approval to relocate medical/surgical, maternity and pediatric services to the Vogel campus, and he oversaw the introduction of the Ion robot-assisted platform for lung biopsies, making Monmouth Medical Center the first hospital in central and southern New Jersey to offer the technology. He also introduced an employee experience department featuring a “Thriving Together Program” with dedicated staff relaxation suites. Under his leadership, Monmouth Medical Center was named a “Top Teaching Hospital” by the Leapfrog Group for a fourth time in 2025, while Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus earned six consecutive Leapfrog “A” safety grades. Mr. Carney was named to the New Jersey Hospital Association’s 2026 board slate as secretary and chairs the finance committee of the board of directors at Monmouth Family Health Center.
Patricia Carroll. President and Chief Hospital Executive at Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center ((Perth Amboy, N.J.) and Hackensack Meridian Old Bridge (N.J.) Medical Center. Ms. Carroll has accountability for operations, strategy and business economics at both Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay and Old Bridge medical centers, which together have 460 beds, 1,315 full-time team members and $312 million in annual revenue. Since taking on the role in 2022, she has led a 2024 expansion of inpatient behavioral health at Raritan Bay to 81 beds and forged new partnerships, including one with Central Jersey Medical Center in Perth Amboy to expand outpatient behavioral health access. This year, construction will begin on a new hybrid cardiac/interventional radiology suite at Old Bridge, and Raritan Bay will host its third annual suicide awareness and mental health walk with the Town of Perth Amboy. In 2025, Raritan Bay earned the Joint Commission’s advanced certification in perinatal care. Both hospitals under her leadership have earned Magnet designation for nursing excellence for a fifth time. Ms. Carroll organizes the annual Leonard W. Hatton Memorial Classic honoring the fallen FBI agent, and has received a “CARE Award for Excellence in Administration” from the New Jersey State Nurses Association and a “Community Service Award” from the March of Dimes. She first began her career as a staff nurse and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Taylor Cera. CEO at Paradigm Health System and Sterling Surgical Hospital (Slidell, La.). Mr. Cera brings more than 12 years of healthcare leadership experience to his role as CEO of Paradigm Health System and Sterling Surgical Hospital, where he oversees strategic leadership, operations and financial performance. Organizations he has led have achieved a 19-fold increase in net income while sustaining operating margins exceeding 30%, directing surgical enterprises that perform 4,300 to 8,000 procedures annually. Mr. Cera has expanded operational capacity by 20% and reduced costs by 10%, while leading payer contract negotiations that improved case mix and protected margins. He built an outpatient joint replacement program generating more than $5 million in annual revenue and expanded urgent care and therapy services that added $750,000 in incremental annual profit. He has fostered relationships with more than 50 physicians, achieving 98% satisfaction, while leading teams of more than 100 professionals. Beyond hospital operations, Mr. Cera co-founded Mane Realty, a healthcare real estate developer whose projects exceed 50,000 square feet and $28 million in value, including a musculoskeletal campus. He serves on the boards of Penn State Shenango and the John F. Kennedy Catholic School.
Aaron Chang. Region President at Jefferson Health–East (Philadelphia). Mr. Chang serves as region president for Jefferson Health–East, leading strategy, operations and growth across three acute care hospitals and more than 30 medical group sites that generate approximately $1 billion in revenue. Under his leadership, the community hospitals have earned U.S. News & World Report “high performing” ratings in hip, knee and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association “Stroke Gold Plus Award,” and International Baby-Friendly certification for the women’s and children’s program at Jefferson Washington Township Hospital in Sewell, N.J. Mr. Chang has driven innovation by acquiring the MRI Swoop portable MRI system and by installing Ethos adaptive radiation therapy, bringing AI-driven cancer treatment to the region, while also expanding outpatient urology services. He launched a virtual nurse program at Jefferson Washington Township that connects registered nurses with patients through in-room TVs for admissions, education and discharge instructions, freeing up bedside staff time, with additional units planned. He partners with local leaders through the “Mayors Wellness Campaign” and collaborates with regional schools and colleges to introduce students to healthcare careers. His hospitals have also earned Leapfrog “A” grades, including a straight-A distinction at Washington Township Hospital, and Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Mr. Chang serves on the boards of the New Jersey Hospital Association, the Southern New Jersey Development Council, the Camden Coalition and the Jefferson Health East Region Foundation.
Patrick Charmel. President and CEO at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Health Services (Derby, Conn.). Mr. Charmel has led Griffin Hospital and its parent, Griffin Health Services, since being named president in 1998, after joining the organization in 1979 and holding several administrative positions. He has embraced the Planetree person-centered model at the 160-bed community teaching hospital, which serves more than 130,000 regional residents and has drawn healthcare organizations from around the globe to study its approach. Under his leadership, Griffin Health opened Connecticut’s first emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment and healing unit in 2025, a 4,300-square-foot space designed to offer a calming alternative to traditional emergency departments for patients in psychiatric crisis. Mr. Charmel also oversaw the 2025 launch of an 11-week mini med school program led by physicians to educate community members on health and disease prevention. Griffin Hospital earned an “A” Leapfrog safety grade in 2025 and was named to Newsweek‘s “World’s Best Hospitals” list for a seventh consecutive year, while Griffin Health became the first organization in Connecticut to earn the Joint Commission’s sustainable healthcare certification. Mr. Charmel serves as president of the Value Care Alliance of Connecticut and sits on the board of trustees at Quinnipiac University. He also chairs and serves as chief executive of Planetree, the subsidiary corporation behind the care model he has championed at Griffin.
Cheryl Cioffi, DNP. President and CEO of Frederick Health (Frederick, Maryland). Dr. Cioffi was appointed in July of 2025 after 29 years of service at Frederick Health Hospital, the only hospital in the county. Her expertise in both the clinical and administrative realms include experience as a bedside nurse and progressing through roles including CNO and chief administrative officer. Under her leadership, Frederick Health has beat national averages in both nursing engagement scores and lung cancer detection, earned top patient safety grades from accredited institutions for having achieved a 67% reduction in preventable complications for patients, and grown its community presence through partnerships with local organizations like Hood College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Frederick County Health Department and the Asian American Center of Frederick County. Dr. Cioffi continues to invest in innovative cancer therapies that place the health system at the forefront of leading technology, becoming the first in the state to provide intravesical gemcitabine systems, advanced robotic surgery and TTFields cancer therapy for pancreatic cancer. Dr. Cioffi also plays a vital role in closing healthcare access gaps through her collaborative work with the Partners for Accessible Care and Treatment task force, a joint initiative with local government leaders to protect uninsured and underinsured residents from the impact of federal Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit cuts.
Frank Citara. President and Chief Hospital Executive at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center (Brick Township, N.J.). Mr. Citara was named chief hospital executive of Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center in September 2022, marking his return to a hospital where he had earlier served six years as a business and operations manager. He rejoined Ocean University Medical Center after five years leading Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, N.J. as president and chief hospital executive. Since his return, he has overseen the opening of the 18,000-square-foot Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris Heart and Vascular Center, which has helped drive a 70% year-over-year increase in cardiac catheterization laboratory volume, and is now leading an expansion of oncology and surgical services. Mr. Citara introduced virtual nursing at the medical center, a model Hackensack Meridian Health later expanded networkwide, along with multidisciplinary bedside rounding and a post-discharge transition of care clinic to reduce readmissions. He leads a workforce of 2,700 team members and partners with medical staff to support a graduate medical education program with more than 120 residents and fellows. Under his leadership, the medical center earned the Joint Commission’s environmental sustainability certification and was ranked a Practice Greenhealth “Top 25 Hospital for Environmental Excellence.” Additionally, its Johnson Rehabilitation Institute achieved Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities accreditation across multiple programs. In 2024, the medical center became home to a helipad base for the Hackensack Meridian Health Air Medical Program, marking more than 40 years of service to the community. Mr. Citara serves on the board of directors of the New Jersey Hospital Association and is a member of the Manalapan Township Board of Health.
Carl Cline. President and Administrator of Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital (Rocky Mount, Va.). Mr. Cline oversees staff and operations at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, a 37-bed community hospital in rural Virginia, as well as Carilion Clinic’s police, security, guest services, environment of care, safety and emergency management functions. He has been with Carilion for more than 30 years, beginning in the emergency department and spending two decades as a flight nurse before moving into hospital leadership. Under his leadership, the hospital opened a new pediatric clinic with on-site lab and radiology services, brought a new administrative building online, and completed inpatient renovations including a new HVAC system and a redesigned nurse’s station. Mr. Cline has also expanded neurology services from one exam room to four, increasing availability of electroencephalograms and other specialized procedures for the region. The hospital has earned a Leapfrog “A” safety grade in both 2024 and 2025, a CMS 4-star rating and all possible points through the Quality and Health Improvement Program. Forbes also named the hospital one of “America’s Top Hospitals” for 2026. Mr. Cline has been a registered nurse since 1989, having previously served as a flight nurse with Carilion Life-Guard, director of the transfer center and senior director of nursing at Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital.
Joan M. Coffman. President and CEO of St. Tammany Health System (Covington, La.). Ms. Coffman is president and CEO of St. Tammany Health System, a high-performing community health system that features a hospital, an offsite emergency department, diagnostic and cancer centers, primary and specialty clinics, over 2,900 team members and 80 providers. With a proven track record of improving quality, safety and patient experience, Ms. Coffman is dedicated to enhancing community health and providing exceptional value in healthcare. Prior to her tenure at St. Tammany Health System, Ms. Coffman previously served as president and CEO of HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, Ill. and as president and CEO of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Cristina Contreras. CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln (Bronx, N.Y.). Ms. Contreras serves as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, a level 1 trauma center with one of the busiest emergency departments in the nation, within the country’s largest municipal healthcare system. She began her career as a caseworker and progressed through positions of increasing responsibility before her appointment as CEO in 2024. Across more than 30 years of leadership in public healthcare, Ms. Contreras has delivered financial turnarounds, measurable quality and safety improvements, expanded access in high-need communities and national recognition for equity and excellence. She is recognized for creating an organizational culture grounded in authenticity, kindness and transparency, and as a champion of her team’s wellbeing. Under her leadership, the hospital earned the American College of Surgeons “National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Meritorious Award” in 2024 as one of only 76 hospitals in the nation to receive the distinction, along with full Joint Commission accreditation including specialized programs for palliative care and advanced perinatal care. Ms. Contreras previously served as CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan in New York City and held progressive leadership roles at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx. She serves on the NYU School of Public Service advisory board and presented at the 2025 American College of Healthcare Executives Annual Congress.
Maureen “Mimi” Coomler. CEO at Tucson (Ariz.) Medical Center. Ms. Coomler serves as CEO of Tucson Medical Center, Southern Arizona’s only locally governed nonprofit hospital and the 628-bed flagship of Tucson-based TMC Health. She oversees surgery, emergency services, critical care, infection control and hospice, and her hospital’s adult and pediatric emergency departments together care for more than 100,000 patients each year. Ms. Coomler is leading a three-phase renovation and expansion of both emergency departments, with phase 1 completed in February 2025 and the remaining phases set for completion in the third quarter of 2026. Under her leadership, the community hospital was named a “Gold Standard Top Hospital” by Castle Connolly, and she has guided the hospital’s evolution into a high-reliability organization through systemwide training in process improvement and patient safety. Ms. Coomler also championed a partnership with Pima JTED through the TMC Health Simulation Lab, giving Southern Arizona high school students hands-on clinical training and industry-recognized certifications. She serves on the boards of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and Intermountain Centers. TMC has been named to Forbes‘ “Best Healthcare Employers for Women” and “America’s Best Large Employers” lists for 2025 under her leadership.
Keith Dacus. CEO at St. Charles Parish Hospital (Luling, La.). Mr. Dacus leads St. Charles Parish Hospital’s strategic planning, operational efficiency and financial stewardship, and has expanded the hospital’s service lines to include cardiology, oncology, behavioral health and performance training. Under his leadership, the hospital has earned an “A” Leapfrog hospital safety grade in spring and fall 2024, building on consecutive “A” grades in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2023, the hospital received the Gambit “Best of New Orleans” award for mental healthcare, along with the LAMMICO “Patient Safety Award” and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award.” Before joining the hospital, Mr. Dacus served as CEO of Mercy GoHealth Urgent Care in St. Louis, where he developed and operated high-performing care facilities. He has held hospital administrative leadership roles in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Mr. Dacus is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Medical Group Association.
Richard Davis. President and CEO at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (Livingston, N.J.). Mr. Davis oversees daily operations of the 597-bed community teaching hospital and its ambulatory care center, leading a 2,400-member medical staff and more than 4,000 employees who annually handle more than 35,800 inpatient admissions, more than 5,800 births and 100,000 emergency visits. Since taking the role in September 2021, he has prioritized emergency department efficiency, where patients are seen by a provider within seven minutes on average and only 0.2% of patients leave without being seen. In 2025, Mr. Davis launched interdisciplinary rounds that reduced length of stay by 0.8 days, decreased bed need by 35 and generated $8 million in savings in their first year. He is leading the development of the Melchiorre Cancer Center, a $225 million outpatient facility serving as the northern hub for West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health and New Brunswick-based Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and oversaw the 2023 rollout of a new enterprisewide EHR system. After the hospital experienced pandemic-era staffing shortages, Mr. Davis authorized the hiring of hundreds of employees, raising the share of staff who felt their unit was adequately staffed from 48% to 71% within three years and lifting the hospital’s employee engagement score from 3.85 to 4.02 over that same period. Mr. Davis also serves on the board of trustees of the Paper Mill Playhouse.
Takeisha Charles Davis, MD. CEO at New Orleans East Hospital. Dr. Davis is CEO and president of New Orleans East Hospital. Dr. Davis previously served at the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Office of Public Health as regional medical director for the Greater New Orleans region and as director of the Center for Community and Preventive Health. A founding member of Achieving Awesome Things Through Inspiring Actions, Dr. Davis established Taylor Made Medical Consulting in 2006 to educate and empower young people, work that has included a preventive health lecture series with incarcerated youth and a keynote address at Tulane University’s inaugural Black Women’s Health Conference. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, the Louisiana Public Health Association, the American Association of Public Health Physicians, the National Medical Association and the New Orleans Medical Association.
Kane Dawson. CEO of Mission (Texas) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Dawson is the CEO of Mission Regional Medical Center, which is a nonprofit hospital on the Mexican border and serves a growing community of nearly 90,000 people. He is focused on helping the center to run as smoothly as possible and to keep up the effectiveness and performance of the 950-plus hospital employees, including approximately 350 physicians. Under his leadership, the 297-bed hospital was recognized as one of Fortune/IBM Watson Health “100 Top Hospitals” in the nation.
Mike Delfs. President and CEO of Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Delfs has worked in healthcare for 28 years. He previously held roles as director, COO and CEO of independent hospitals and large health systems. He’s especially passionate about helping others develop leadership skills; he taught a leadership course at the Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota Medical School.
James G. Demetriades. CEO at Penn Medicine Princeton (N.J.) Health. Mr. Demetriades has served as CEO of Penn Medicine Princeton Health, one of Penn Medicine’s seven hospitals, since rejoining the organization in 2010. He leads a full continuum of care that includes hospital, behavioral health, rehabilitation, home care, hospice and community outreach services. He guided Princeton Health through its 2018 integration into Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine and through the operational and clinical challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, drawing on expertise in operations, strategic planning and emergency management. Mr. Demetriades is currently overseeing a $401 million project on the campus of Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, its flagship community hospital, which will deliver a full spectrum of cancer services to patients in Central New Jersey. The 200,000-square-foot center is scheduled to open in May 2028. Earlier in his career, he served as vice president of trauma services at Reading (Pa.) Hospital.
Mary Deynoodt. CEO of Ochsner Baptist (New Orleans). Ms. Deynoodt serves as CEO of Ochsner Baptist, a campus of Ochsner Medical Center, where she drives the operational, financial and strategic performance of the 124-bed hospital and manages more than 1,000 physicians and more than 1,200 employees. She assumed the role in fall 2024 after nearly 25 years leading teams across several healthcare organizations, and has been a longstanding champion for the physical and psychological safety of her teams and for efforts to curb workplace violence in healthcare settings. Under her leadership, Ochsner Baptist installed RefleXion, one of a small number of PET-CT guided linear accelerators available in the U.S., and began offering enhanced radiology diagnostic screening for breast cancer patients. The campus’s obstetrics and gynecology service line was ranked No. 13 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026, and Ochsner Baptist was named to Newsweek‘s 2025 and 2026 lists of “America’s Best Maternity Hospitals.” In her previous role as CEO of Ochsner Medical Center-West Bank in Gretna, La., Ms. Deynoodt oversaw improvements in inpatient and outpatient quality and added service lines including vascular surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics and gastroenterology, and led that campus to join Ochsner Medical Center–New Orleans as the U.S. News & World Report No. 1 hospital in the state. She was named “Ochsner Management Leader of the Year” in 2008 and a New Orleans CityBusiness “Woman of the Year” honoree in 2023. Ms. Deynoodt is a member of Elevate Louisiana and has served on the boards of 504 HealthNet and Our Community Health.
Nancy DiLiegro, PhD. President and CEO at Trinitas Regional Medical Center (Elizabeth, N.J.). Dr. DiLiegro provides strategic and operational leadership for Trinitas Regional Medical Center, a 553-bed Catholic teaching hospital integrated within West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health, overseeing two campuses and partnerships with the New Brunswick, N.J.-based Rutgers Cancer Institute and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. Under her leadership, Trinitas Regional opened a $40 million medical arts building and center for autism and developmental disabilities, and installed a TrueBeam Linear Accelerator that cut radiation therapy treatment times from 30 minutes to under two minutes. She also supported a $1.25 million grant to modernize the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab. The medical center achieved a Leapfrog “A” hospital safety grade in fall 2025, its highest rating in more than a decade, and has earned consecutive U.S. News & World Report distinctions for maternity care during her tenure. Dr. DiLiegro has also guided efficiency programs such as “Meds to Bed” and transitional care to reduce wait times and strengthen discharge continuity. She joined the medical center in 2002 as director of clinical operations before advancing to vice president of clinical services and, from 2009 to 2023, was vice president of clinical and physician services. A licensed pharmacist and fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, she serves on the boards of the American Heart Association’s Founders Affiliate and the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, and previously served on the board of governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Armand Dorian, MD. CEO at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (Glendale, Calif.). Dr. Dorian leads USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, part of Los Angeles-based Keck Medicine of USC, bringing two decades of experience as a board-certified emergency physician to a hospital that serves 18 zip codes, nine cities and three service planning areas. Under his leadership, the hospital’s emergency department nurses earned the Emergency Nurses Association’s “Lantern Award” in 2025 for the third consecutive time, and the hospital received an “A” Leapfrog hospital safety grade in 2025 and 2023. Its ICU earned the “GOLD Beacon Award for Excellence” from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses in 2025, and its nurse residency program received American Nurses Credentialing Center practice transition program accreditation in 2024. In 2025, the hospital also earned a three-year Intersocietal Accreditation Commission accreditation in adult transthoracic echocardiography, and in 2026 the Glendale Latino Association named it “Organization of the Year.” Dr. Dorian joined the hospital’s executive team in July 2018 as chief medical officer, a role he took on after serving as director and vice chair of the hospital’s emergency department and as interim CEO. He is a clinical professor of emergency medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, president of the hospital’s governing board, and a member of both the hospital’s foundation board and community advisory board.
Kelly Driscoll, RN. President and CEO of Faith Regional Health Services (Norfolk, Neb.). Ms. Driscoll has worked at Faith Regional since 2011, starting as vice president of patient care services. She was promoted senior vice president and COO in 2013 and eventually became Faith Regional president and CEO in 2018. She became a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in 2012.
Jon Duarte. President and CEO of Overlake Medical Center & Clinics (Bellevue, Wash.) and Chief Executive of MultiCare Health System–North Sound Region (Wash.). Mr. Duarte assumed leadership of Overlake Medical Center & Clinics in 2025 after catalyzing its strategic expansion as chief strategy officer. During his tenure, he played a central role in “Project FutureCare”, Overlake’s most extensive campus renewal. He also led the affiliation with Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System, which brought major investments to the Puget Sound region. His efforts also resulted in key clinical collaborations with Kirkland, Wash.-based EvergreenHealth and Seattle-based Fred Hutch Cancer Center, alongside a full digital transformation across Overlake Clinics. Mr. Duarte now oversees a hospital system with services reaching 200,000 patients annually. Recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report and Healthgrades, the community hospital system has earned distinction for maternity, cardiac, orthopedic and stroke care.
Sandy Dugger. CEO of Banner Platte County Hospital (Wheatland, Wyo.). Ms. Dugger leads this 25-bed critical access hospital located in southeastern Wyoming adjacent to the Laramie Mountain Range. Opened in 1955, the facility has undergone several remodels to remain at the forefront of technology, including enhancements to the inpatient unit, medical imaging and other areas of the hospital. Ms. Dugger, with 36 years of healthcare experience with Phoenix-based Banner Health, fosters a positive workplace culture, oversees the delivery of exceptional patient care, safety, and strategic direction. She is able to swiftly navigate the many challenges that rural hospitals face, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in an ever-changing healthcare landscape. Her leadership approach emphasizes collaboration and innovation, ensuring that Platte County Hospital continues to meet the evolving needs of its community. She is known for making strong connections with community partners. Throughout her time with Banner Health, Ms. Dugger has served in a variety of leadership roles at other Banner Health facilities, including as COO. Her extensive background in operations and human resources has equipped her with a comprehensive skill set to lead effectively in rural healthcare settings.
Larry Ebert. CEO at Piedmont Eastside Medical Center (Snellville, Ga.). Mr. Ebert leads Piedmont Eastside Medical Center, a 305-bed hospital in Gwinnett County with more than 1,600 staff that logged more than 14,000 inpatient admissions and 65,000 outpatient encounters in fiscal year 2025. Under his leadership, the hospital reduced hospital-acquired infections by 40%, cut emergency department wait times by two hours, doubled its net promoter score, expanded its medical staff by 30% and grew patient volumes by 20%. Mr. Ebert launched a new primary care network after identifying a shortage of providers in the county and expanded specialty services to include neurology, colorectal surgery and medical oncology. He partnered with Birmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health to build a freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital that opened in June 2026, building on the hospital’s 20-bed acute inpatient rehabilitation unit that has earned national quality recognition for nine years. He also led the acquisition of the Single Port da Vinci, Mako and ION surgical robots to expand minimally invasive and early lung cancer detection capabilities, and the hospital has been recognized as a high-performing facility for stroke, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and prostate cancer surgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-26. Before joining Piedmont Eastside, Mr. Ebert served as CEO of Piedmont Walton Hospital in Monroe, Ga. from 2018 to 2023, and as executive director of strategic operations at Piedmont Athens (Ga.) Regional Medical Center. The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals named Mr. Ebert “CEO of the Year” for 2025.
Steven Edgar. CEO of Medical City Denton (Texas). Mr. Edgar has led Medical City Denton since 2016, overseeing strategic direction and the integration of Medical City Argyle (Texas) into the hospital’s structure. Mr. Edgar has championed advances in patient safety, orthopedic oncology, trauma services and surgical care, while maintaining high Leapfrog safety grades and multiple Healthgrades 5-star ratings. He actively supports community health as chair of the Denton Economic Development Partnership and serves on regional boards promoting healthcare access. A licensed physical therapist with deep clinical roots, Mr. Edgar is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Kim Ellender. CEO at St. Bernard Parish Hospital (Chalmette, La.). Ms. Ellender leads a team of more than 400 healthcare professionals as CEO of St. Bernard Parish Hospital, overseeing strategic planning, clinical service expansion and operational efficiency, including deployment of the Da Vinci robotic surgical system. She brings more than two decades of healthcare experience to the role, having previously served as assistant vice president of hospital operations and director of operations for specialty clinics and surgical services at the hospital. Since becoming CEO in October 2025, she has guided the hospital to a Leapfrog “A” grade for fall 2025 and the LAMMICO “Patient Safety Award for Sepsis Care.” The hospital has also earned a CMS 4-star rating in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey and, according to CMS scores, has among the lowest C. difficile rates. Her leadership has positioned the hospital with services spanning cardiology, robotic surgery, behavioral health and outpatient rehabilitation. Ms. Ellender chairs the hospital’s Lean Council, working to embed process improvement into daily operations.
Jake Erickson. CEO at Bingham Memorial Hospital (Blackfoot, Idaho). Mr. Erickson leads Bingham Healthcare, a critical access hospital network with more than 1,000 staff, more than 160 credentialed specialists and more than 100 patient services. Mr. Erickson joined Bingham Hospital in 2006 and progressed through roles including assistant administrator and COO before being named CEO in 2017. Over more than a decade, including time spent leading physician recruitment, he has helped grow the medical staff to more than 150 providers and expanded service offerings to more than 35 physician specialties. Mr. Erickson has championed community health efforts including a community resource booklet for Eastern Idahoans and, in August 2025, the Bumps & Bruises Clinic program to ease the financial burden of back-to-school costs for local families. He also championed the adoption of a unified EHR platform to strengthen coordination across the organization. Bingham Memorial Hospital marked its 75th anniversary in June 2025, an occasion recognized by the American Hospital Association for the hospital’s long-standing commitment to rural healthcare. The organization separately received the American Hospital Association’s national “Rural Healthcare Excellence” award in 2025.
Clay Farell. CEO of St. Francis Medical Center (Lynwood, Calif.). Since November 2022, Mr. Farell has been responsible for overseeing the daily operations of St. Francis Medical Center, an acute care hospital and level 2 trauma center with a staff of 1,700 members and 450 affiliated physicians. As CEO, he leads the hospital’s strategic vision for growth and development. He synthesizes his experience in hospital management and business development with his knowledge of expanding technologies to position the hospital for sustained prosperity.
Doug Faus. President and CEO of Ivinson Memorial Hospital (Laramie, Wyo.). Under Mr. Faus’ leadership, Ivinson turned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospital and implemented a new EHR system. The hospital was named a “Top 20 Rural Community Hospital” in 2019 and 2018 and won a 2019 “Wyoming Hospital Quality Award.” He also serves on the Wyoming Hospital Association board of directors and the American Hospital Association regional policy board.
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, an ambulatory surgery center, and Steamboat Resort to open urgent care at the base of the ski mountain. More recently, Ms. Fidler led YVMC to become the first UCHealth location to offer long-term employee housing through Creek’s End, a 42-unit residential development.
Jaf Fielder. President and CEO at Willis Knighton Health (Shreveport, La.). Mr. Fielder has served as president and CEO of Willis Knighton Health since October 2021, capping a career of more than 35 years with the organization that included 24 years in human resources leadership and roles as COO, senior vice president, administrator and information security and privacy officer. He oversees a system of four acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation institute, a 600-member physician network and the Oaks of Louisiana retirement community. Under his leadership, the health system renovated its flagship Willis Knighton North hospital, broke ground on a 90,000-square-foot medical office building, and expanded its graduate medical education program to support residencies in surgery, internal medicine, psychiatry and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Mr. Fielder has championed technology investments including an expansion of the health system’s proton therapy program, which was the first in the Southeast, the introduction of nuclear oncology and theranostics, and robotic surgical technology now used in 60% of Willis Knighton’s operating rooms. He has also led community initiatives such as the Willis-Knighton Health Occupations Partnership and co-funding of a Ronald McDonald House. His personal accolades include the “United Way Clyde E. Fant Memorial Award” by the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, while the health system earned multiple U.S. News & World Report “high-performing” designations. Mr. Fielder is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, chairman of the Louisiana Hospital Association’s hospital association political action committee, and has served as president of the Willis Knighton Federal Credit Union for 26 years.
Jodi Fincher, BSN, RN. CEO for St. Joseph Medical Center, Prime Healthcare (Kansas City, Mo.). As CEO of St. Joseph Medical Center, a 310-bed acute care metropolitan hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, Ms. Fincher leads a team of more than 1,000 staff, physicians and volunteers. She provides hands-on leadership to ensure all programs and services attain the highest quality outcomes in a cost-effective manner. As healthcare has changed rapidly post pandemic, Ms. Fincher has responded equally as rapidly to assure that St. Joseph remains financially strong and sustainable moving forward by being equally involved in revenue cycle enhancement and efficient clinical processes. In her seven years at St. Joseph Medical Center, Ms. Fincher’s strategic vision has improved patient experience, expanded service lines and enhanced physician engagement. Under her direction, Prime Healthcare has supported the investment of over $40 million in capital improvements, which include updated clinical support systems from orthopedic and spine navigation systems to new beds and call light systems, as well as the building and opening of a 20-bed senior behavioral health unit.
William “Bill” Flattery. President of Carilion New River Valley Medical Center (Christiansburg, Va.). Mr. Flattery leads Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, a 146-bed acute care community hospital offering modern operating rooms, advanced imaging and robotic surgery, and a level 3 trauma center, as well as Carilion Clinic Saint Albans Hospital for psychiatry and behavioral medicine. He joined Carilion in 2007 and oversees the health system’s team across the rural New River Valley of southwest Virginia, including primary care sites that give rural residents local access to specialists. This winter, the American Nurses Credentialing Center awarded the hospital its “Pathway to Excellence” designation for the second time, one of just 281 hospitals nationwide and six in Virginia to hold the four-year designation. The hospital also earned a “high performing” status for treating kidney failure in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2025-26 “Best Hospital” rankings. Under Mr. Flattery, Carilion Children’s outpatient specialty care nearly doubled in size with the addition of child development and pediatric neurology services, and in March the medical center launched a 24/7 obstetric hospitalist program. Mr. Flattery works closely with academic partners Virginia Tech, Radford University and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the medical center provides specialty sports medicine care to Virginia Tech and Radford athletes.
Casey Fleckenstein. CEO at Monroe County Hospital (Forsyth, Ga.). Ms. Fleckenstein oversees day-to-day operations of Monroe County Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, after more than 20 years with the organization in roles spanning nursing, clinical operations and, most recently, hospital administrator. Her career at the hospital began as a high school student completing clinical rotations, and she started her nursing career there in 2001 before serving as CNO and emergency management coordinator. In 2025, the hospital completed participation requirements for the Kids Alliance for Better Care program, a collaboration with Mercer University School of Medicine, Mercer’s Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to strengthen pediatric readiness in rural hospitals. That same year, Monroe County Hospital conducted a soft reopening of its operating room to resume cardiac procedures ahead of a full reopening planned for 2026, building on a significant expansion of its swing bed program in 2024. Working with managing partner Aletheia Health Partners, Ms. Fleckenstein has also brought additional specialty care into the hospital’s medical office suites to keep pace with community growth. In recognition of recent initiatives, Hometown Health named Monroe County Hospital its 2025 “Hospital of the Year.” In addition to her executive role, Ms. Fleckenstein serves on the boards of the Forsyth-Monroe Chamber of Commerce and the Monroe County College and Career Academy.
Mickey Foster. CEO of FirstHealth of the Carolinas (Pinehurst, N.C.). Mr. Foster serves as CEO of FirstHealth of the Carolinas, a comprehensive, nonprofit health system serving 15 counties across the mid-Carolinas. Leading an organization with more than 6,600 employees, four hospitals and over $1.1 billion in annual net revenue, Mr. Foster is responsible for strategic planning, operational excellence and community-centered leadership. Under his direction, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital and its campuses have earned repeated national recognition, including placement on Fortune and PINC AI’s “100 Top Hospitals” list from 2021 to 2023 and Healthgrades’ “Outstanding Patient Experience Award” for 18 consecutive years. Mr. Foster previously held leadership roles at Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Health, including as president of Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital and Annie Penn Hospital.
Lou Fragoso. CEO at Manning Family Children’s (New Orleans). Mr. Fragoso serves as president and CEO of Manning Family Children’s, where he is responsible for maintaining and strengthening the hospital’s position as the trusted leader in pediatric healthcare for Louisiana and the Gulf South. He oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations and a wide range of administrative and executive responsibilities. Mr. Fragoso joined Manning Family Children’s in 2019, first serving as CFO and chief administrative officer before being named president and CEO. In those roles, he has been instrumental in expanding programs, improving patient access and experience, and strengthening recruitment and retention of top talent. He has dedicated his career to pediatric healthcare, having previously held leadership roles at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston before joining Manning Family Children’s.
Ed Freysinger. CEO of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center (Lewiston, Idaho). Mr. Freysinger is in his sixth year as CEO of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, capping more than 30 years as a healthcare executive. He leads more than 680 associates and medical staff at the largest full-service regional medical center between Boise, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash. Under his leadership, the hospital recruited a large multi-specialty group of providers and built a multimillion-dollar acute rehabilitation unit to meet regional demand for inpatient rehab services. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in the Lewis and Clark Valley to hold the “Blue Distinction” designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Idaho, and its emergency department is the valley’s only level 3 trauma center. The hospital’s “Family Beginnings” maternity program was named high performing for maternity care for a second consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report, which also designated it a 2024 “Maternity Care Access Hospital,” one of only a few dozen such hospitals nationwide. In May 2025, the hospital earned its second consecutive “A” grade for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group. Mr. Freysinger has served on the executive committee of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association and the Southeast Michigan Health and Hospital Council, and previously served as president of the Hospital Emergency Management Systems in Wayne, Mich. Earlier in his career, he held CEO and administrative roles at PeaceHealth Ketchikan (Alaska) Medical Center, Providence Hood River (Ore.) Memorial Hospital and Providence Health Services in Portland, Ore.
Michelle Fuentes. President and CEO for AdventHealth Castle Rock (Colo.). Ms. Fuentes assumed the role of president and CEO for Advent Health Castle Rock at the end of May 2024. She brings nearly two decades of healthcare experience to her new role leading the nonprofit, faith-based community hospital. She most recently served as president for 152-bed Adventist Health Sonora (Calif.), a role she held since 2018. Prior, she was vice president of operations for the hospital for four years. Ms. Fuentes’ current role marks a return to Advent Health, as she has previously held assistant vice president and COO positions for AdventHealth East Orlando.
EM V. Garcia, PhD, DNP, APRN. CEO at Encino (Calif.) Hospital Medical Center and Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Hospital. Dr. Garcia serves as CEO of Encino Hospital Medical Center and Sherman Oaks Hospital, both part of the Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare system. He oversees hospital operations, financial performance, strategic planning and clinical integration across both facilities, and his leadership in the role spans more than a decade. Before becoming CEO, Dr. Garcia served as a hospital administrator. Dr. Garcia has built collaborative relationships with physicians, medical staff leadership and external healthcare partners, while also driving resource optimization, workforce strategy, service line enhancement and regulatory compliance. He has also managed profit-and-loss responsibilities and led initiatives to expand outreach activities, referral networks and strategic partnerships for both hospitals. Under his leadership, Sherman Oaks Hospital earned a Leapfrog “A” grade for patient safety in spring 2025 and was named a Healthgrades 5-star recipient for hip fracture treatment for 13 consecutive years in 2026. Encino Hospital Medical Center also received a Healthgrades 5-star rating for hip fracture treatment in 2026.
Charlotte Gardiner. President of Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren (Ohio) Hospital. Ms. Gardiner has served as president of Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital, a 200-bed acute care facility, since 2022. She first joined Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health in 2018. The hospital provides level 3 trauma center services, a level 2 adult cardiac catheterization program, level 2 obstetrical services and Commission on Cancer-accredited cancer care, and holds five-time Magnet designation. Ms. Gardiner has focused on strategy deployment, growth, innovation and operational excellence, spearheading programs in clinical expansion, new program development, quality and safety, and staff recruitment and retention. She was nominated for the 2025 “Athena Leadership Award” and was inducted into the Lorain County Community College Commodore Hall of Fame in June 2024 as part of its inaugural class. Ms. Gardiner also received the Mercy Health “Leadership Award” in July 2022 and the Elyria Catholic High School “Distinguished Alumni Award” in May 2022. She serves on the Kent State University Trumbull advisory board, the Lorain County Community College Foundation board and the Lorain County workforce development board. Before her current role, she served as president of Mercy Health Allen Hospital in Oberlin, Ohio and held COO, CNO and service line executive positions at Mercy Health Lorain (Ohio).
Warren Geller. President and CEO of Englewood (N.J.) Health. Mr. Geller has redefined community healthcare at Englewood Health, expanding services across over 100 locations and doubling revenue to $1 billion. He’s a champion of preventive care, using tech-enabled campaigns to boost screenings and improve outcomes, with results presented at national cancer conferences. Mr. Geller’s community health innovations include a bilingual wellness center, behavioral health access regardless of insurance status, and culturally-tailored care programs such as the Center for Korean Health and Wellness. Under his leadership, the system has earned top rankings from Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades and the Leapfrog for cardiac care, maternity and patient safety. In 2024, Mr. Geller received the New Jersey Hospital Association’s “Distinguished Service Award” and was named among the state’s top healthcare leaders. He also serves on the board of trustees for the New Jersey Hospital Association.
Laura T. Gentry, BSN, RN. CEO of Atrium Health Navicent Peach and Vice President of Atrium Health Georgia Primary Care Service Line (Byron, Ga.). Ms. Gentry serves as CEO of Atrium Health Navicent Peach, a critical access hospital where she oversees daily operations, financial stewardship, quality and safety outcomes and employee engagement. She also serves as Atrium Health’s Georgia vice president for primary care and played a key role in relocating the Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care Fort Valley Rural Health Clinic to expand services. As a champion for the Georgia HEART hospital program, Ms. Gentry helped the hospital raise nearly $1 million in 2025, the highest total in its history, to sustain essential rural services. Under her leadership, the hospital’s likelihood-to-recommend score exceeds state and national averages and it has reported zero hospital-acquired infections for more than a year, an achievement recognized with second place in the Georgia Hospital Association’s 2026 “Patient Safety and Quality Award” for critical access hospitals. Ms. Gentry has also expanded school-based virtual care partnerships with Peach County Schools since 2022 and established the hospital as a clinical training site for Middle Georgia State University, Fort Valley State University and Central Georgia Technical College. The hospital earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s “Pathway to Excellence” designation in 2024 and an Emergency Nurses Association “Lantern Award” in 2025 under her leadership. She previously served as hospital administrator and CNO at the Medical Center of Peach County in Byron and as director of nursing at Houston Healthcare in Warner Robins, Ga.
Megan Gillespie, DNP, RN. CEO of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento (Calif.). Ms. Gillespie’s more than 20 years of experience as a healthcare leader spans clinical care, hospital operations and executive leadership. Her leadership of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento builds upon the hospital’s strong record of national recognition for clinical excellence and access. Most recently, the medical center earned multiple national distinctions from Healthgrades, including ranking No. 4 in California for gastrointestinal surgery and recognition as one of “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” for multiple specialty areas. Ms. Gillespie also continues to strengthen the longstanding commitment to patient safety, which earned the hospital an “A” hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group last year. She is overseeing a $100 million investment in Sutter Medical Center to transform 43,320 square feet of space into a 12-bed intensive care unit and 30 medical-surgical rooms for adult patients, expected to open later this year.
Vallerie Gleason. President and CEO of NMC Health (Newton, Kan.). Ms. Gleason joined NMC Health in 2004. As CEO, Ms. Gleason is responsible for day-to-day hospital operations. As CEO, she oversaw the launch of the hospital’s telemedicine program and the opening of its walk-in clinic. Prior to her current position, Ms. Gleason served as the hospital’s vice president of physician services and chief clinical integration officer.
Derrick Glum. CEO of Saint Mary’s Health Network (Reno, Nev.). Mr. Glum is the CEO of Saint Mary’s Health Network, where he has led the organization through its first-ever strategic planning process, resulting in systemwide growth and measurable improvements. Known for his compassionate leadership, Mr. Glum engages directly with staff and patients through daily rounding and cultivates a culture of transparency and belonging across the 1,200-employee health system. His 20-plus years in healthcare include leadership roles at Reno-based Renown Health and as regional COO for two hospitals in Arizona. Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, under his direction, earned top marks from the Lown Institute for care, inclusivity and cost efficiency, ranking No. 1 in Nevada.
Kaye Green. CEO at Roosevelt General Hospital (Portales, N.M.). Ms. Green serves as CEO of Roosevelt General Hospital, bringing 20 years of leadership experience and more than 35 years in healthcare overall to the role. She oversees hospital operations, financial performance, patient care quality and community relationships at the rural facility, which offers a 24/7 physician-staffed emergency room along with inpatient, outpatient, surgical and diagnostic services. To address rising costs and workforce shortages, Ms. Green has collaborated with area legislators, the New Mexico Hospital Association and the New Mexico Rural Health Network to secure funding for the safety-net hospital. She led the implementation of a cloud-hosted subscription model for the hospital’s EHR, reducing IT costs while supporting remote staff retention, and guided a seven-percentage-point increase in the hospital’s payment-to-charge ratio since 2022 through improved revenue cycle management. That work included automating check processing, saving the department more than 20 hours of staff time weekly. Ms. Green, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, serves her second term on the New Mexico Hospital Association’s board and chairs its quality committee. She has previously served as CEO of a 150-bed health system in Salisbury, N.C., interim CEO in El Paso, Texas, and COO at health systems in Albuquerque, N.M. and St. Petersburg, Fla.
Casey Greene. President of UnityPoint Health-Cedar Rapids (Iowa). Mr. Greene, president of UnityPoint Health-Cedar Rapids since August 2023, oversees the operations of a 532-bed community hospital, various clinics and care facilities. Joining the organization in 2019 as vice president and COO, he has helped guide the hospital through the Covid-19 pandemic, recovery from a derecho storm and national staffing challenges. Mr. Greene also chaired a systemwide committee on workplace violence prevention. With over 20 years of experience in operational leadership, he remains actively involved in the community, serving on numerous non-profit boards and committees in Eastern Iowa.
Alicia Gresham. CEO at Pennsylvania Hospital (Philadelphia). Ms. Gresham has served as CEO of Pennsylvania Hospital since 2024, leading the nation’s oldest chartered hospital, founded in Philadelphia in 1751, which marked its 275th anniversary on May 11. She brings nearly 30 years of executive healthcare leadership experience gained across large academic health systems, with a focus on building well-integrated networks that improve access, align operations and support long-term sustainability. Before joining Pennsylvania Hospital, Ms. Gresham served as senior vice president and COO of network operations at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, where she led the expansion of Mount Sinai’s ambulatory practices, contributing to increased practice revenue and improved patient access. Her appointment to her current role marked a return to Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine, where she had previously led special projects for the department of medicine and served as director of access and operations for the Scheie Eye Institute. Ms. Gresham is active in service efforts supporting heart disease and breast cancer awareness, literacy initiatives and food insecurity.
Drew Grossman. CEO of Baptist Health Mariners Hospital and Fisherman’s Community Hospital (Coral Gables, Fla.). Mr. Grossman joined Mariners as CEO in 2021. He also leads Fishermen’s Community Hospital, which reopened as a new facility in 2021 and opened its new medical arts facility in April 2024. For years, he has helped drive the success of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare system in the region, by developing hospitals in the Florida Keys. He first joined the system from St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs, Mo. Previously, he was with Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health, serving as CEO of Broward Health Coral Springs (Fla.) and Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. He also held leadership positions at Cleveland Clinic in Weston and Parkway Medical Center in North Miami Beach. Prior to that, he served as assistant administrator at Inglewood, Calif.-based Centinela Hospital Medical Center.
Donna Handley. Regional President of Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare’s East Region. Ms. Handley, a nurse by training, serves as regional president of Hartford HealthCare’s East Region, overseeing two acute-care hospitals: the William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Conn. and Windham (Conn.) Community Memorial Hospital, along with the system’s other services throughout eastern Connecticut. She sits on Hartford HealthCare’s executive leadership committee and, drawing on her oncology background, remains involved in strategic planning for the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute. As a former operations executive for the cancer institute, Ms. Handley unified cancer services across the system and was instrumental in it becoming the nation’s first Care Partner of New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as well as in developing Connecticut’s first proton beam therapy center through a partnership with Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health. Under her leadership, both Backus and Windham hospitals earned “A” safety grades from the Leapfrog Group in 2023, 2024 and 2025. In 2022, Backus was also named one of “America’s 250 Best Hospitals” by Healthgrades and recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a “Best Hospital for Maternity Care.” Ms. Handley serves as a trustee of the Connecticut Hospital Association and on the American Heart Association’s Connecticut Regional Board.
J. William “Bill” Hankins. CEO at AVALA (Covington, La.). Mr. Hankins brings more than 40 years of healthcare leadership experience to his role as CEO of AVALA, where he oversees financial operations, IT, human resources and patient experience across the organization’s integrated network of a hospital, surgery centers, physician clinics, imaging and therapy services. He leads contract strategy and negotiation directly with payors to strengthen AVALA’s market position, while also overseeing regulatory compliance and risk management. He is tasked with guiding AVALA’s expansion of specialized orthopedic and spine care services across the region. Under his leadership, AVALA has received Healthgrades’ “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” recognition for both outpatient joint replacement and outpatient orthopedic surgery, along with a “Patient Safety Excellence Award.” AVALA has also been named a USA Today “Top Workplace” in both 2025 and 2026, and received the Press Ganey “Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award” in 2024 and 2025. Beyond AVALA, Mr. Hankins serves on the AVALA board of directors and medical executive committee, as a board member and finance committee chair for Lifeshare Blood Center. He is also a past president of the Chenault International Airport Authority board.
Michael Hansen. President and CEO of Columbus (Neb.) Community Hospital. Mr. Hansen leads Columbus Community Hospital, driving significant growth, infrastructure development and service enhancement. Under his leadership, the hospital has completed major expansion projects including a state-of-the-art fieldhouse and a senior behavioral health unit, increasing access to advanced services in the region. Mr. Hansen has also prioritized medical program expansion, telehealth and specialty care to meet evolving community needs. His leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic was marked by proactive crisis management, care continuity and consistent staff support. Widely respected for his advocacy and strategic insight, he contributes to healthcare policy at the state and national levels.
Stacy Harberson. CEO at Howard Memorial Hospital (Nashville, Ark.). Ms. Harberson leads a top-ranked 20-bed critical access hospital, bringing a multifaceted background in radiologic sciences and executive leadership to the role. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds multiple advanced certifications in radiography, mammography, nuclear medicine and CT. A certified coach and speaker, Ms. Harberson actively contributes to national radiologic and leadership organizations, all while mentoring future healthcare professionals. Under her leadership, Howard Memorial Hospital was named a “Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” by the National Rural Health Association in 2023 and made the “Top 100” list in both 2023 and 2024. Her rise from radiology director to COO to CEO reflects her deep institutional knowledge and dedication to excellence in rural healthcare.
Douglass Harrison. President and CEO at WVU Medicine Wheeling (W.Va.) Hospital, CEO of WVU Medicine’s Reynolds Memorial Hospital (Glen Dale, W.Va.) and Regional President of WVU Health System (Morgantown, W.Va.). Mr. Harrison serves as president and CEO of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, a 255-bed acute care facility with a medical staff of more than 225 primary care and specialty physicians serving patients from a three-state area. Under his leadership, the hospital has expanded its service offerings, including breaking ground on an outpatient pediatrics center set to open in 2026 and a regional cancer complex planned to open in 2028. Beyond Wheeling Hospital, he serves as CEO of WVU Medicine’s Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, W.Va., and as the WVU Health System’s regional president overseeing six hospitals across West Virginia and Ohio. He is also the executive sponsor for WVU Medicine’s Southpointe Clinic Development in southwestern Pennsylvania. In the past three years, Wheeling Hospital has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as “high performing” in acute kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, maternity care and stroke, and most recently in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Before his current roles, Mr. Harrison served four years as executive vice president of healthcare integration and network development for WVU Medicine, and spent more than 11 years as an executive at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Kelly Haynie. CEO of Ochsner Medical Center–West Bank (Gretna, La.). Mr. Haynie serves as CEO of Ochsner Medical Center–West Bank, where he oversees hospital operations, strategic planning, financial stewardship, and efforts to build a culture of innovation and collaboration. He brings more than a decade of experience in healthcare operations and team leadership to the role, with a focus on patient experience and community impact. Before joining New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, Mr. Haynie served as vice president of operations at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, Md., where he led initiatives that improved patient experience and operational efficiency. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he has also served as adjunct faculty at Towson University and as an assistant professor at Georgetown University’s School of Medicine. He serves as a board member of the Maryland Healthcare Education Institute and previously chaired the Board of Governors & Young Members for the Center Club in Baltimore. Mr. Haynie also serves on the boards of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation, the West Bank Business & Industry Association and the American Heart Association. In 2025, he was named to Biz New Orleans‘ “New Orleans 500” list, and Ochsner Medical Center–West Bank received an “A” grade from the Leapfrog Group that fall.
Martha Henley. CEO at Unity Medical Center (Manchester, Tenn.). Ms. Henley serves as CEO of Unity Medical Center, where she is responsible for the overall strategic, operational, financial and clinical performance of a rural community hospital serving a medically underserved population. She provides executive leadership across all hospital functions, including finance, quality and patient safety, compliance, workforce strategy and physician alignment, while overseeing budgeting, capital planning and performance improvement efforts essential to long-term rural hospital viability. Ms. Henley serves as the primary executive liaison to the hospital’s governing board, regulators, community leaders and regional healthcare partners, leading strategic planning focused on access preservation and service expansion. Under her leadership, the hospital has strengthened its operational and financial foundation by stabilizing core services, improving governance practices and making strategic investments in key service lines so patients can access essential care close to home. She also contributes to statewide and national discussions on rural hospital sustainability, reimbursement and access. Ms. Henley additionally serves as COO of Java Medical Group. During her tenure, Unity Medical Center has earned a Chartis Center for Rural Health “Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital” designation, a 5-star CMS overall hospital quality star rating and an “Outstanding Patient Experience Award” from Healthgrades.
Steve Herber, MD. President of Adventist Health St. Helena (Calif.) and Adventist Health Vallejo (Calif.). Dr. Herber serves as president of Adventist Health St. Helena and Adventist Health Vallejo, providing executive leadership and strategic oversight for both campuses since stepping into the role in 2014, after moving into executive leadership in 2011. His physician background, which he continues to utilize as a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction, allows him to align clinical and administrative priorities across both hospitals. He has advanced service line development and philanthropic partnerships, including the expansion of the women’s imaging and breast center in collaboration with the St. Helena Hospital Foundation, where he also serves as president. Dr. Herber led Adventist Health St. Helena, a hospital dating back to 1878, through two temporary wildfire-related evacuation closures within months of each other, as well as through the Covid-19 pandemic, while maintaining continuity of care. He played a key role in securing Blue Zones Project certification for both the hospital campus and the City of St. Helena, and has supported programs such as “Mobi Mobile Health” to improve access to care. He serves on multiple community boards, including Vine Trail, Mentis, Rianda House, UpValley Family Centers and Pacific Union College, where he is vice chair. Under his leadership, Adventist Health St. Helena was named one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for patient experience, patient safety and other categories by the Women’s Choice Award in 2023.
Edward Herrman. President and CEO of Hays (Kan.) Medical Center. Mr. Herrman was appointed CEO and president in 2017. Prior to this, he was president of Enid, Okla.-based Integris Bass Baptist Health Center. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Matthew Hesketh. President of Boston Medical Center–South (Brockton, Mass.). Mr. Hesketh serves as president of Boston Medical Center–South, where he leads the hospital’s strategic direction and operational performance while overseeing clinical operations, financial management, patient safety and regulatory readiness. His most significant accomplishment in the role has been guiding the hospital through complex system integration following its transition from Steward Health Care to Boston Medical Center Health System, stabilizing operations and preserving access to care for the Brockton community. Mr. Hesketh is known for his ability to keep teams focused during periods of operational pressure while advocating for the resources staff need to deliver safe care. Under his leadership, Boston Medical Center–South earned multiple “high performing” designations from U.S. News & World Report in 2025 for diabetes and heart attack care, along with the Healthgrades “Coronary Intervention Excellence Award,” and the hospital is one of only two in southeastern Massachusetts approved by CMS to perform carotid artery angioplasty and stenting. Earlier in his career, he advanced through multiple leadership roles at Steward Health Care to become COO, overseeing hospital operations and leading initiatives to improve patient flow, emergency department performance and service line development. In that role, he also directed systemwide quality and safety initiatives addressing inpatient core measures, regulatory readiness and clinical alarm fatigue.
Paul Hiltz. President and CEO of NCH Healthcare System (Naples, Fla.). Mr. Hiltz brings more than 30 years of leadership to his role as president and CEO of NCH Healthcare System, where he is driving innovation in clinical excellence and patient-centered care. Mr. Hiltz has forged impactful partnerships with institutions like the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, and ProScan Imaging in Cincinnati, broadening access to advanced specialty services throughout Southwest Florida. He has expanded academic and research capabilities through graduate medical education programs and participation in national clinical trials. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Mr. Hiltz is also a respected speaker and author, frequently featured at national forums.
Paul P. Hinchey. President and CEO at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System (Savannah, Ga.). Mr. Hinchey has served as president and CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System since spearheading the 1997 merger of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital, having been appointed president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1993. The nonprofit, which recently marked its 150th anniversary, serves 33 counties in southeast Georgia and three counties in South Carolina’s Low Country, employs more than 4,200 people and is the region’s only faith-based healthcare institution. Under his leadership, the 714-bed, Magnet-designated system earned its sixth Magnet recognition for nursing excellence in 2025, making it one of about 20 hospitals worldwide to achieve that distinction. Mr. Hinchey has pursued strategic affiliations with Atlanta-based Emory HealthCare and the Tampa, Fla.-based H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute to expand patient access to advanced treatment. He has championed the “Bē Health and Well-Being” program, which includes “Heartwood,” a mixed-use neighborhood integrating healthcare, housing and education. He has also directed the expansion of oncology care through a new campus and additional infusion practices on several other campuses, and recently dedicated the new St. Joseph’s/Candler Black Creek Campus in Ellabell, Ga., a 40,000-square-foot facility being built in phases. His community involvement includes roles with Mercy Housing Southeast, the Savannah Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah Economic Development Authority, and he has been recognized with the Savannah NAACP’s “Freedom Award” and named to Georgia Trend Magazine‘s inaugural “Georgia 500.” Mr. Hinchey previously served as senior vice president and COO of Bon Secours-St. Joseph’s Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Leslie D. Hirsch. President and CEO at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System (New Brunswick, N.J.). Mr. Hirsch has served as president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System since 2017 after joining the organization as president in 2015, leading one of the few remaining Catholic, single-hospital health systems in the state. He recently guided Saint Peter’s through a multiyear discernment process to secure its future and Catholic identity after a proposed merger was blocked by the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 and a second proposed merger was mutually terminated in 2025, positioning the system to continue as an independent organization. Mr. Hirsch has overseen a multimillion-dollar modernization of Saint Peter’s Family Health Center, which is nearing its five-year goal of 100,000 visits after reaching nearly 84,000 in 2025. He has also directed the expansion and modernization of the hospital’s adult and pediatric ICUs and perioperative services area, and oversaw the March 2026 launch of a new division of the pediatric cardiology-fetal and adult congenital heart center. Mr. Hirsch was elected to a three-year term on the American Hospital Association’s board of trustees beginning in January 2025 and also chairs its regional policy board 2 for New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. He previously chaired the New Jersey Hospital Association’s board of trustees and received its “Distinguished Service Award” in 2022.
Jeremiah “JJ” Hodshire. President & CEO at Hillsdale (Mich.) Hospital. Mr. Hodshire serves as president and CEO of Hillsdale Hospital, where he oversees leadership, direction and administration of all hospital activities, including human resources, strategic planning, grant writing, operational margin management and more. With no COO on staff, he has also taken on those responsibilities, along with government relations and communications, appearing weekly on radio programs, social media livestreams and podcasts to advance rural health education and literacy. Raised in the Hillsdale community he serves, Mr. Hodshire previously worked in educational administration and law enforcement, including more than 10 years as county undersheriff, before moving into hospital leadership. Under his leadership, Hillsdale Hospital has brought specialties including vascular care, neurosurgery and podiatry to the rural community, pursuing a vision of providing a full continuum of care from the emergency room to the critical care unit to outpatient services. He received the National Rural Health Association’s “Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Healthcare” in 2022, the Medical Group Management Association’s “Extraordinary Leaders Achievement Recognition” in 2021, and the “Marvin E. Howell Leadership Award” from the Hillsdale County Economic Development Partnership. He serves on the boards of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, the Michigan Works! Southeast workforce development board, the Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities and the Hillsdale County Economic Development Partnership. Under his leadership, Hillsdale Hospital has been named a “Top Workplace” by USA Today and Detroit Free Press in 2025, and was recognized among U.S. News & World Report‘s “Best Nursing Homes” in 2025 and 2026.
Bill Hoefer. President of Corewell Health Zeeland and Pennock Hospitals (Mich.). Mr. Hoefer was named president of Zeeland Community Hospital in 2021 and Pennock in 2022. He has nearly three decades of experience in the healthcare industry. Before joining Zeeland, he was COO of St. Louis, Mo.-based Mercy Hospital South.
Amy Hoey, BSN, RN. President of Tufts Medicine Lowell (Mass.) General Hospital. Ms. Hoey is the first female and first nurse to serve as president of Lowell General Hospital in its 134-year history. She previously served as CNO, leading Lowell General to four Magnet recognitions. During the pandemic, Ms. Hoey directed field hospital operations and oversaw a mass vaccination program that administered over 140,000 doses. She has also led expansions in emergency, surgical and maternity services, and championed shared governance and clinical leadership initiatives. Ms. Hoey serves on multiple regional boards and continues to advocate for quality, equity and innovation across the Tufts Medicine system.
Loy Howard. President and CEO of Tanner Health System (Carrollton, Ga.). Mr. Howard has led Tanner Health System as CEO since 1994, overseeing its expansion from two hospitals to five and more than 30 medical practices across Georgia and Alabama. With guidance from the board of directors, he oversees all aspects of Tanner’s operations. Under his leadership, Tanner’s revenue has surpassed $1.2 billion. He has expanded clinical services significantly, including cancer care, heart care and neurology, among others. Mr. Howard has also initiated programs to introduce high school students to healthcare careers and expanded nursing education in partnership with the University of West Georgia. Additionally, he’s been instrumental in community health initiatives like the “Get Healthy, Live Well” program.
Ed Hubel. President of Baptist Medical Center Clay (Jacksonville, Fla.). Mr. Hubel serves as hospital president of Baptist Medical Center Clay, a 102-bed medical and surgical center that opened in December 2022 as a six-story, 300,000-square-foot facility employing more than 700 team members across more than 20 specialties, including labor and delivery, orthopedics, bariatric surgery, minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery and cancer care. He joined Jacksonville-based Baptist Health in 1996 and brings more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, having become Baptist Clay’s interim hospital president in July 2023 before taking the permanent role in January 2024. Under his leadership, Baptist Clay has earned an “A” rating in patient safety from the Leapfrog Group for the past two years. Mr. Hubel previously served seven years as president of the 62-bed Baptist Medical Center Nassau in Fernandina Beach, Fla., where the hospital received an “A” Leapfrog patient safety rating 14 consecutive times, was named a “Top Hospital” by the Leapfrog Group and a “Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital” by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, and ranked among Press Ganey’s top 5% of U.S. hospitals for patient satisfaction. He has received the American College of Healthcare Executives’ “Distinguished Service Award,” and has previously served on the American Hospital Association’s rural health services committee and the Florida Hospital Association’s rural hospital committee.
David Huffstutler. President and CEO of St. David’s HealthCare (Austin, Texas). Mr. Huffstutler was named president and CEO in 2011. In 2019, he was honored by the Texas Hospital Association as the recipient of the 2018 “Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration”. The award recognizes outstanding executives who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to the healthcare industry and their profession.
Sarah Hunter. President at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital (Melrose Park, Ill.). Ms. Hunter is president of Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, a 235-licensed-bed community hospital that is part of Maywood, Ill.-based Loyola Medicine and includes the Judd A. Weinberg Emergency Department, the Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care, and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center. She built her career at Loyola Medicine, holding progressive leadership roles at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Ill. from 2012 to 2019, beginning as an administrative fellow and advancing to director of business operations. From 2019 to 2021, she served as director of hospital operations at Gottlieb, overseeing procedural, ancillary and community-based departments while playing a pivotal role in the hospital’s Covid-19 response and helping launch health equity initiatives. Ms. Hunter most recently served as COO at Northwest Health in Valparaiso, Ind., where she led growth in procedural volume, introduced new service lines and developed community-based programs. Under her leadership, Gottlieb earned its first Magnet designation in 2025 for nursing care, and its hip and knee replacement program was recognized as a “Blue Distinction+ Center” by Blue Cross Blue Shield. The hospital’s skilled nursing facility was also named one of the country’s “Best Nursing Homes of 2024” by U.S. News & World Report, and its electrodiagnostic laboratory earned exemplary status accreditation from the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine in 2025.
Lisa Iachetti, BSN, RN. President and Chief Hospital Executive at Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center (North Bergen, N.J.). Ms. Iachetti leads strategic initiatives to improve health care delivery in the communities Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center serves, drawing on more than four decades of experience in emergency department nursing. She began her career at Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center in 1994 as an emergency room nurse, and then advanced through roles including vice president of operations, administrator of clinical services for growth and development, and senior director of strategy and market development. She was then named president and chief hospital executive of Palisades Medical Center. Under her leadership and as the first phase of a $50 million investment in emergency services, the medical center opened a newly redesigned emergency department featuring two triage rooms, eight private treatment rooms and 15 flexible treatment spaces known as “flower pods,” the first of their kind in New Jersey. Ms. Iachetti also championed the integration of robotic surgery at the medical center, expanding access to minimally invasive procedures with faster recovery times. Earlier in her career, Ms. Iachetti launched an air medical division within Hackensack University Medical Center’s emergency medical services operations at the request of the hospital’s CEO, led the opening of a satellite emergency department at Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, N.J., and helped guide Hackensack University Medical Center to its designation as a level 1 trauma center. She has also directed community initiatives addressing homelessness and alcohol use disorder in partnership with Hudson County government, and launched an adopt-a-school program with John F. Kennedy School in North Bergen. Ms. Iachetti was named “Person of the Year” by the Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce in 2025.
Jonathan Jean-Marie. Senior Vice President and Administrator at Loma Linda University Medical Center–Murrieta (Calif.). Mr. Jean-Marie provides executive leadership for hospital operations, strategic growth and clinical performance at Loma Linda University Medical Center–Murrieta, one of Southern California’s fastest-growing regions. He oversees major service lines including emergency services, surgical services and maternity care, working closely with medical staff leadership to recruit and retain physicians and expand clinical capacity. Under his leadership, the hospital earned U.S. News & World Report‘s “Best Hospital for Maternity Care” distinction for 2026, following a “high performing” ranking in maternity care in 2025. The hospital also saw one of the largest year-over-year improvements in employee engagement among organizations measured by Gallup during his tenure. Mr. Jean-Marie is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves as a senior executive leader within Loma Linda (Calif.) University Health, contributing to system-level strategy across hospitals. Mr. Jean-Marie also remains an active collaborator with physician leadership, residency programs and community partnerships.
Amy Jerdee. President and CEO at St. Francis Regional Medical Center (Shakopee, Minn.). Ms. Jerdee has served as president and CEO of St. Francis Regional Medical Center since June 2019, overseeing all aspects of hospital operations, programs and services at the 100-bed nonprofit community hospital with more than 1,000 care team members. The medical center is jointly owned by Minneapolis-based Allina Health, Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health and Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners Park Nicollet, and is sponsored by Duluth Benedictine Ministries. Ms. Jerdee is known for her expertise in managing complex stakeholder relationships within a matrixed joint venture. In 2021, she led the expansion of the St. Francis Cancer Clinic, and the opening of six new mental health crisis beds in the emergency department in 2022. In 2024, St. Francis constructed and opened a new 44,000-square-foot building providing ambulatory surgery access to Shakopee and neighboring communities, which also houses a TRIA Orthopedic Clinic, urgent care and an ambulatory surgery center. In 2025, she spearheaded a major renovation and expansion of the emergency department, including additional clinical exam rooms and an expanded ambulance bay capable of accommodating four ambulances. Ms. Jerdee, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, has maintained a strong financial profile for the hospital while consistently delivering positive operating margins.
Julian John. CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan (New York City). Mr. John is CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan, a 338-bed acute care teaching hospital that logs more than 400,000 outpatient visits and more than 70,000 emergency visits annually. His background as the hospital’s former CFO informs his approach to aligning clinical, operational and financial priorities for a predominantly immigrant, working- and lower-income community. In 2025, under his leadership, Metropolitan completed its Joint Commission survey successfully, became the first hospital in the world to earn “Pathway to Excellence with Distinction,” and maintained its ranking as the No. 1 hospital in the nation for health equity and inclusivity from the Lown Institute. He has directed $130 million in capital projects, including a $100 million emergency department expansion and $30 million operating room modernization, alongside new rehabilitation and MRI facilities. Under Mr. John, the hospital reduced hospital-acquired pressure injuries and catheter-associated urinary tract infections by more than 75%, while a systemwide shift in observation policy generated an estimated $20 million in annualized revenue. Employee engagement scores rose to the 99th percentile nationally in 2025, marking a 20% increase since 2023. Mr. John previously served as Metropolitan’s deputy executive director and CFO from 2021 to 2024, after holding CFO roles at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in Bronx, N.Y. and Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Wade Johnson. CEO of St. Peter’s Health (Helena, Mont.). Mr. Johnson was appointed CEO of St. Peter’s Health in 2017. Before coming to St. Peter’s Health he was CEO of Emmett, Idaho.-based Valor Health. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Clay Jordan, RN. CEO at Tri Valley Health System (Cambridge, Neb.). Mr. Jordan serves as CEO of Tri Valley Health System, where he has led efforts to expand access to advanced diagnostic technology despite financial challenges facing rural healthcare. Under his direction, the critical access hospital acquired a new portable X-ray machine for its emergency room, surgery and inpatient departments, and implemented Genius 3D Mammography, which identifies 20% to 65% more invasive cancers than traditional 2D mammography alone. He established the Patient and Family Advisory Council to incorporate patient and family feedback into quality improvement and safety strategies, and he led the creation of a physician recruitment team to help the system compete for family medicine physicians. Under his leadership, Tri Valley earned the American Heart Association’s “Get With the Guidelines Stroke Rural Recognition Bronze Award.” Mr. Jordan began his healthcare career as a paramedic at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, Neb. and later as a flight paramedic with LifeSave Critical Care Transport before becoming a certified rural hospital CNO through the National Rural Health Association. He joined Tri Valley Health System in 2019 as CNO, a role he held for nearly five years before being named interim and then permanent CEO. He also serves as a board member for the ruralMED Health Cooperative.
Michelle Joy. President and CEO of Carson Tahoe Health System (Carson City, Nev.). Ms. Joy has successfully maintained Carson Tahoe Health’s independence in a consolidating industry, growing the organization’s footprint and services while preserving its nonprofit community mission. She has spearheaded initiatives like the “Healing Our Kids” program to address youth mental health and supported maternal-infant care excellence through Baby-Friendly Hospital designation. Carson Tahoe Health has received multiple accolades under her leadership, including recognition from The Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality and a “Best of Sierra Nevada” gold award from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Ms. Joy brings decades of operational expertise from prior CEO and COO roles across Colorado and California, and today she chairs or sits on multiple regional and national boards, including the American Hospital Association Region 9 policy board.
Phillip Kambic. President and CEO at Riverside Healthcare (Kankakee, Ill.). Mr. Kambic has served as president and CEO of Riverside Healthcare since December 2005, after holding the role of senior vice president and COO at the system since 1985. Under his leadership, Riverside Medical Center has earned Magnet designation and multiple redesignations, along with IBM Watson Health “100 Top Hospital Awards” and “50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital Awards.” The hospital has also launched several residency and fellowship training programs, expanded its footprint to sites of service across four counties and more than tripled its net asset size during his tenure. Mr. Kambic has chaired the boards of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, the Kankakee County Economic Development Association and the Kankakee Area YMCA, and continues to serve on the Illinois Health and Hospital Association board and the Illinois Provider Trust board. He is a long-serving fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Shela Kaneshiro, RN. CEO of MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center (Laguna Hills, Calif.). Ms. Kaneshiro became CEO in 2025 following her role as MemorialCare’s clinical transformation officer and previously as Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center’s vice president of patient care services and CNO. With a career spanning over 30 years, at Saddleback she expanded cardiothoracic surgery, added robotic capabilities and earned quality honors. Selected one of “America’s 250 Best Hospitals” four consecutive years by Healthgrades, Saddleback received a 10th “A” hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group. Additional Healthgrades awards includes “100 Best” in both gastrointestinal care, as well as top three in California, and gastrointestinal surgery, as well as top five in the state, “Patient Safety Excellence” and “Critical Care Excellence” awards, 5-star national rankings for colorectal and gall bladder surgeries, hip fracture treatment, respiratory failure and treatment of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, diabetic emergencies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory failure and other medical issues. It is listed in 11 high performing categories by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the Women’s Health Pavilion is the county’s first location dedicated entirely to women’s health. Consistently honored by The Orange County Register readers as one of Orange County’s best hospitals, it is recognized for heart and vascular care, cancer treatment, joint replacement and women’s health. Ms. Kaneshiro was also named among Orange County Business Journal’s “OC50 Most Prominent Businesswomen” for leadership in healthcare transformation and advancement of patient care.
Katrina Keefer. President and CEO at DCH Health System (Tuscaloosa, Ala.). Since August 2022, Ms. Keefer has served as president and CEO of DCH Health System, including community hospitals DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Northport (Ala.) Medical Center and Fayette (Ala.) Medical Center. She has driven a turnaround in the system’s perception among staff and the community by prioritizing employee feedback and expanding recognition programs, including “Daisy Awards” for RNs and “BEE Awards” for non-nursing staff. Under her leadership, DCH improved its Leapfrog safety score by 41% between 2021 and 2024, moving from a “D” to a high “B” rating, and the system posted 10% year-over-year patient volume growth alongside improved financial stability. She has focused on employee engagement, recruitment and pay increases that more than halved emergency department turnover and reduced the left-without-being-seen rate to below 3%. In fiscal year 2025, a physician engagement and alignment survey conducted under her leadership showed a statistically significant score increase on every question asked, with the largest gain in satisfaction with organizational leadership. Ms. Keefer also partnered with the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing to expand workforce development opportunities, including an online RN-to-BSN degree program for DCH employees. She received the 2024 “Distinguished Service Award” from the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of directors for the United Way of West Alabama.
Justin P. Kendrick. Senior Vice President and CEO of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center (Shenandoah, Texas) and Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital (Humble, Texas). Mr. Kendrick oversees two high-performing hospitals within the Memorial Hermann Health System, driving innovation, growth and community impact through a strategic framework. Under his leadership, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands achieved a top 10 Vizient ranking and multiple national recognitions, including Magnet designation and Lown Institute’s “A” grade for social responsibility. He has led transformative expansions such as the $250 million South Tower project and launched initiatives that improved employee engagement, lowered turnover and enhanced patient experience. His data-driven, people-centered leadership has yielded double-digit growth in admissions and operational targets across both campuses. Mr. Kendrick has also led successful philanthropic campaigns and school-based clinic development, and holds leadership roles within chambers and nonprofits. Mr. Kendrick was recognized as a “Hometown Hero” by Interfaith of The Woodlands in 2024.
William Kenley. CEO of AnMed (Anderson, S.C.). Mr. Kenley leads AnMed as CEO, overseeing hospitals and clinical sites that serve nearly half a million residents. Under his guidance, AnMed has undergone significant expansion projects, including a $75 million modernization effort and the creation of a $40 million ambulatory care campus. Mr. Kenley focuses on improving the patient experience through innovative technologies like Cedar for billing and by redefining AnMed as a trusted aggregator for community care coordination. He fosters a positive organizational culture and has expanded partnerships with organizations like Charleston, S.C.-based MUSC Health. Mr. Kenley champions strategic plans to address access and affordability issues, including adopting new technologies like a Medicaid enrollment tool.
Karen Kerr. President of South Florida Baptist Hospital (Plant City, Fla.) and Bartow (Fla.) Regional Medical Center. Ms. Kerr leads two key community hospitals, both part of Clearwater, Fla.-based BayCare Health System, overseeing expansions to meet the demands of Florida’s rapidly growing population. In 2024, she helped open the new South Florida Baptist Hospital, nearly doubling its size, while launching an expansion at Bartow Regional Medical Center to increase bed capacity. Ms. Kerr executed the complex, multi-agency patient transfer from the original hospital facility and led enhancements in neurospine, surgery and obstetrics. A 30-year BayCare Health System veteran, she has served in leadership roles across the hospital network. Outside of her executive leadership role, she sits on multiple regional economic and chamber boards and is an active civic leader.
Abdul Khan, MD. CEO of Ochsner Medical Center–Kenner (La.) and Ochsner River Region. Dr. Khan is CEO of Ochsner Medical Center–Kenner and Ochsner River Region, overseeing facilities in Kenner, Luling, Destrehan and LaPlace, La. He also continues to practice pulmonary and critical care medicine, including a weekly general pulmonary practice and teaching rounds as an attending in the medical ICU. He rose through several leadership roles over the past decade, including vice president of medical affairs, associate medical director, and regional medical director. His accolades within the health system include the “Hurst B. Hatch Teacher of the Year” award, the “Critical Care Faculty of the Year,” the “New Physician Executive of the Year” and the “Spirit of Leadership” award, Ochsner’s highest physician honor. Under his leadership, Ochsner Medical Center–Kenner was ranked No. 1 in Louisiana for medical excellence in heart failure treatment and in the top 10% nationally for cancer care by the 2021 CareChex “Health System Quality Awards,” and the hospital holds advanced certification for primary stroke centers from the Joint Commission. Ochsner Medical Center–Kenner also earned an “A” Leapfrog hospital safety grade for three consecutive periods under his tenure. Dr. Khan is triple board certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine, and he serves as medical director of the Xavier University of Louisiana Physician Assistant program.
Joseph Khayat. President of Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital (Winter Garden, Fla.). Mr. Khayat leads strategy, operations and community impact as president of Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital, which opened in 2021 in one of Central Florida’s fastest-expanding areas. He also oversees Davenport, Fla.-based Orlando Health Emergency Room–Reunion Village, a free-standing emergency department. In just over a year in the role, he has guided the hospital to three consecutive Leapfrog hospital safety grade “A” ratings. He served as executive champion for the surgical team’s creation of smoke-free operating rooms, earning the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses’ “Go Clear Award,” one of the first such achievements among Orlando Health facilities. Under his leadership, the hospital achieved three Joint Commission certifications within 18 months, becoming a certified primary stroke center and earning disease-specific care certification for hip and knee replacement. Most recently, the hospital earned disease-specific care certification in shoulder replacement, making it one of only 11 hospitals in Florida and the only hospital in the greater Central Florida area with that certification. Mr. Khayat also led the launch of a new vascular access program with the Orlando (Fla.) Health Heart and Vascular Institute, taking it from concept to go-live in two and a half months and credentialing five vascular surgeons to reduce wait times that previously exceeded 48 to 72 hours for dialysis patients. He began his healthcare career as a respiratory therapist and most recently served as COO for Orlando Health–Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, Fla. before becoming president at Horizon West. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the boards of Edgewood Children’s Ranch and Eight Waves.
Nizar Kifaieh, MD. President and CEO of Hudson Regional Hospital (Secaucus, N.J.). Mr. Kifaieh has served as president and CEO of Hudson Regional Hospital since January 2018. He has led the facility through a $10 million capital improvement campaign and improved the patient experience through a patient liaison team for pediatrics, geriatrics and emergency room visitors. Hudson Regional Hospital was designated the official Covid-19 testing site for Hudson County in March 2020 under his leadership.
Kyle King. President of Adventist Health Portland (Ore.), Adventist Health Tillamook (Ore.) and Adventist Health Columbia Gorge (The Dalles, Ore.). Mr. King serves as Oregon Network President for Adventist Health, providing strategic, operational and cultural leadership across a network of three community hospitals and more than 60 clinics. He is responsible for advancing systemwide priorities including access to care, service line growth, quality outcomes and financial sustainability, with particular attention to rural and underserved communities. Under his leadership, the network has seen notable gains in primary care productivity, and Portland grew surgical volume by 8% in a single quarter. He has championed the expansion of specialty services including gastrointestinal and cardiology procedures, and he led a groundbreaking joint operating agreement between Adventist Health Columbia Gorge and the Portland-based OHSU Knight Cancer Institute to bring oncology expertise to a rural community. Mr. King has also driven physician recruitment across the network, adding surgeons in high-need specialties such as spine, vascular, gastrointestinal and advanced foregut surgery. He serves as a board member for Health Share of Oregon and the Hospital Association of Oregon, and holds a leadership role within the OHSU Health Integrated Delivery System. Before his current position, he held various leadership roles within Adventist Health Portland and the Oregon Network, and earlier worked in healthcare operations leadership for the Washington State Department of Corrections.
Chris Klay. President and CEO of HSHS Southern Illinois Market. Mr. Klay was named president and CEO of Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System’s Southern Illinois Market in November 2023. The market includes four HSHS ministries within the state: HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, and HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville. Prior to assuming this role, he was the president and CEO over HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, beginning in 2022, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland as of June 2023. He had also served as president and CEO of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese from 2017 to 2022. Mr. Klay joined HSHS in 2009, serving in a variety of operational roles including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and respiratory therapy. He has more than two decades in the healthcare field.
Scott Knight. CEO of Sutter Tracy Community Hospital (Sacramento, Calif.). As the CEO of Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, Mr. Knight oversees all operations for the 77-bed acute care hospital, managing a $650 million operating budget and over 600 employees, serving more than 100,000 people. He is responsible for driving growth in hospital service lines, procedural cases and community outreach efforts. His leadership led to double-digit growth in procedural cases at the community hospital, resulting in expanded surgical care capacity within the Sutter Health system. He has demonstrated financial stewardship by doubling earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization at the hospital, ensuring sustainability and enabling investments in critical areas of improvement. Under his leadership, the hospital earned national recognition for clinical and quality ratings, while his strategic recruitment efforts have led to success in workforce optimization and the stabilization of clinical service lines.
Felissa Koernig. President and CEO of Oneida (N.Y.) Health. Ms. Koernig was named president and CEO of Oneida Health in September 2023. She brings over 15 years of strategic and operational management leadership experience, most recently serving as president of 65-bed Guthrie Corning (N.Y.) Hospital. Upon assuming her new role, she became the first female CEO in the full service community hospital’s 125-year history.
Philip Koovakada. President of Orlando (Fla.) Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and Senior Vice President of Orlando Health South Florida Region. Mr. Koovakada oversees seven hospitals and campuses across Orlando Health’s South Florida region, where he leads strategy, operations and clinical performance for over 4,000 team members. He has expanded local access to cardiology, launched a first-in-system pelvic floor program and championed high-performance team building. Mr. Koovakada fosters a collaborative culture, regularly connecting with staff at all levels, and emphasizes trust, transparency and talent development. With prior CEO experience in Texas, he is known for balancing clinical innovation with community-focused care.
R. Kyle Kramer. CEO at Day Kimball Health (Putnam, Conn.). Mr. Kramer has served as CEO of Day Kimball Health since 2020, leading the primary source of care for 70,000 residents across 13 towns in rural northeast Connecticut. He has driven growth in orthopedics, expanded specialist recruitment and stabilized the community hospital’s finances while advancing physician alignment and strengthening key service lines. In 2023, after a long-anticipated affiliation with a larger health system collapsed just before a scheduled public hearing, Mr. Kramer led a rapid advocacy and communications effort that helped secure $15 million in emergency funding from the Connecticut General Assembly, followed by a further appropriation in 2025 to support the hospital’s longer-term viability. He has since helped guide Day Kimball into a pending partnership with Farmington, Conn,-based UConn Health as part of the UConn Health Community Network. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he worked alongside frontline teams, assisting with patient room turnover and delivering meals to reinforce unity across the organization. Mr. Kramer chairs Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon’s Rural Health Task Force and serves on the boards of the Connecticut Hospital Association, the Northeast Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and the Putnam YMCA. He was named a Hartford Business Journal “Healthcare Hero” in 2023.
Carla LaFever. President of Aurora Medical Center–Grafton (Wis.). Ms. LaFever leads Aurora Medical Center–Grafton, a 132-bed acute care community hospital that’s part of Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health. The medical center, along with the Mayfair Surgery Center, serves Ozaukee, Washington, Milwaukee and Sheboygan counties in southeastern Wisconsin. She has been with the hospital since its inception in 2010, helping shape its evolution from a new facility into a regional destination for community and specialty care over 15 years. Under her leadership, the hospital has expanded access to higher-acuity and specialty services and holds certifications in trauma care, stroke care and breast health. She has guided an approved 225,000-square-foot tower expansion at the hospital, which is the largest employer in Ozaukee County, with completion due in 2028. Ms. LaFever brings a background in human resources and hospital operations, having previously served as vice president of operations at the community hospital and as director of human resources for both the hospital and Aurora Medical Center–Sheboygan (Wis.). She serves as president of Ozaukee County Economic Development and the Saukville Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the board of the Kettle Moraine YMCA. She is also active in the community as a volunteer with a local food pantry and a supporter of the “Lead the Way Program” at Grafton High School.
Steve Lail. President and CEO of Down East Community Hospital and Calais Community Hospital (Machias and Calais, Maine). Mr. Lail directs both Down East Community Hospital and Calais Hospital, two critical access hospitals that provide necessary services to an underserved area. His main goal is to preserve resources and deliver care to patients in a financially viable manner. Thanks to his efforts, Down East Community Hospital has expanded services and achieved a positive bottom line for several years.
John Langlois. CEO of Riverview Regional Medical Center (Gadsden, Ala.). As CEO of Riverview Regional Medical Center, a 281-bed acute care facility with 700 employees and 200 medical staff members, Mr. Langlois makes daily operational and financial decisions to ensure the safe, quality delivery of care. He implements evidenced-based practice measures and holds all departments to high performance improvement standards. His leadership has allowed the hospital to stay financially stable.
Michael Lauf. President and CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare (Hyannis, Mass.). Mr. Lauf has led Cape Cod Healthcare as president and CEO since 2010, overseeing a regional health system that includes two acute care hospitals, a trauma center, the Cape’s largest home health agency, seven urgent care centers, and a network of primary and specialty care. Under his leadership, the system has made over $1 billion in strategic investments without incurring new debt, driving growth in patient access, innovation and workforce development. Mr. Lauf has prioritized service excellence and operational performance, guiding the organization through major quality and technological advancements. Before his current role, he served as the system’s COO and as president of Cape Cod and Falmouth Hospitals. Mr. Lauf served as the 84th chair of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association board of trustees in 2025, leveraging his policy expertise to advocate for healthcare excellence statewide.
Tiffany Lawrence, President and CEO of Sanford Health Fargo (N.D.). With approximately three decades of experience at Sanford Health Fargo, Ms. Lawrence understands what it takes to drive success in overseeing the state’s largest healthcare provider and employer. In her role, Ms. Lawrence is responsible for managing more than 11,000 employees across community hospitals and clinics in more than 30 communities. Since becoming president and CEO in March 2022, Ms. Lawrence created a workplace culture focused on recognition and open communication, helping to nearly double the organization’s employee net promoter score. Committed to keeping healthcare close to home, Ms. Lawrence has helped bring advanced services, such as the micro-preemie program and CAR T therapy, expanding access for rural communities through virtual appointments and outreach visits.
Amy E. Lee. President and COO at Nantucket (Mass.) Cottage Hospital. Since joining Nantucket Cottage Hospital in 2022, Ms. Lee has led efforts to expand and improve access to care for island residents and visitors, while working to address the significant socioeconomic challenges for those who live and work on the island year-round. The hospital has increased access to care across more than 30 specialties on island through a combination of telehealth, in person visiting providers, and education and training of current on-island caregivers. Efforts to expedite care in the emergency department have resulted in a 15-minute door-to-provider time for patients, even during the busy tourist season when the island population swells to more than 80,000 people, up from 14,000 in the off-season. Under her leadership, the hospital has made strides to address the most critical need of its workforce and community: housing. In the past two years, the hospital has acquired or built 10 new housing units with 38 bedrooms with funds from the last capital campaign. In 2023, the organization hired a first-of-its kind housing coordinator who works directly with employees and recruits to help find housing solutions in the community. Prior to joining Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Ms. Lee served as COO and vice president at Central Maine Medical Group/Central Maine Healthcare.
Christopher Lege, MD. CEO at Touro (New Orleans). Dr. Lege serves as president and CEO of Touro. He is an internal medicine physician who has practiced at Touro for more than 20 years. Before becoming CEO, Dr. Lege served as Touro’s chief medical officer for four years. He also served as primary care medical director and chief medical officer for Crescent City Physicians in New Orleans, and as physician chair of New Orleans-based LCMC Health’s primary care service line. Dr. Lege is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Stuart Levine, MD. President of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center (Baltimore) and Senior Vice President of MedStar Health (Columbia, Md.). As president of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, Dr. Levine oversees all aspects of hospital operations for the 354-bed hospital. He hones in on patient care optimization, growth of clinical programs and services, physician and staff recruitment and retention, and quality and compliance. Dr. Levine makes an effort to build and cultivate valuable partnerships with nearby organizations as well. Cumulatively, his work helps position the hospital as the ideal local choice for comprehensive medical care. He also serves as senior vice president of Columbia, Md.-based Medstar Health.
Myron Lewis. President and CEO of Blanchard Valley Health System (Findlay, Ohio). Mr. Lewis was named president and CEO of Blanchard Valley Health System in 2021. He previously served as the president of Spectrum Health Zeeland (Mich.) Community Hospital. Mr. Lewis also has a variety of previous community affiliations, including a position on the board of directors for Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Health Pointe Integrated Care Campus.
Gordon Lintz. President and Chief Administrative Officer of Morristown (Tenn.)-Hamblen and Claiborne (Tazewell, Tenn.). Mr. Lintz has been the president and chief administrative officer of Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, a member of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Covenant Health, since 2012. He oversees the 167-bed facility, which has supported its local eight counties in East Tennessee for 125 years. He is committed to improving access to high-quality healthcare and recruiting skilled primary and specialty physicians to the area. Under his guidance, the system has seen improvements in patient safety, including reductions in the harm index. Mr. Lintz also played a key role in overseeing the construction of Morristown-Hamblen West, a new outpatient healthcare facility that opened in the summer of 2023. He is involved in bringing new technologies to the community as well, such as robotic technology for knee replacements, an updated computerized tomography imaging scanner and new state-of-the-art angiography equipment. He also became president and chief administrative officer of Covenant Health Claiborne in August 2024.
Svetlana Lipyanskaya. CEO at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn (N.Y.) Health. With a focus on enhancing access and quality of care, Ms. Lipyanskaya has spearheaded transformative initiatives including the opening of the new Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital and renovations of the Health and Wellness Institute. Her leadership has introduced critical services like a cardiac catheterization lab and neuro-interventional care, setting new standards in patient treatment. Beyond her executive role, Ms. Lipyanskaya contributes to healthcare leadership as a board member at the Healthcare Association of New York State and as an adjunct professor at NYU’s school of global public health. She has received numerous awards and nominations for advancing community health and healthcare delivery in New York City.
Daniel Listi. President at Baptist Health Princeton Hospital (Birmingham, Ala.). Mr. Listi has served as president of Baptist Health Princeton Hospital, a 505-bed academic and community hospital with more than 1,200 team members, since May 2024, guiding the historic Birmingham campus through its transition following Orlando (Fla.) Health’s acquisition of the Baptist Health system. During that time, he has overseen the addition of more than 150 full-time team members and directed nearly $10 million in infrastructure and equipment investments, including a new cardiac catheterization lab and expanded electrophysiology access. He also chairs the 2026 Birmingham Heart Walk, with a fundraising target of $1 million, and serves as a board member of Leadership Shelby County and a charter board member of the Alabama chapter of the Association of Medical Facility Professionals. Before joining Baptist Health Princeton, Mr. Listi served from 2022 to 2024 as CEO of Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Fla., where he reduced labor expense by $4 million and other controllable costs by more than $2 million year over year while leading more than $30 million in capital projects and maintaining transfer acceptance rates above 90%. From 2018 to 2022, he was CEO of Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, Ala., where he raised the hospital’s CMS star rating from three to four stars and coordinated regional Covid-19 surge capacity and vaccination efforts.
Bill Little. CEO of St. Francis–Emory Healthcare (Columbus, Ga.). Mr. Little is in his second year as CEO of St. Francis–Emory Healthcare, a 376-bed acute care hospital and the largest in the Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth system, with more than 2,000 associates and medical staff. Prior, he spent nine years as CEO of Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville, S.C. In 2025, the hospital recruited more than 80 new providers and invested more than $3 million in facility upgrades and medical technology to expand access to care in the Columbus area. Under his leadership, St. Francis–Emory Healthcare earned three 2026 Healthgrades distinctions for its cardiac services, including the “Coronary Intervention Excellence Award,” and was ranked among Georgia’s top large hospitals by Georgia Trend in 2025. The hospital also became the first in Georgia designated a “Purple Heart Hospital” by the Military Order of the Purple Heart and earn Joint Commission certification for advanced perinatal care. U.S. News & World Report rated the hospital’s abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and kidney failure care as “high performing.” Mr. Little serves on the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley’s board of directors, and has previously served on the South Carolina Hospital Association’s board of trustees and the Coker University board of trustees.
Floyd Long. CEO of NYC Health+Hospital/Carter (New York City). Mr. Long has served as the CEO of NYC Health+Hospital/Carter since 2015. Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Long led the opening and operation of an acute care hospital in response to Covid-19 in a record two-week time. He manages the hospital’s $80 million budget.
Tammy Loosbrock. CEO of Sanford Luverne (Minn.) Clinic and Sanford Rock Rapids (Minn.) Clinic. Ms. Loosbrock serves as CEO for Sanford Luverne and Rock Rapids Clinics. She leads by tackling challenges head-on, and has been known to personally make ambulance runs when staffing shortages arise. She has also taken on tasks like organizing materials management storage to optimize space and reduce costs. In addition to her hands-on approach, Ms. Loosbrock is deeply involved in community initiatives. She serves on a local daycare board in an effort to support her employees and address community needs. She also mentors students and promotes healthcare careers in local schools and is involved in the Luverne Rotary Club and the Rock County Food Shelf Board.
Amanda Lucas. Executive Director of Ohio State East Hospital, Harding Hospital and Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital (Columbus). As executive director, Ms. Lucas oversees East Hospital, Harding Hospital and Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital, all community hospitals that are part of Columbus-based Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. She first joined Ohio State Wexner in 2011 as Harding Hospital’s executive director and added oversight of East Hospital nearly three years ago. East Hospital features a level 3 trauma center, a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction program and a certified primary stroke center, and Ms. Lucas has expanded services there including vascular surgery, electrophysiology and neurosurgery. She helped launch a behavioral health urgent care during the pandemic and supported the opening of residential addiction treatment services at East Hospital in spring 2024. Ms. Lucas also led community engagement efforts around the construction of a new rehabilitation hospital, building consensus with neighborhood stakeholders to preserve a historic home on the planned site. She serves on the Ohio Hospital Association’s behavioral health committee and the Near East Side advisory council, and previously served on the American Heart Association’s “Heart Walk” executive leadership team for Central Ohio. Under her leadership, East Hospital earned a Leapfrog grade “A” in 2024 and 2025, as well as a 2023 Press Ganey “Human Experience Award” for its inpatient addiction work. Before her current role, Ms. Lucas spent more than a decade in nursing and administrative leadership positions at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus-based Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Kelly Macken-Marble. CEO of Osceola (Wis.) Medical Center. With a background rooted in nursing and population health, Ms. Macken-Marble brings hands-on leadership and emotional intelligence to her role as CEO of Osceola Medical Center. She emphasizes trust, teamwork and strategic vision, helping build high-functioning care teams focused on rural access and patient-centered services. Her leadership has guided Osceola Medical Center to multiple workplace and community honors, including awards for innovation, family-friendly policies and excellence in clinical services. Her previous leadership roles across major health systems reflect her strength in ambulatory care, operations and population health management. She also shares her expertise as a leadership coach and consultant, helping to shape the next generation of healthcare executives.
Greg Madsen. President of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital (Lexington, Va.). Mr. Madsen serves as president of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, with regional responsibility for care delivery across several counties. In January 2026, he helped open a new Carilion Children’s pediatric practice in downtown Lexington after identifying a need for more pediatric services in the area. Mr. Madsen also oversaw the hospital’s implementation of Ceribell, a brain monitoring system that detects nonconvulsive seizures and reduces unnecessary transfers. He recruited a new neurologist and general surgeon, with the hospital now hosting 15 rotating surgeons across specialties. Under his leadership, the hospital earned “ENERGY STAR” certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the third time. In the last five years, Mr. Madsen has overseen renovations to the hospital’s operating rooms, pharmacy space, labs and staff work areas, along with an expansion that added 13,700 square feet. He serves on the boards of the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation and the Community Foundation of Rockbridge, and is a past board chair of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. Before joining Carilion in 2016, Mr. Madsen was CEO of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center in Fredericksburg, Va. and Lewis Gale Hospital Alleghany in Low Moor, Va., bringing more than 20 years of healthcare management experience.
Christina Maguire. President and CEO of Mount Desert Island Hospital (Bar Harbor, Maine). Ms. Maguire oversees care at Mount Desert Island’s 25-bed critical access hospital. She has worked at the Mount Desert Island Hospital Organization, which comprises the hospital, health centers and retirement village, for over a decade. As CEO and president, she brings financial acumen and innovation to ongoing strategic endeavors, long-range campus expansion and more. Throughout her career, she has held roles ranging from accountant to CFO to COO. Ms. Maguire is deeply involved in her community, and has held roles for the Maine Hospital Association, the Public Policy Council and more.
Todd Mann. CEO at Harlingen (Texas) Medical Center. Mr. Mann serves as CEO of Harlingen Medical Center, a role he also held from 2008 to 2012. He has returned to lead the hospital a second time, overseeing a medical center that serves a community of 72,328 people in Harlingen and 25,316 in adjacent San Benito, a population that is 82% Hispanic. More than 600 employees handle over 20,000 emergency room visits and 3,000-plus surgeries and heart catheterizations annually. Under his leadership, the community hospital received the Forbes “Top Hospital” 5-star award in 2026 and earned a Leapfrog “A” grade for patient safety nine consecutive times between fall 2021 and fall 2025. The hospital also became the first in Cameron County to achieve geriatric emergency department accreditation from the American College of Emergency Physicians in 2025. Before rejoining the medical center, Mr. Mann was regional senior vice president for Edinburg, Texas-based DHR Health and, prior to that, CEO of South Texas Health System-McAllen, where he oversaw the creation of a level 1 trauma center and a comprehensive stroke center. He also previously served as CEO of Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, market president and CEO of Hospital Partners of America’s Austin (Texas) market, and system COO for a multi-hospital Healthcare Performance Analytic system in Houston. Mr. Mann currently serves on the board of the Greater Chamber of Harlingen.
Mary Mannix. President and CEO at Augusta Health Care (Fishersville, Va.). Ms. Mannix has served as president and CEO of Augusta Health, a 255-bed community-owned health system and the largest private employer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, for more than 16 years. Under her leadership, Augusta Health has grown into a fully integrated regional health system serving more than 300,000 residents across seven counties in western and central Virginia. Ms. Mannix spearheaded the “Mobile Neighborhood Clinic” program, which delivers primary care at 17 partner sites in underserved communities, earning Augusta Health the 2024 CMS “Health Equity Award,” making it one of only two organizations nationwide to receive it. In addition, the hospital was awarded the American Hospital Association’s “Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award” for 2024. She also expanded clinical capabilities in oncology, cardiology and critical care through affiliations with the Durham, N.C.-based Duke Cancer Network and the Rochester, Minn.-basedMayo Clinic Care Network, while the health system has maintained a Leapfrog hospital safety grade “A” every year since 2016. Ms. Mannix built a multispecialty employed physician group of 250 providers across 35 sites and guided the formation of a Medicare-approved accountable care organization that now includes 410 providers. She also partnered to establish the “AMI Farm” at Augusta Health, a farm-to-institution program supplying fresh produce to the hospital. Ms. Mannix is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the American Hospital Association’s committee on rural health care and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association board.
Connie Martin. President and Chief Administrative Officer at Fort Loudoun Medical Center (Lenoir City, Tenn.). In her role as president and chief administrative officer of Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Ms. Martin has successfully led the hospital through a period of growth and expansion, including the development of new intensive and critical care units. She is an advocate for innovative services such as the “ER call-ahead” program, and actively engages with the local community to address key health needs through collaborative partnerships and educational initiatives. Additionally, her efforts to recruit new physicians have contributed to the hospital’s ability to meet the growing demand for specialized medical services. The medical center is part of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Covenant Health. In addition to her responsibilities at Fort Loudoun Medical Center, Ms. Martin holds leadership positions on the boards of the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce and Roane State Community College Medical Lab Technician advisory board.
Jim Matney. President and CEO at Colquitt Regional Health System (Moultrie, Ga.). Mr. Matney serves as president and CEO of Colquitt Regional Medical Center, an independent rural hospital and teaching facility. He transformed the hospital from one that struggled to attract physicians into a thriving teaching facility, doubling its workforce and recruiting specialists to launch new service lines including radiation and gynecologic oncology, psychiatry, rheumatology, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. Mr. Matney also developed a residency program spanning family practice, general surgery, psychiatry and obstetrics, and recently initiated plans for new housing for clinicians in training. Under his leadership, the hospital’s employee engagement ranks in the top 5% of U.S. healthcare organizations and Colquitt Regional has earned 21 consecutive “A” hospital safety scores from the Leapfrog Group. Mr. Matney serves on the board of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals and is a former chair of the South Georgia Medical Education and Research Consortium, where he helped develop a feasibility plan to bring the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to the region. He was named 2023 “CEO of the Year” by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals and received the “W. Daniel Barker Leadership Award” from the Georgia Hospital Association that same year. Before joining Colquitt Regional, Mr. Matney served in CEO, COO and CFO capacities within various hospitals and health systems.
Brandon May. President of Morton Plant North Bay Hospital (New Port Richey, Fla.). Mr. May serves as president of Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, West Pasco County’s only nonprofit hospital, which includes a 72-bed acute inpatient behavioral health facility. He also serves as executive lead for the Belleair, Fla.-based Madonna Park Morton Plant Rehab Center, BayCare’s only skilled nursing facility. Additionally, he holds regional leadership responsibility for food and nutrition, volunteer and guest services across BayCare’s West and Polk regions. Under his leadership, North Bay Hospital has sustained a Leapfrog hospital safety grade of “A” for 13 consecutive reporting periods, one of only three BayCare hospitals to hold that distinction, while raising its CMS overall star rating to 3-stars and earning a 4-star CMS patient experience rating. Mr. May also served for seven months as interim hospital president at BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel (Fla.) while continuing his duties at North Bay. He is a trustee of the BayCare Alliant Hospital board, secretary of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay Foundation board, vice chair of the Pasco Hernando State College Foundation board and a trustee of the United Way of Pasco County. He mentors aspiring healthcare leaders through the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business. Mr. May built his career starting as a controller before rising to CFO, then a dual CFO/COO role, and was promoted to CEO/president within two years of moving into a COO role.
Garett May. CEO at West Jefferson Medical Center (Marrero, La.). Mr. May joined West Jefferson Medical Center as president and CEO in April 2025, bringing more than a decade of executive leadership experience in hospital operations, strategic growth and patient-focused care. Before joining West Jefferson, he served as COO at Crestwood Medical Center, where he led more than $150 million in capital projects and drove growth across key service lines, improving hospital efficiency, and increasing surgical and imaging volumes. Mr. May also strengthened physician integration during his tenure at Crestwood. He previously held senior roles within the Jackson, Miss.-based Merit Health system, where he led service expansions, operational improvements and community-based care initiatives. Mr. May is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Originally from Mississippi, he is committed to advancing West Jefferson’s mission of delivering high-quality, community-centered health care.
Brandon McBride. CEO and Administrator, Logan (Utah) Regional Hospital. Mr. McBride has been with the broader Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare for over a decade. He leads Logan Regional Hospital, which has 130 staffed beds. Before coming to Intermountain, he served as an operations director at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.
Mike McCafferty. CEO of Sheridan (Wyo.) Memorial Hospital. Mr. McCafferty oversees operations at Sheridan Memorial, an 88-bed hospital. He strives to foster a culture of kindness and compassion throughout the hospital. Sheridan Memorial recently finished the construction of Helmsley Behavioral Health Center, known as “The Path,” a new facility that aims to expand access to behavioral health services across the region.
Matthew B. McDonald III, MD. President and CEO at Children’s Specialized Hospital (New Brunswick, N.J.). Dr. McDonald serves as president and CEO of Children’s Specialized Hospital, part of West Orange, N.J.-based RWJBarnabas Health. He joined the community hospital in 2014 as section chief of special needs pediatrics, where he led development of the first National Committee for Quality Assurance-certified medical home in New Jersey for children with special healthcare needs. He later helped open a second special needs primary care location in Hamilton, N.J. Dr. McDonald was elected president of the medical staff in 2016, appointed associate vice president and medical director of outpatient services in 2017, and served as vice president and chief medical officer until 2021. He also chaired RWJBarnabas Health’s pediatric quality efforts in 2020-21 and helped create a strategic plan aligning five pediatric hospitals to expand access for 600,000 children. Since becoming CEO of the specialized care hospital in 2021, he has overseen a $90 million strategic plan expanding outpatient access and launched Children’s Specialized ABA, a multistate joint venture using applied behavior analysis to treat autism. Under his leadership, the hospital achieved an organizationwide serious safety event rate of zero in both 2024 and 2025. Dr. McDonald is an associate professor at the Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences and chairs the Special Olympics New Jersey board of trustees.
Colin McHugh. President and CEO of Southern New Hampshire Health (Nashua). Mr. McHugh leads Southern New Hampshire Health with a focus on strategic expansion, operational efficiency and superior clinical care. He has overseen major investments in service line development, infrastructure and technology, resulting in improved patient outcomes, increased access and enhanced satisfaction. Under his leadership, the system earned Magnet designation and multiple community-driven accolades for specialized services. Mr. McHugh has cultivated a collaborative organizational culture, strengthened provider engagement, and improved recruitment and retention across the system. A public service leader, he also serves on nonprofit boards focused on healthcare access and youth mental health.
Thomas Mee, RN, BSN. CEO of North Country Healthcare (Whitefield, N.H.). With over 30 years in healthcare leadership, Mr. Mee has unified three critical access hospitals and a home health agency under North Country Healthcare’s integrated system. He successfully implemented a single EHR platform across all facilities, fostering collaboration, enhancing care coordination and eliminating resource competition. Mr. Mee’s leadership has improved operational efficiency and expanded shared services like maternity care for communities across rural New Hampshire. His data-driven initiatives include the patient experience-centered “Sleepless Nights” campaign, which cut biopsy result wait times by 50%. He also prioritizes employee engagement through daily rounding and Lean Six Sigma training, building a culture of continuous improvement.
Jeff Mengenhausen. CEO of Montrose (Colo.) Regional Health. Mr. Mengenhausen joined Montrose Regional Health as CEO in 2021. Within the first three years of his leadership, the system completed a four-story ambulatory care center, separated its governance from Montrose County, added more than 45 new providers, expanded numerous service lines and extended care into surrounding communities. Under his leadership, the system has earned multiple organizational honors. Mr. Mengenhausen has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare leadership. Before coming to Montrose Regional Health, he served as CEO of Madelia (Minn.) Health.
Stephen T. Michaels, MD. President of MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (Clinton, Md.) and Senior Vice President of MedStar Health (Columbia, Md.). Dr. Michaels serves as president of MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, a 214-bed hospital, and senior vice president of the broader MedStar Health system. Under his leadership, surgical volume grew 8% in fiscal year 2025 and an additional 8.4% year-to-date in fiscal year 2026, while cardiac interventional cases rose 15% in fiscal year 2025 and 12.5% year-to-date. Dr. Michaels has also reduced reliance on agency nursing staff by more than 50% and stabilized nurse retention, while completing renovations to the pre-op/postanesthesia care unit, women’s locker room, nursing administrative suite, and a new cath/electrophysiology lab. He has recruited several key providers, including two general surgeons, a cardiac interventionalist, an OB/GYN/maternal-fetal medicine chair, two additional OB/GYN providers and a gastrointestinal specialist. Dr. Michaels led the implementation of the Prince George’s County “Healthy Start” program through a Health Resources and Services Administration grant, which has served more than 550 participants in its third year. The hospital now performs in the top decile nationally on key quality measures including mortality, C. difficile, central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infection and readmissions. He serves as honorary commander of Joint Base Andrews and sits on the boards of the Prince George’s County Business Roundtable and Totally Linking Care Maryland.
Caitlin Miller, BSN. President and Chief Hospital Executive at Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center (Holmdel, N.J.). Ms. Miller has served as president and chief hospital executive of Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center, a 211-bed community hospital, since 2022. She began her career as a floor nurse before advancing to nurse manager and then a senior operations role at Bayshore Medical Center. Under her leadership, the hospital has expanded surgical services, including enhanced orthopedic offerings, and is planning a future operating room expansion. Ms. Miller has organized staff training and lectures aimed at closing gaps in health outcomes and participates in a mentorship program for staff. The hospital has earned a jump from a 2-star to a 4-star CMS rating, Magnet recognition, an “A” safety grade from the Leapfrog Group, as well as recognition among “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” for stroke, pulmonary, critical care and gastrointestinal care from Healthgrades. Ms. Miller was named to NJBIZ‘s 2023 “Top Forty Under 40” list and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves on the boards of 180 Turning Lives Around and the YMCA of the Jersey Shore.
Thomas Miller. President of Aurora BayCare Medical Center (Green Bay, Wis.). Mr. Miller leads Aurora BayCare Medical Center, a 167-bed acute care tertiary hospital. He first joined Aurora in 2019 as vice president of operations. He helped open Aurora BayCare Health Center in Kaukauna, Wis., and designed the hospital’s Covid-19 incident command structure. Mr. Miller is a member of the council on public policy and the council on workforce development with the Wisconsin Hospital Association, and was appointed to Wisconsin’s Council for Workforce Investment. He is also a member of the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s economic development board and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
George Mikitarian. President and CEO of Parrish Medical Center (Titusville, Fla.). Mr. Mikitarian has led Parrish Medical Center as its president and CEO since 2001. With his guidance, Parrish has become widely recognized for its commitment to patient safety and is the nation’s first and only healthcare organization to earn The Joint Commission’s certification for integrated care. In 2016, Mr. Mikitarian introduced Parrish Healthcare, a regional network of collaborative health service providers that aims to achieve integrated healing care for patients, families and communities.
Ike Mmeje. CEO and President at USC Arcadia Hospital (Los Angeles). Mr. Mmeje serves as president and CEO of USC Arcadia Hospital, a 348-licensed-bed facility that is part of Los Angeles-based Keck Medicine of USC and treats more than 40,000 emergency department patients each year. He has overseen the hospital’s integration since it joined the system in 2022, training all leaders in “Just Culture” principles and launching a leadership development book club. Under his leadership, gastrointestinal lab and catheterization lab procedures increased 91% and 71%, respectively, and the hospital integrated Keck Hospital of USC’s nationally recognized acute rehabilitation unit into its own inpatient rehabilitation program, which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and ranks in the top 3% nationally, growing 25% in the past year. USC Arcadia Hospital was recognized as a best hospital for maternity and perinatal care in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report ratings. The hospital holds multiple centers of excellence designations, including as an LA County Emergency Medical Services ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction receiving center and one of 17 comprehensive stroke centers serving the region. Mr. Mmeje is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is active with the National Association of Health Services Executives. Before joining Keck Medicine, he served as COO of MemorialCare Long Beach (Calif.) Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, and held CEO and COO roles with Dallas, Texas-based Tenet Healthcare.
Shawn Molsberger. Senior Vice President of Orlando (Fla.) Health Northeast Region and President of Orlando Health Lake Mary (Fla.) Hospital. Mr. Molsberger fosters a culture of collaboration, support and encouragement throughout Orlando Health. He brings over 25 years of clinical and executive healthcare experience, and first joined Orlando Health in 2018 as president of Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital in Longwood, Fla. He initially began his career as an occupational therapist. Mr. Molsberger is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a past president of the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives.
John Moore. President of Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Senior Vice President of Orlando (Fla.) Health West Florida Region. Mr. Moore leads Orlando Health’s West Florida region and serves as president of the 480-bed Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, where he has driven dramatic improvements in culture, care quality and operations. Since the system’s acquisition of Bayfront Hospital, Mr. Moore has overseen a large percentile leap in patient experience, a Leapfrog safety grade improvement, and a drop in RN turnover. His business acumen has brought the hospital to a healthy operating margin, while service lines in bariatrics, neurosciences and women’s health have expanded significantly. Mr. Moore is also active in regional economic development and is praised for his hands-on leadership, including hurricane crisis management. He has been with Orlando Health for over two decades. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has served on several community boards, most recently on the board of directors for Lake Emergency Medical Services and Cornerstone Hospice Palliative Care.
Marie Moore. Community President of Mercy Washington (Mo.) and Lincoln Hospitals (Troy, Mo.). Ms. Moore serves as community president for Mercy Hospital Washington and Mercy Hospital Lincoln, which combine for a total of 165 beds, 60,000 annual emergency room visits and more than 275,000 annual outpatient visits across a 10-county service area with a $350 million net revenue base. She is also project lead for Mercy Wentzville, Mercy’s first new hospital campus in Missouri since 2015 and the state’s only greenfield hospital construction, a 284,000-square-foot campus with a projected revenue of $461 million that will include 54 inpatient beds, 20 emergency department bays and a cancer center. Over the last fiscal year, Ms. Moore led her team to record volumes in the cardiac catheterization lab and 4% year-over-year growth in operating room cases, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization margins improved 75 basis points year-over-year, translating to a $2 million improvement. She developed five-year community strategic plans and secured $3 million in infrastructure funding at Mercy Washington, including a da Vinci robot that launched the hospital’s robotics program. Ms. Moore serves on the boards of Mid America Transplant and Mercy Health Foundation and volunteers at Bethel Hills, a St. Louis faith-based supportive housing community. Before her current role, Ms. Moore held nursing and operations leadership positions at Mercy Hospital-Springfield (Mo.), including vice president and community CNO from 2022 to 2025.
Angela Mortoza. CEO of Dallas County Hospital (Perry, Iowa). Ms. Mortoza leads Dallas County Hospital with a hands-on, team-first leadership style that has transformed the culture and operations of the rural Iowa facility. She is known for building strong staff relationships, promoting service expansion, and delivering financial stability while staying grounded in the needs of the community. Her commitment to transparency, staff empowerment and equity has helped the hospital maintain low employee attrition. Her leadership modernized the hospital’s mission and vision statements, unifying the team around patient-centered, high-quality and accessible care. She frequently rounds on departments, supports strategic growth, and listens to staff input to shape decisions at every level. Under her leadership, the hospital has achieved accolades such as the Perry Chamber “Business of the Year” award for 2024.
Brian Murphy, MD. CEO of Valley View Hospital (Glenwood Springs, Colo.). For 25 years Dr. Murphy was a clinician serving his patients as a board-certified urologist. Now, he leads Valley View’s 78-bed hospital, having taken on the CEO role in 2019. He has served in a variety of roles at Valley View, including chief of staff and chief medical officer. He has been published in multiple medical journals, and has been a featured speaker and presenter at various healthcare conferences.
Michael Mutterer. President and CEO at Silver Cross Hospital (New Lenox, Ill.). Mr. Mutterer has served as president and CEO of 348-bed Silver Cross Hospital since June 2024, having first stepped in as interim president and CEO in October 2023. He oversees a $600 million budget, 3,200 employees and 1,000 medical staff members across the hospital and nearly two dozen ambulatory sites. Mr. Mutterer joined Silver Cross in April 2020 as vice president of patient care services and CNO during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and was promoted to senior vice president in 2023. Under his leadership, the hospital launched Will County’s first and only level 3 neonatal ICU in August 2022, which has since cared for more than 1,000 babies, and opened a 16-bed observation unit and 16-bed cardiovascular unit in 2021. He also expanded the hospital’s ambulatory network to more than 100 providers across 22 locations while keeping Silver Cross independent amid industry consolidation. Silver Cross has earned 22 consecutive Leapfrog “A” grades for safety, a Leapfrog “Top Hospital Award” and Healthgrades’ No. 1 ranking in surgical care in Illinois for 2024-2025, along with recognition on U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek‘s “World’s Best Hospitals” lists.
John Nespoli. President of St. Luke’s Lehighton (Pa.) Campus and St. Luke’s Carbon Campus (Leighton, Pa.). Mr. Nespoli brings more than 30 years of experience as a health system executive to his role leading St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Lehigh and Carbon campuses, having previously held leadership roles at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester and Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health System. He oversaw the development and construction of a new St. Luke’s hospital in Carbon County, which opened in November 2021 and earned an “A” grade from the Leapfrog Group in its first year of eligibility in 2025. Mr. Nespoli has a particular focus on turning around distressed hospitals and integrating their revival into the broader economic development strategies of the communities they serve, an approach he has also applied at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus in downtown Allentown, Pa., to bring expanded health and social services to economically disadvantaged communities.
Richard Newell, DPT. President and CEO at Temple Health–Chestnut Hill Hospital (Philadelphia). Dr. Newell is president and CEO of Temple Health–Chestnut Hill Hospital, a 148-bed acute care hospital with roughly 1,000 employees. There, he oversees strategic, operational and financial performance. Since Temple Health acquired the hospital in 2023, Dr. Newell has led a financial turnaround from a $30 million loss to profitability in under three years, all while improving the hospital’s Leapfrog safety grade from a “D” to a “B” grade. Under his leadership, Chestnut Hill Hospital has seen a 62% increase in surgeries in under three years, and increases of 15% in admissions and 16% in outpatient volumes in under two years. He has expanded services by enlisting expertise from Philadelphia-based Fox Chase Cancer Center, adding urology, oncology, mammography, ophthalmology, psychiatry, and pulmonary and thoracic and vascular surgery. He has also formed a partnership with Temple University Hospital–Episcopal Campus in Philadelphia to bring senior behavioral health services to the community. Chestnut Hill Hospital has since risen to the No. 1 preferred provider in its region for multiple service lines, and earned a spot on Forbes‘ inaugural list of “Top Hospitals in America” in 2026, ranking in the top 13% nationally. Before joining Temple Health–Chestnut Hill Hospital, Dr. Newell served as president and CEO of Phoenixville (Pa.) Hospital and Pottstown (Pa.) Hospital under West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health from 2021 to 2024.
Lisa Nichols. Hospital Administrator for UAB St.Vincent’s St. Clair (Pell City, Ala.). Ms. Nichols oversees the overall operation and management of UAB St. Vincent’s St. Clair, ensuring the hospital runs efficiently, safely and financially soundly while supporting staff and delivering high-quality patient care. Under her leadership, the hospital has seen steady growth in both inpatient admissions and emergency department volume, reflecting rising community demand. She has also driven improvements in patient satisfaction scores, earning high national ratings and expanding access to care. A registered nurse by background, Ms. Nichols brings clinical insight and credibility that fosters collaboration with hospital staff. The hospital received Healthgrades’ “Outstanding Patient Experience Award” in 2024. Ms. Nichols serves as secretary of the St. Clair Community Health Clinic board of directors and is a board member of the Region 4 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act board.
Gregory A. Nielsen. CEO at East Jefferson General Hospital (Metairie, La.). Mr. Nielsen came to East Jefferson General Hospital from the broader New Orleans-based LCMC Health system, where he served as COO. Before joining LCMC Health, he was with American Physician Partners, an emergency and hospital medicine management company with more than 2,000 providers across 142 programs in 18 states. Earlier in his career, Mr. Nielsen served as division president for Regional Care Hospital Partners, an 18-hospital system now part of Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health, as well as divisional president of RCCH HealthCare Partners in Brentwood. He has also served as CEO of various other health systems and medical centers. His career spans leadership of large multi-hospital systems alongside standalone community hospitals across both the nonprofit and investor-owned sectors. Mr. Nielsen is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Brandon Nudd. President and CEO at AdventHealth Waterman (Tavares, Fla.). Since October 2025, Mr. Nudd has served as president and CEO of AdventHealth Waterman, a 310-bed, faith-based community hospital with a team of more than 2,200 employees. Since taking the role, he has expanded multispecialty services, including opening a second floor at Mount Dora Medical Plaza that added nearly 15 physicians and advanced practice providers in cardiology, OB/GYN, orthopedics and sports medicine. Mr. Nudd is also guiding a $20 million investment to open Fruitland Park, Fla.’s first freestanding emergency department in summer 2026 and a $30 million, 50,000-square-foot medical office building in Tavares that will house outpatient imaging, laboratory services and cardiac rehabilitation. Under his direction, AdventHealth Waterman has invested in robotic-assisted cardiac surgery using the da Vinci system to expand minimally invasive care close to home. The hospital was named to Forbes‘ “America’s Top Hospitals” list in 2026, and was recognized by the American Diabetes Association and The Leapfrog Group as one of only 37 hospitals nationwide honored for diabetes care. Mr. Nudd brings more than 20 years of experience with Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth, most recently serving as president and CEO of AdventHealth Hendersonville and AdventHealth Polk in North Carolina, where he led more than 1,800 team members and expanded access through new services and facility investments. He also serves as a board member for Lake 100 and the Lake Economic Area Development organization, supporting regional economic growth.
Courtney Ophaug. CEO of Banner Estrella Medical Center (Phoenix). Named CEO in 2015, Ms. Ophaug leads the 353-bed Banner Estrella Medical Center, which serves over 82,000 patients a year in its emergency department and delivers over 5,400 babies annually. Its robust women’s health program includes a level 3 high risk obstetric and neonatal service. The largest hospital in West Phoenix, it is nearing the completion of a $35 million expansion that includes advanced, state-of-the-art surgical, cardiovascular and obstetrical care services. The ever-expanding cardiology program’s structural heart program has recently added the inclusion of left atrial appendage procedures to support the growing needs of the community. In collaboration with Banner Medical Group, Banner Estrella launched a primary care and orthopedic practice in Goodyear, Ariz. last fall, with intent to expand into cardiology this year. The bariatric program remains certified by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, making Banner Estrella a destination for bariatric surgeries. Just recently, the hospital earned its third Magnet hospital designation from American Nurses Credentialing Center, signaling their unwavering commitment to clinically excellent care. In her 25 years with the Phoenix-based Banner Health system, Ms. Ophaug has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as hospital administrator at other Banner Health medical centers. Ms. Ophaug also serves on the Arizona March of Dimes advisory board, is a board officer with WESTMARC and was named to the Grand Canyon University alumni hall of fame.
Jill Ostrem. President of Allina Health United (Saint Paul, Minn.), United–Hastings (Minn.) Regina, and River Falls (Wis.) Area Hospitals. Ms. Ostrem has more than 30 years of experience managing hospitals, clinics and multispecialty group practices, and serves as president of Allina Health River Falls Area Hospital, Allina Health United Hospital and Allina Health United Hospital–Hastings Regina Campus. She is a strategic leader with a proven track record of developing high-performing teams and driving performance excellence in large, complex hospital environments, and she is known for working collaboratively with physicians to develop strong, effective physician leaders. River Falls Area Hospital recently entered its 10th year hosting the “Project SEARCH” transition-to-work program, a one-year employment preparation program for local individuals 18 and older with developmental disabilities. Under her leadership, the hospital’s swing bed and transitional care program has grown significantly, transitioning most patients no longer needing acute care back to their homes while freeing metro capacity. River Falls Area Hospital earned a CMS 5-star rating for inpatient experience, one of only 25 hospitals in Wisconsin and 273 in the U.S. to receive the distinction.
Tom Patrias. CEO at University Medical Center New Orleans. Mr. Patrias serves as CEO of University Medical Center, part of New Orleans-based LCMC Health, after previously serving as the hospital’s COO. In that role, he drove improvements in operational performance, grew service lines and secured capital investments, while prioritizing safety through the “UMC Safe” program and building team culture. He has strengthened the hospital’s academic partnerships with LSU Health and Tulane School of Medicine, both of which are also based in New Orleans. Before joining the medical center, Mr. Patrias served as CEO of New Orleans-based Tulane Medical Center and Lakeside Hospital in Metairie, La. beginning in 2021. During his tenure, Tulane Medical Center was named a “Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospital” by IBM Watson Health, a “World’s Best Hospital” by Newsweek, and a “high performing” hospital by U.S. News & World Report for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure. Earlier in his career, he led Bayfront Health Spring Hill in the Tampa Bay, Fla. area and held leadership positions at Community Health Systems in Georgia and Florida.
Kelly Pearce, RN. CEO of St. Mary’s Medical Center (Blue Springs, Mo.). Mr. Pearce leads St. Mary’s Medical Center, a 137-bed hospital, where he has driven operational improvement through strategic physician alignment and culture transformation. He eliminated contract labor reliance and reduced premium labor expenses, while improving the Medicare length of stay and safety culture survey results across all 13 measured categories. Mr. Pearce fostered strategic partnerships across orthopedic, gastrointestinal, pain and general surgery groups, enhancing outpatient and ambulatory surgical services. A former critical care nurse and nursing operations executive, he brings clinical insight to leadership and engages directly with emergency medical services partners through field ride-alongs. Mr. Pearce is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a respected voice in advancing community care delivery.
Chris Peek. President and CEO of CaroMont Health (Gastonia, N.C.). Mr. Peek leads CaroMont Health, a regional health system that is the county’s largest employer. The health system comprises CaroMount Regional Medical Center, CaroMont Medical Group, Courtland Terrace and Gaston Hospice. Mr. Peek was crucial in growing CaroMont from a single 400-bed community hospital to a multihospital system. His influence also led to a joint venture nursing program with a local community college and the development of a masters nursing program with a local university.
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 with $14 million in annualized savings, 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.
Dennis Pfleiger. President, St. Luke’s Upper Bucks Campus and St. Luke’s Quakertown Campus (Quakertown, Pa.). Mr. Pfleiger first joined the community hospital in 2017 as COO, then became president 11 months later. Before joining St. Luke’s, he served as vice president of Einstein Healthcare Network in East Norriton, Pa. He specializes in physician relations and recruitment, productivity enhancement, operations, patient flow and population health.
Shaun Phillips. CEO of TMC Rincon and System Vice President for Performance Management at TMC Health (Tucson, Ariz.). Bringing more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience to the roles, Mr. Phillips serves as CEO of TMC Rincon, TMC Health’s newest full-service acute-care hospital, and as the health system’s vice president for performance management. At the 132,000-square-foot hospital, which opened two years ago in Southeast Tucson, he has overseen rapid growth, including increased bed capacity and the addition of more general and orthopedic surgeons. TMC Rincon offers emergency care, inpatient services, imaging, a cardiac catheterization lab, operating rooms, and a growing labor and delivery program under his leadership. Mr. Phillips reinforces patient safety through daily rounding, a centrally located office and regular check-ins with night shift teams, while building relationships with churches, chambers of commerce, schools and employers in the community. He also serves as a professor of administrative pharmacy at Ferris State University and course coordinator for the “Financial Planning for Health Institution Leaders” program at the University of Wyoming. Before joining TMC Health, Mr. Phillips served as CEO of Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista, Ariz. and COO of Havasu Regional Medical Center in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and spent about a decade each in executive and pharmacy leadership roles at Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Bronson Healthcare Group and Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health.
Cathy Pimple, DNP. CEO at Newman Regional Health (Emporia, Kan.). Dr. Pimple has served as CEO of Newman Regional Health since 2023 and is the first woman to lead the 25-bed critical access hospital, which is recognized as a level 4 trauma center. A registered nurse by background, she has tackled the financial instability, workforce shortages and aging infrastructure facing rural hospitals in Kansas, where roughly 87% of rural hospitals operate with negative margins according to the Kansas Hospital Association. In September 2025, the hospital installed a high-speed CT scanner to enhance cardiac scoring and brain perfusion imaging, and added new all-in-one imaging arms in its cardiovascular lab. The hospital also earned reaccreditation for percutaneous coronary intervention from the American College of Cardiology, a rare designation for a critical access hospital. Dr. Pimple secured a strategic affiliation with Kansas City-based The University of Kansas Health System and Lawrence, Kan.-based LMH Health, expanding service lines while preserving the hospital’s independent governance. She secured a $100,000 grant to enhance maternal health services, as well as a grant of roughly $485,000 for the “Telehealth for Rural Health Equity” initiative to modernize telehealth. She also established a free laundry program for low-income families through the community care team. In addition, Dr. Pimple championed Emporia State University’s simulation hospital to strengthen nursing education and recruitment, and teaches there as an adjunct faculty member. She previously served as chief administrative officer and chief quality officer at Newman Regional Health.
Karen M. Pinsky, MD. CEO at Chester County Hospital (West Chester, Pa.). Dr. Pinsky was named CEO of Chester County Hospital in April 2025 after serving as interim CEO since the summer of 2024. She first joined the hospital’s executive team as chief medical officer in 2019. She previously spent 15 years as medical director of newborn and pediatric services at the CHOP Care Network at the hospital, then subsequently became the hospital’s CMIO in 2008 and chief quality and medical information officer in 2018. As chief medical officer during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Pinsky provided steady leadership to the community hospital’s operational and clinical teams, notably leading regional vaccine distribution through community outreach, and has since led projects to improve quality and safety outcomes and strengthen employee engagement. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, she is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Preventive Medicine in clinical informatics. Dr. Pinsky serves on the board of Community Volunteers in Medicine, a nonprofit that provides medical, dental, behavioral health and social services to patients in need.
David Pope. President and CEO at Scotland Health Care System/Scotland Memorial Hospital (Laurinburg, N.C.). Mr. Pope has led Scotland Health Care System as president and CEO since December 2023, guiding the organization’s mission to provide safe, high-quality, compassionate and sustainable rural health care in partnership with its board of trustees. Under his leadership, the system has launched 3D mobile mammography across its service region, adopted the da Vinci 5 surgical system and Mako 4 Robotic Arm surgical system, and opened the new family practice, urgent care and retail pharmacy. Scotland Memorial Hospital also completed a surgical services expansion featuring six new operating rooms and 21 pre- and post-operative rooms, and added a new hematology specialty clinic. Mr. Pope has built partnerships with community colleges and four-year nursing programs to expose students to healthcare careers through mentoring and job shadowing at Scotland Health. He was named the 2026 “Distinguished Citizen of the Year” by the Richmond Community College Foundation and received North Carolina’s 2025 “Community Star Award” from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. Before becoming CEO, Mr. Pope served as Scotland Health’s COO and senior vice president of operations. Scotland Health earned an “A” safety grade from the Leapfrog Group in spring and fall 2025 and was named a national finalist for the American Hospital Association “Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award” for 2026.
Stephen Porter. CEO at Piedmont Fayette Hospital (Fayetteville, Ga.). Mr. Porter was appointed CEO in 2019 with more than 25 years of healthcare experience behind him. He joined the hospital after serving as CEO of Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, S.C., where he led a $150 million expansion. At Piedmont, he oversees a 282-bed acute care nonprofit hospital with more than 2,000 employees and 900 physicians.
Jeff Prater. CEO at Carson Valley Health (Gardnerville, Nev.). Mr. Prater has served as CEO of Carson Valley Health since June 2018, overseeing the executive leadership team, operations across the system’s six locations and a 54,000-square-foot expansion strategy. His tenure has been the second-longest of any CEO in the community hospital’s 30-year history. Under his leadership, employee turnover has dropped from around 28% to 17%, below the industry standard. He established the hospital’s outpatient behavioral health and psychiatric care service line for all ages, brought in the Da Vinci System for the hospital’s first robotic-assisted surgery in 2022, and added urology and physical medicine and rehabilitation at a new specialty clinic. Net patient service revenue has grown 26.6% in the last four years, with operating margin averaging just above 8% in 2022. Most recently, Prater helped guide the hospital to become the first critical access hospital in Nevada designated a level 4 trauma center in 2025. He began his healthcare career as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman and now serves as chairman of the Nevada Rural Hospital Partners and a board member of the Business Council of Douglas County.
Steve Purves. President and CEO of Valleywise Health (Phoenix). Mr. Purves has led the revival of Arizona’s only public teaching hospital system, culminating in the June 2024 opening of a new 10-story, 240-bed Valleywise Health Medical Center. Since 2013, he has driven over $170 million in financial improvements and led a $935 million bond initiative to transform facilities and services across Maricopa County. Mr. Purves also spearheaded the reopening of Maryvale Hospital as a behavioral health center and emergency department, expanding access for underserved communities. Valleywise Health has received national honors including AZ Big Media’s “Most Admired Companies” award and recognition for its Covid-19 outreach to Latino and immigrant families. He serves on the American Hospital Association board of trustees and has held leadership roles across multiple state and national healthcare boards. He will retire in October 2026.
Alan Qualls. CEO of Banner Health’s Northern Colorado Division (Greeley, Loveland and Fort Collins). Mr. Qualls leads three hospitals: Banner North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley and Loveland, and Banner Ft. Collins Medical Center, all part of Phoenix-based Banner Health. During the last year, growth was a significant part of market success with an 11% increase in surgical volumes in neurosurgery, joint replacement and cardiovascular leading the way, while also increasing overall market share. Budget outperformance showed a positive variance of 177% and $36 million better than the prior year. In January, a nationally recognized selfcare program to help reduce burnout began, making it the first healthcare organization in the U.S. to obtain H.O.P.E. “platinum” certification focused on suicide prevention. Employee engagement increased over the previous year and The Maslach Burnout scores, the gold standard psychological assessment to measure occupational burnout, decreased 9.3%. The focus on caring for employees decreased total turnover for RNs and all staff, exceeding system targets. National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators, which are specific clinical metrics measuring direct impact of nursing care on patient safety and health outcomes, were better than peer groups for all quarters reported. Quality data from the Society for Thoracic Surgery showed North Colorado Medical Center having the region’s highest scores for transcatheter aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft surgery procedures. Banner Health recently committed to a nine-figure investment to expand acute care and ambulatory sites in its northern Colorado market. Mr. Qualls, with 29 years of healthcare experience, has been a Banner Health CEO for four years.
Emily Randle. CEO at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center (Fountain Valley, Calif.). Ms. Randle, recently named as CEO, oversees the multi-service campus and its ambulatory network and has played a key role in the hospital’s growth and modernization, leading significant capital investments and facility transformation in her previous role as COO since 2012. Her leadership team’s focus on employee engagement and high-quality, safe care, resulted in impressive growth in many areas. These include caring for a significant portion of high acuity level patients, and expanding the catheterization laboratory and sterile processing unit to serve volume increases. With high patient demand, she has led successful efforts in the management of critical throughput and patient lengths of stay. Ms. Randle and her team’s work has resulted in many local, state and national accolades, including being named one of the “Best of Orange County Hospitals” by The Orange County Register readers for 13 years and a “Top Workplace” for several years. Under her direction, U.S. News & World Report listed the hospital as “high performing” in 15 procedures and conditions, and as a best regional hospital for equitable access. The cardiology program earned seven consecutive 3-star ratings from Society of Thoracic Surgeons for excellence in coronary artery bypass grafting and multi-procedural cardiac surgery cases, making it the first hospital in Orange County to receive this distinction. The movement disorders program has performed the most magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound procedures on the West Coast, and it received California’s Maternal Quality Care Collaborative’s “superstar award” for medium birth volume hospitals.
Amit Rastogi, MD. President and CEO at Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center. Dr. Rastogi is the first physician to lead Jupiter Medical Center in its 46-year history. Serving as president and CEO of the region’s only independent, nonprofit medical center since September 2019, he oversees strategic leadership across the 340-bed hospital, ambulatory surgery center, two urgent care centers and physician practices, leading an executive team responsible for more than 750 affiliated physicians, 2,500 team members and 400 volunteers. In January 2026, the medical center received a $35 million gift, the largest in the hospital’s history, supporting the opening of the five-story, 92-bed Tim and Jayne Donahue Patient Care Tower, which increased inpatient capacity to 340 beds. That same month, the medical center announced a partnership with New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery, ranked the nation’s No. 1 orthopedic hospital for 16 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report, to expand access to musculoskeletal care. Under Dr. Rastogi’s leadership, Newsweek named Jupiter Medical Center to its “World’s Best Hospitals” list for the fourth consecutive year in 2026, and U.S. News & World Report recognized it as a “high performing” hospital in five specialties in 2025. Before joining the medical center, Dr. Rastogi held executive positions at Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health and served as senior vice president of strategy, growth and innovation at Inova Health in Falls Church, Va. He brings more than two decades of experience as a board-certified internal medicine physician to his current role.
Eric Rhodes. President of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital (Downers Grove, Ill.). Mr. Rhodes serves as president of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, a 313-bed acute care facility that is home to the only level 1 trauma emergency department in DuPage County, Ill. He leads the full scope of hospital operations, including clinical quality, financial stewardship, workforce engagement and service line development across complex service areas such as cardiovascular care, surgical robotics, oncology, gastroenterology, behavioral health, orthopedics and trauma services. Mr. Rhodes works closely with physicians, hospital leadership, system stakeholders and community partners to align priorities and execute strategic initiatives. He is known for building strong relationships across physicians and frontline teammates, bringing a steady, disciplined approach that balances performance expectations with culture and accountability. Mr. Rhodes serves as a board member of the Downers Grove Economic Development Council, ChooseDupage, Discover Dupage and the Xavier University board of trustees. Before his current role, he served as president of Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill., and as COO of HCA Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Va.
Benjamin “Ben” Richaud. CEO at Lakeview Hospital (Covington, La.). Mr. Richaud was appointed CEO of Lakeview Hospital, part of New Orleans-based LCMC Health, bringing more than 10 years of experience in healthcare management, hospital operations, strategic planning and financial management. He most recently served as CEO of Baptist Medical Center, a 603-bed hospital in San Antonio, Texas. In his new role, Mr. Richaud oversees operations and strategic initiatives at the 167-bed, full-service Lakeview Hospital, which serves patients across St. Tammany Parish. The hospital offers a 24/7 emergency room, a heart center, a surgical institute, a rehabilitation center and a behavioral health center.
Mike Riley, RN. President and COO of Novant Health Huntersville (N.C.) Medical Center. Mr. Riley is the president of Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center. He has served in this role since July of 2015. With a focus on safety, quality, experience and the community, he has facilitated incredible growth at the hospital, helping to double bed capacity from 75 to 151 beds, including a 48-bed vertical expansion to accommodate the community need. Under his leadership, the hospital has earned “A” grades from The Leapfrog Group, and has improved performance in patient experience and team member engagement.
Brian Ring. President and CEO of Henry Community Health (New Castle, Ind.). Mr. Ring took over his current role in August of 2022. He has been a part of Henry Community Health since 1997. In his role, he works alongside the majority of stakeholders of the system to deliver exemplary care.
Laura Robertson. CEO of Banner Desert Medical Center, Banner Children’s at Desert (Mesa, Ariz.) and Banner Ocotillo Medical Center (Chandler, Ariz.). Ms. Robertson leads high-performing teams with impressive outcomes, balancing financial performance, quality, service and employee engagement. Her strategic focus on organizational culture, patient-centered care and optimization propel the community hospitals’ successes, implementing continuous improvement initiatives and achieving aggressive growth goals. Banner Desert’s large hospital campus has 763 beds, 3,600 employees, 1,900 medical staff, a level 1 trauma center and a $1 billion net revenue. It also includes Banner Children’s 260-bed, 7-story specialty hospital, a leader in pediatric care and several specialties. Significant growth in adult and pediatric programs resulted in impressive clinical outcomes and increased market share. Among these accomplishments are a seven-story Women’s Tower, a structural heart initiative, a pediatric integrative cancer center, and expansion in graduate medical education to add more residents and fellows. At Banner Ocotillo, Ms. Robertson launched a new 124-bed community hospital in 2020 in a competitive market. Its two-year vision-to-reality opening plan succeeded despite pandemic challenges, incorporating high-end technology into all aspects of care and an ambulatory surgery center to drive complex problem-solving and expand patient accessibility and care. Under her leadership, the hospitals all had remarkable growth across all service lines, operational enhancements and expense control measures that escalated net income year-over-year, resulting in continuing strong margins.
Darlene Rodowicz. President and CEO at Berkshire Health Systems (Pittsfield, Mass.). Ms. Rodowicz has spent more than 40 years at Berkshire Health Systems, rising to president and CEO in 2022 after serving as CFO for 15 years. She leads the largest employer in Berkshire County, Mass., overseeing a network of three community hospitals, including Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Mass. and North Adams (Mass.) Regional Hospital, along with the Phelps Cancer Center, Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association and more than 4,000 employees. In 2024, Ms. Rodowicz oversaw the reopening of North Adams Regional Hospital as a federally designated critical access hospital after a decade-long closure, and the health system remains the only one in Massachusetts to operate more than one critical access hospital. She has also opened two new urgent care centers in Lenox and Williamstown, Mass. in the past two years and facilitates the system’s master facility plan, which drives ongoing capital investment across campuses. Ms. Rodowicz has expanded the system’s workforce development program, which has produced 34 graduates of its associate degree in nursing program, 23 licensed practical nurse graduates, 234 graduates of its modified nursing assistant program and 107 medical assistant program graduates. She also directed a $300,000 investment in “The First,” a Pittsfield resource center supporting residents experiencing housing insecurity. She serves on the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association’s standing committee on finance.
Greg Ruberg. President of Aspirus Lake View Hospital (Two Harbors, Minn.) and Vice President of Aspirus St. Luke’s (Duluth, Minn.). Mr. Ruberg has spent more than 25 years at Aspirus Lake View Hospital, joining in 1998 as director of rehabilitation services before advancing to president. He now also serves as vice president of Aspirus St. Luke’s. Under his leadership, Aspirus Lake View Hospital was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” by the Chartis Center for Rural Health for a second consecutive year, placing it in the top 7% of critical access hospitals nationally and among only 11 Minnesota hospitals to earn the distinction. In 2025, the hospital was named one of the top 20 critical access hospitals in the country for patient perspective, as determined by the Chartis Center for Rural Health and the National Rural Health Association. The hospital also received a 2024 “Performance Leadership Award” from Chartis in the patient perspective category. Mr. Ruberg has extended the community hospital’s reach into community mental health education, training bartenders, stylists, church leaders and business owners to recognize and respond to mental health distress, work that earned recognition at a statewide healthcare awards ceremony. He was elected 2026 board chair of the Minnesota Hospital Association after serving on its board since 2018, its executive committee since 2021, as secretary-treasurer in 2024 and chair-elect in 2025. Mr. Ruberg also chairs the boards of Wilderness Health, a seven-hospital collaborative in northeastern Minnesota, and the Two Harbors Federal Credit Union.
Mark Rubino, MD. President of Forbes Hospital and Allegheny Valley Hospital (Monroeville and Natrona Heights, Pa.). Dr. Rubino is president of Forbes Hospital and Allegheny Valley Hospital, both part of Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network. He also provides high-quality obstetric and gynecologic care, focusing on birth control, breastfeeding, contraception, family planning, infertility, labor and delivery, and gynecologic surgery. A seasoned clinical executive and strong hospital leader, he addresses diverse healthcare needs within his community. Previously serving as Forbes’ chief medical officer, Dr. Rubino has also led several capital investment projects, including a $17 million perioperative expansion and a $35 million cancer and imaging center.
Michael Rulffes. President and COO of Newark (N.Y.)–Wayne Community Hospital. Mr. Rulffes leads hospital operations, strategic growth and workforce culture at Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health’s Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, working to ensure coordinated, accessible care across the region. Under his leadership, the hospital has maintained key clinical designations, including level 1 perinatal Center, primary stroke center, Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders “exemplar” status and Baby-Friendly recognition. He has prioritized expanding specialty and outpatient services, strengthening care coordination across inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation and long-term care settings, and supporting telemedicine and collaborative service line development. Under his leadership, the hospital earned a Baby-Friendly Hospital redesignation in 2025 and “Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus” recognition from the American Heart Association. The hospital has also been named among Newsweek‘s “America’s Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare” and “America’s Greatest Workplace for Culture, Belonging and Community.” Mr. Rulffes also serves as president and COO of Clifton Springs (N.Y.) Hospital & Clinic, another Rochester Regional Health facility. His earlier career included various hospital operations roles, service line development roles, and positions as a quality coordinator and research technologist.
Joseph Sawyer. CEO of Guthrie Troy (Pa.) Community Hospital and Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital (Sayre, Pa.). Mr. Sawyer is CEO of Guthrie Troy Community Hospital and Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital, the Guthrie system’s flagship. Thanks to his leadership, Robert Packer Hospital has become a Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation level 1 trauma center, making it the only level 1 trauma center in Northeastern Pennsylvania. In addition, patient satisfaction for emergency and outpatient services has increased, and caregiver engagement scores have risen. Mr. Sawyer also managed the transition of Guthrie Towanda Memorial Hospital into Robert Packer Hospital as an adjunct campus in 2021.
Parrish Scarboro. CEO of San Dimas (Calif.) Community Hospital. Mr. Scarboro, CEO of San Dimas Community Hospital, has fostered a culture of transparency around quality and safety, leading to accolades such as high ratings from The Leapfrog Group and three “100 Top Hospitals” designations from IBM Watson Health. Mr. Scarboro also served as CEO of Prime Healthcare’s Glendora (Calif.) Community Hospital and Chino (Calif.) Valley Medical Center.
Maureen Schneider, PhD, RN. Senior Vice President of Atlantic Health (Morristown, N.J.) and President of Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center (Pompton Plains, N.J.). Dr. Schneider joined Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center in 2014 as chief nurse and operations officer, overseeing clinical, financial and operational responsibilities for the 260-bed community hospital before stepping in as interim president in November 2021. During her tenure she helped achieve Magnet accreditation recognition for nursing excellence at three separate healthcare organizations, including Chilton Medical Center in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Under her leadership, Chilton Medical Center earned the 2026 “Patient Safety Excellence Award” from Healthgrades, was named among “America’s 250 Best Hospitals” by Healthgrades, and was designated a “Top Hospital” by Castle Connolly with regional rankings in cancer surgery, general surgery, mastectomy and hernia repair surgery. Dr. Schneider is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Johnson & Johnson Executive Wharton Fellow. She serves as an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University and mentors emerging leaders through the American College of Healthcare Executives’ mentor program. Dr. Schneider sits on the boards of Freehold, N.J.-based Atlantic Health CentraState Medical Center and Springpoint Life. Previously, she served as president of Executive Women of New Jersey and chair of the strategic planning committee for the New Jersey chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Rachelle Schultz, EdD. President and CEO of Winona (Minn.) Health. Dr. Schultz oversees a 125-year-old health system with more than 90 physicians and associate providers, 13 specialties and more than 1,000 employees. She has held her position since 2002. Winona Health was named a “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital” from 2017-20 by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. In 2020, the organization recognized Ms. Schultz as one of its “Healthcare Heroes” for her leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Christine Schuster. President and CEO of Emerson Health (Concord, Mass.). Ms. Schuster has led Emerson Health for 20 years, making her the longest-serving female hospital CEO in Massachusetts. Under her leadership, Emerson Health has significantly improved its financial and operational performance while developing a robust strategy focused on quality, patient safety, medical staff growth and regional expansion. Ms. Schuster has concentrated on long-term workforce sustainability by enhancing Emerson Health’s pipeline of experienced nurses. She established a clinical advancement program, which offers nurses new professional growth opportunities. Additionally, she spearheaded partnerships with local schools to provide high school students with hands-on experience in the healthcare industry, fostering early interest and engagement in healthcare careers.
Stephanie Schwartz. Senior Vice President of Atlantic Health and President of Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center (Summit, N.J.). Ms. Schwartz has served as president of Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center since 2021, leading the 513-bed hospital through a transformation that has updated more than 80% of its patient care areas, including the three-story East Building expansion for maternity, cardiology, critical care and neuroscience services. The medical center is home to the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute, New Jersey’s first comprehensive stroke center, and the state’s only helipad dedicated to emergency stroke and neurosurgical transport. Under her leadership, the hospital has premiered medical firsts including paired vagus nerve stimulation therapy, the first in New Jersey, and telestroke delivered in an ambulance, the first such program in the country. Ms. Schwartz has also prioritized workforce development, and for the past decade the medical center has served as a “Project SEARCH” program site, providing employment training for young people with disabilities. Under her leadership, Overlook has held an “A” hospital safety grade from the Leapfrog Group since spring 2021 and was named a “Gold Standard Hospital” by Castle Connolly in 2026, an honor given to only 38 hospitals nationally. Ms. Schwartz was the 2024 recipient of the “Distinguished Service Award” from the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been named to the ROI-NJ “Influencers: Women in Business” list. Outside Atlantic Health, Ms. Schwartz serves as president of Center of United Methodist Aid to the Community and on the boards of Food Connect and the Sharing Network, addressing food insecurity in the community.
Hollie Seeley, RN. CEO of California Pacific Medical Center (San Francisco). With campuses spanning across the city of San Francisco, California Pacific Medical Center is nationally recognized for delivering high-quality, compassionate care across specialties that include women’s health, orthopedics, neuroscience, transplant and cancer care. The community hospital is part of Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health. Under Ms. Seeley’s leadership, California Pacific Medical Center continues to earn distinction across its campuses, including recognition of the Van Ness Campus among “America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care” by Newsweek, while the Davies Campus ranked No. 1 in California for rehabilitation services for the second consecutive year. The Mission Bernal Campus & Orthopedic Institute was also named to Forbes‘ “Top Hospitals” list, underscoring systemwide clinical strength. Ms. Seeley has more than 30 years of healthcare experience, including nearly two decades as a nurse in emergency and trauma services. Her clinical background informs a leadership approach grounded in patient-centered care and operational excellence.
M. Sandra Severe. Senior Vice President and CEO at Jackson North Medical Center (Miami). Ms. Severe serves as senior vice president and CEO of Jackson North Medical Center, a 382-bed acute care hospital serving two counties within the Miami-based Jackson Health System. She previously served as COO of Jackson Memorial Hospital, the system’s flagship facility, where she managed a broad portfolio of support services for a facility that serves as a regional, national and international referral center. Ms. Severe played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of the $100 million UHealth Jackson Critical Care Pavilion, a three-story expansion that added 79 ICU beds to the system’s critical care capacity. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she served as executive lead for systemwide laboratory operations, guiding development of testing infrastructure that delivered nearly 200,000 Covid-19 tests. Earlier in her career, she directed the largest federally and state-funded early intervention program at Miami-based Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, expanding services for children with special needs, and contributed to “Smile Initiatives,” a mobile dental program serving schools and government agencies in Massachusetts. Ms. Severe is an adjunct professor at Florida International University and a frequent lecturer at Florida Atlantic University, and she is active in organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Health Services Executives, United Way Women United and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Lance Sewell. Senior Vice President of Orlando Health North Central Region and President of Orlando Health South Lake Hospital (Clermont, Fla.). Mr. Sewell joined Orlando Health in 2006. He oversees its North Central sector as well as Orlando Health South Lake Hospital’s 180-acre campus, which includes 170 patient beds, an ASC, a short-term rehabilitation facility and a fitness center. He previously served as Orlando Health South Lake’s CFO, where he led key departments and acted as a financial liaison for the hospital’s information systems.
Kenny Shafer. CEO of UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham (Ala.). Mr. Shafer oversees hospital operations, physician alignment, quality and safety performance, financial sustainability and workforce engagement UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham, working closely with boards, medical staff leadership and community partners. He took on the role in September 2025. Previously, as leader of Johnson City (Tenn.) Medical Center, a 585-bed flagship teaching hospital, he was responsible for more than 3,000 team members and 1,000 medical staff. Mr. Shafer led the consolidation of trauma services that produced two “zero deficiency” triennial surveys and a 24% decline in patient mortality, earning the hospital a CareChex designation as the number one level 1 trauma center in Tennessee and a ranking in the top 10% nationally for patient safety. He also implemented a systemwide performance management framework that drove year-over-year improvement in more than 80% of publicly reported quality and safety metrics. Under his financial stewardship, hospital earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization margins grew from 7% to 15%, inpatient market share increased by 12% through expanded high-acuity tertiary services, and emergency department boarding times dropped by nearly 50%. Mr. Shafer’s workforce initiatives reduced overall staff turnover by 35%, cut registered nurse turnover by 50% and improved employee engagement scores by 20%.
Erik Shannon. CEO of UVA Community Health (Charlottesville, Va.). Mr. Shannon has served as CEO of UVA Community Health since 2021, first stepping in as interim leader to guide its integration into Charlottesville-based UVA Health before being named to the permanent role in 2022. In this role, he oversees three community hospitals totaling 260 inpatient beds, as well as more than 40 medical groups and outpatient clinics, with a network of more than 1,200 providers serving more than 164,000 patients annually. Under his leadership, the organization completed a systemwide migration to a unified Epic EHR, aligned revenue cycle operations, transitioned hundreds of contracts and rebuilt its local employed medical group, which has nearly doubled in size since he took the role. Mr. Shannon has expanded service lines into urology, gynecologic oncology, breast surgery, plastic surgery, colorectal surgery, adult primary care, sports medicine, and bariatric and weight loss services, while directing capital investments in new surgical robots, linear accelerators and renovated catheterization labs. He also oversaw the acquisition and integration of a 90-person private practice, along with several smaller practices, and served as interim CFO of UVA Health from 2024 to 2025. Mr. Shannon serves on the board of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association and chairs its workforce steering committee, and he has been recognized on the Virginia Business Magazine “Power 500” list. Before joining UVA Health, he spent more than 30 years in healthcare consulting.
Roger Sharma. President and CEO at Emanate Health (West Covina, Calif.). Mr. Sharma serves as president and CEO of Emanate Health, where he is charged with overseeing three hospitals: Inter-Community Hospital in Covina, Calif., Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina and Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in Glendora, Calif. He also leads more than 24 primary and specialty care facilities serving more than 1 million residents. He previously served as the system’s CFO, and earlier held finance leadership roles at Duarte, Calif.-based City of Hope, St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif., California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Glendale (Calif.) Memorial Hospital and Health Center. Under his leadership, Emanate Health has used a traverse exchange data network to retrieve more than 3 million patient documents, and was among the first to adopt a new consolidated patient summary to reduce duplication and improve care coordination. Mr. Sharma is also leading construction of a new emergency department and ICU at Emanate Health Queen of the Valley Hospital, designed to grow the hospital’s emergency capacity from 80,000 to an anticipated 120,000 visits annually. In 2026, Emanate Health earned eight Healthgrades awards, including recognition among “America’s Best 100” for prostate surgery, and in 2024 Mr. Sharma was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal‘s “LA500” list. He serves as an area representative on the Hospital Association of Southern California’s board of directors.
Matt Shelak. Executive Director of Temple University Hospital–Jeanes Campus (Philadelphia). Mr. Shelak is the primary leader of the Jeanes Campus of Temple University Hospital, where he has overseen significant clinical expansion, capital improvements and integration of advanced services from the academic medical system. Under his leadership, the hospital added Temple Health’s lung, heart, orthopedic and bone marrow transplant services, transforming the facility into a comprehensive care hub. He directed major infrastructure projects, including a new emergency department triage unit, observation unit, state-of-the-art cath lab and inpatient pharmacy, while implementing tools like EndoTool to improve diabetes care safety. Mr. Shelak is also a licensed occupational therapist, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a guest lecturer on health leadership.
Jason Shenefield. President and CEO at Phelps Health (Rolla, Mo.). Mr. Shenefield has led Phelps Health as president and CEO for five years, after joining the south-central Missouri system in 2016 as COO. He began his career as a Navy hospital corpsman, earning the “Navy Achievement Medal” for his work in a clinic serving nearly 100,000 patients annually, before later holding leadership roles at healthcare organizations near Chicago and in Cheyenne, Wyoming. At Phelps Health, Mr. Shenefield has driven a cultural transformation that includes an employee advisory council, a wellness committee, an annual innovation summit and the “CARES” recognition platform, which has generated more than 34,000 employee nominations. Clinically, he launched a 24/7 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction program that earned primary heart attack center certification from the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association, and he opened a comprehensive weight loss and bariatric center offering surgical and nonsurgical services. Strategically, he has led Phelps Health into an ACO, launched a direct-to-employer health plan and a Medicare Advantage plan, and secured state appropriations for emergency services. Under his leadership, the organization has posted double-digit growth in key service areas alongside improved patient experience scores and stronger financial performance, and it has been named to Forbes‘ list of “America’s Best Employers by State” in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Mr. Shenefield serves on the American Hospital Association’s regional policy board and the Missouri Hospital Association’s board of trustees.
Josh Shepherd. President of Buffalo (Minn.) Hospital, President of Cambridge (Minn.) Medical Center, and Market President of Regional Hospitals and Emergency Medical Services at Allina Health (Minneapolis). Mr. Shepherd serves as market president for regional hospitals and EMS at Allina Health, supporting four regional hospitals and EMS services, while continuing to serve as president of both Buffalo Hospital and Cambridge Medical Center. He has led the planning of a new Cambridge Medical Center campus, working with Allina Health, the city of Cambridge and architects to develop the project. Under his leadership, Cambridge Medical Center has invested in robotics technology, AI technology, and expanded telehealth and stroke care capabilities. Thanks in large part to these efforts, Cambridge Medical Center was named to Newsweek‘s list of “World’s Best Smart Hospitals” in 2025. Mr. Shepherd rose to his current role after serving as director of operations and COO for Buffalo Hospital and Cambridge Medical Center, and he previously held administrative leadership positions at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare, including assistant vice president and administrative director. Earlier in his career, he served as director of physician services and clinic manager at Mercyhealth in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Amy Shlossman. President of Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center, and Senior Vice President for LifeBridge Health (Baltimore). Ms. Shlossman joined LifeBridge Health in July 2023 and has led Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center through a period of significant growth, including construction of the Mandy & Dennis Weinman Cancer Building at Sinai and an $85 million transformation at Grace Medical Center following its acquisition by LifeBridge Health. Under her tenure, the community hospitals have improved across every measure in employee engagement surveys, with team sentiment now nine points above the U.S. healthcare norm. Ms. Shlossman oversaw the opening of a $50 million emergency department at Sinai that doubled the department’s footprint, expanding capacity by 30% and adding trauma bays, a new ambulance intake wing, and dedicated pediatric and behavioral health areas. Sinai Hospital earned the 2026 “Distinguished Achievement Award for Patient Safety Innovation” from the Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center under her leadership. She also leads nearly 300 team members at Grace Medical Center, which has renovated its emergency department and dialysis unit and added gynecology and ophthalmology services, with an outpatient behavioral health space set to open this spring. Ms. Shlossman leads LifeBridge Health’s Center for Hope, the first comprehensive violence prevention and intervention agency in the country to operate within a large health system, which has been recognized for its contributions to Baltimore’s recent reduction in violence and homicides. She also serves on the Maryland Hospital Association’s board of trustees. She will leave the organization in August 2026 to become CEO of OHSU Health in Portland, Ore.
Kathleen Silard, MSN, RN. President and CEO of Stamford (Conn.) Health. Ms. Silard is the president and CEO of Stamford Health, where she oversees the 305-bed acute care hospital, a large ambulatory network and the Foundation for Stamford Health. She is tasked with high-level strategy creation and execution, operational decision making, financial management and human resources. In recent years, she has overseen the complete renovation and reimagining of Stamford Health’s Whittingham Pavilion, where services for women and children are centralized, as well as the creation of a new strategic plan for behavioral health services. Before assuming the system president and CEO position, she was the executive vice president and COO for Stamford Hospital since 2003.
Jared M. Smith. CEO of Bethesda Hospital East and Bethesda Hospital West (Boynton Beach, Fla.). Mr. Smith leads Baptist Health Bethesda Hospital East and West with a strategic, compassionate approach shaped by over 25 years in South Florida’s healthcare sector. His leadership is marked by an open-door policy, inclusive culture, and commitment to both patient care and staff development. Mr. Smith fosters innovation and data-driven decision-making, resulting in high patient satisfaction and improved clinical outcomes. Under his guidance, the hospitals have been recognized for joint care and sustainability. He previously served as CEO of Broward Health Coral Springs (Fla.) and held senior roles at Dallas-based Tenet Health, including COO of Delray (Fla.) Medical Center.
Matt Smith. CEO of Centerpoint Health–Winchester (Ky.). Mr. Smith was appointed CEO of Clark Regional Medical Center in Winchester in 2020. The hospital was recently rebranded to Centerpoint Health–Winchester after uniting with other regional facilities under Franklin, Ohio-based Centerpoint Health, and Mr. Smith continues to lead the community hospital. Prior, he spent three years as CEO of Bourbon Community Hospital in Paris, Ky. Prior to joining Bourbon Community Hospital, he was COO at Clark Regional, when he was credited with helping to improve physician satisfaction from 20 percent to 90 percent in a 17-month period. CRMC has 79 beds, 75 physicians and nearly 500 employees.
Paul Smith. President of Boston Medical Center–Brighton (Mass.). Mr. Smith oversees the strategic, operational and financial performance of Boston Medical Center–Brighton, leading all clinical and non-clinical operations during a period of historic transition. He played a central leadership role in the stabilization and integration of the former St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center into Boston Medical Center Health System as BMC Brighton, following the state’s intervention after the prior owner’s bankruptcy. Mr. Smith focused on stabilizing operations, integrating staff and systems, and aligning the hospital with Boston Medical Center’s mission. He also prioritized maintaining access to care for the surrounding community, as the acquisition added thousands of employees to the health system’s footprint. Under his leadership, BMC Brighton earned multiple “high performing” designations from U.S. News & World Report in 2025 for procedures including aortic valve surgery, heart arrhythmia care, heart bypass surgery and pacemaker implantation, along with the American Heart Association’s “Gold Quality Achievement Award” and a 3-star rating in cardiac surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Before taking on this role, Mr. Smith served as COO at hospitals within Tenet Healthcare and Steward Health Care, both based in Dallas, where he helped guide organizations through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Brian Sponseller, MD. CEO of Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (Hartsville, S.C.). Dr. Sponseller is in his second year as CEO of Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, a 116-bed acute-care facility owned by Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth with a clinical affiliation with the Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina. Previously, he spent several years as the hospital’s chief medical officer and leading its primary care practice. He has operational oversight of the hospital and its employed multi-specialty provider practices, leading an organization of more than 700 associates and medical staff. Under his leadership, Carolina Pines earned the Leapfrog Group’s “Top General Hospital” designation in both 2023 and 2024, an honor given to fewer than 40 hospitals nationwide, and its Leapfrog safety grade has improved from a “D” to an “A,” a mark it has maintained for eight consecutive survey cycles. The hospital also earned sepsis certification from the Joint Commission, the first hospital in the state to do so, along with the American Heart Association’s “Gold Plus Get With the Guidelines” award and Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina’s “Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity” designation. Dr. Sponseller launched “Project BOLD,” an employer-paid loan forgiveness program with the South Carolina Student Loan Association that commits participants to a three-year employment term. In addition to his executive role, he serves on the board of directors of the Trent Hill Center for Children & Families and the board of trustees of Coker University.
Michael F. Stapleton Jr. President and CEO at UR Medicine Thompson Health (Canandaigua, N.Y.). Mr. Stapleton oversees clinical quality, patient safety, service excellence, associate satisfaction, facilities and financials for UR Medicine Thompson Health, a nonprofit system founded 122 years ago that is now the largest employer in Ontario County with nearly 2,300 associates. The system includes a 113-bed hospital, a 178-bed nursing home, three urgent care centers and 14 primary care locations, and Mr. Stapleton helped lead its 2012 affiliation with the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center, through which Thompson accepted 174 patient transfers in 2025 as part of a regional load-balancing partnership. In his nearly 14-year tenure as CEO, he has secured state certificates of need for a memory care addition and a new hospital MRI, and in 2025 oversaw the acquisition of a gastroenterology practice, the onboarding of seven new primary care physicians and the opening of a second outpatient pharmacy. The community hospital finished 2025 with a strong operating margin and increased market share, and its vacancy rate fell to 6.32% from 8.79% at the start of the year, with minimal reliance on agency staffing. Under Mr. Stapleton, a former nurse, nurse manager and CNO, the hospital earned the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet designation for a fifth consecutive time and received the “Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health” from Mental Health America.
J. Scott Steiner. President and CEO at Phoebe Putney Health System (Albany, Ga.). Mr. Steiner leads Phoebe Putney Health System, a nonprofit network with four community hospitals serving a 41-county region in southwest Georgia. There, he engineered “Phoebe Focus,” a quality and safety initiative backed by a $250 million capital investment that funded a new helipad, neonatal intensive care unit, renovated operating room suites and a 22,000-square-foot simulation lab. Under his leadership, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital has posted a 0.6% left without treatment rate, an 85.75% sepsis bundle compliance rate in 2025, and a 47-minute door-to-needle time for stroke patients. Mr. Steiner has also pursued a high-reliability organization strategy that included zero inpatient falls with hip fracture in 2025. He has built partnerships to address the workforce shortage, including an agreement with Morehouse School of Medicine to establish a regional medical school campus and new residency programs, and the “Living and Learning Community” with Albany Technical College, which converted a former high school into a residential and educational center for nursing students. Phoebe Putney was named to Forbes‘ “America’s Best Employers” list for 2025 as the only Georgia health care provider included, and earned recognition as a U.S. News & World Report “high performer” in five specialty areas. In 2024, the Georgia governor appointed Mr. Steiner to the state’s Healthcare Workforce Commission, and he was recently named chair of the board of trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association.
Timothy Stephens. CEO for Sutter Lakeside Hospital (Lakeport, Calif.). Mr. Stephens leads Sutter Lakeside Hospital with a focus on expanding access to high-quality care in a rural community, all while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and patient-centered service. Under his leadership, Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health is investing $5.5 million to expand health care access in Lake County, connecting more patients to an integrated system of urgent, primary and specialty services and improving access to coordinated, long-term care. Sutter Lakeside has advanced its clinical capabilities during his tenure, earning the Joint Commission’s primary stroke center certification and launching local infusion services to expand access to cancer care close to home. The hospital’s performance has been recognized across multiple measures, including inclusion in Money‘s “Best Hospitals” list and strong performance in CMS star ratings, Leapfrog safety scores and U.S. News & World Report evaluations.
Pam Stewart. CEO at Washington County Regional Medical Center (Sandersville, Ga.). Ms. Stewart leads overall operations, growth and decision-making at Washington County Regional Medical Center, a 56-bed community hospital with a 60-bed extended care facility, setting strategic direction for service expansion, facility renovations and physician recruitment. She began her career there in 1992 as a nurse and advanced over the next 20 years to director of nursing and CNO. In 2012, Ms. Stewart left to work with the Joint Commission as a nurse surveyor, gaining insight into accreditation standards before returning to the medical center in 2023 as CEO. In 2017, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme, a brain cancer with a low survival rate, and after overcoming the diagnosis she formed the Pam Stewart Cancer Foundation to raise money and awareness for brain cancer research. Working with the hospital’s managing partner, Aletheia Health Partners, Ms. Stewart has led a financial turnaround and substantial service line growth at the medical center over the past two years, moving the hospital off “brink of closure” lists and onto the Chartis 2026 “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals” list. Under her leadership, the medical center opened a new emergency department in spring 2026 and recently expanded its orthopedic surgery services. She also received the “Platinum Safety Award” from the Georgia Hospital Association Workers’ compensation self-insurance fund for 2024 and serves on the board of directors of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
Greg Stock. CEO at Thibodaux (La.) Regional Health System. Mr. Stock has served as CEO of Thibodaux Regional Health System since 1990, leading the independent, 210-bed hospital in a rural market surrounded by five competing facilities within a 15-mile radius. He has kept the organization debt-free while increasing market share, controlling costs and driving clinical quality amid unpredictable reimbursement models. Under his leadership, Thibodaux Regional built an 80,000-square-foot cancer institute on schedule and within budget despite a global pandemic and a major hurricane, and later opened a $73 million, 242,000-square-foot wellness center that now sees more than 350,000 annual visits. Mr. Stock guided the hospital to remain the only fully operational facility in the region during Hurricane Ida, and during the Covid-19 pandemic led it to become the first in the region to launch a drive-thru testing site and acquire rapid testing capabilities. He has recruited more than 100 physicians to the health system, including more than 40 new physicians in a recent three-year period. Thibodaux Regional has achieved a 5-star rating from CMS, recognition from IBM Watson as a “Top 50” hospital nationally for cardiovascular care, the Press Ganey “Beacon of Excellence Award,” and the Healthgrades “Outstanding Patient Experience Award” for 10 consecutive years. Before joining Thibodaux Regional, Mr. Stock spent nine years at Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, serving as CEO of three different system hospitals in South Dakota, Missouri and Oregon.
Kurt Stuenkel. President of Atrium Health Floyd (Rome, Ga.). Mr. Stuenkel has led Atrium Health Floyd for nearly three decades, becoming president in 1996 and overseeing three community hospitals serving northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. He is charged with oversight of the 361-bed Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center in Rome, the 25-bed Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Ga. and the 60-bed Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Ala. He is accountable for strategic planning, operations, financial stewardship, quality and safety, and workforce leadership for approximately 5,200 teammates delivering care across more than 40 specialties. Mr. Stuenkel guided Floyd Medical Center’s pursuit of level 2 trauma center designation from the American College of Surgeons and oversaw construction of a $4 million helipad on campus. He also negotiated a public-private partnership with the Cedartown Polk Hospital Authority that led to the construction of Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center. When Cherokee County, Ala., faced the potential loss of its hospital, he intervened to preserve access to care for more than 25,000 residents, investing more than $1 million to expand emergency services and modernize imaging. In Chattooga County, Ga., he led a more than $18 million investment to build Georgia’s first standalone, ground-up emergency department and assumed responsibility for the county’s ambulance operations. Mr. Stuenkel has also forged workforce partnerships including an agreement with Georgia Highlands College that added 100 nursing student slots annually, a nearly $1.1 million commitment to Georgia Northwestern Technical College, and a $2 million investment to launch a physician associate program at Berry College. He led Atrium Health Floyd’s 2021 strategic combination with Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health and helped establish the Atrium Health Floyd Polk Foundation, whose initial $165 million corpus has grown to $250 million. In 2025, he received the Georgia Hospital Association’s “W. Daniel Barker Leadership Award” and the University System of Georgia Regents Hall of Fame “Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award.”
Sarah Teaff, PhD. CEO of Patterson Health Center (Anthony, Kan.). In her role as CEO of Patterson Health Center, Dr. Teaff ensures quality, affordable and consistent patient care delivery. She is a staunch advocate for patient safety. A strong voice for rural health at the state and national levels, Dr. Teaff also advances workforce development and sustainable financial strategies for long-term viability. She fosters a culture of mentorship and excellence while ensuring equitable healthcare access in underserved communities. Her career includes prior leadership roles in Montana and Texas, reinforcing her commitment to cross-sector collaboration and rural health improvement. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Traci Thibodeaux. CEO at Beauregard Health System (DeRidder, La.). Ms. Thibodeaux serves as CEO of Beauregard Health System, a nonprofit, community-owned organization where she guides long-term strategic initiatives, secures sustainable funding sources and builds partnerships that expand services across the region. She has prioritized the strategic use of technology in a rural setting often constrained by limited resources and workforce shortages, leading a sepsis reduction initiative that incorporated an FDA-approved diagnostic test for early detection, making Beauregard the first hospital in Southwest Louisiana to offer the capability. Ms. Thibodeaux has also driven Beauregard’s digital transformation, integrating an AI-powered patient communication platform and a prescription engagement solution from within the EHR to improve communication and support medication adherence. These initiatives are part of a broader patient engagement strategy she has championed to give patients timely, personalized information and a more active role in their care. She serves on the Louisiana Hospital Association’s board of trustees as the southwest district trustee. Ms. Thibodeaux has received the “Drive to Excellence and Engagement Award” from the Louisiana Hospital Association, the “Kaplan Award” from the Louisiana Quality Network, and the American College of Healthcare Executives’ “Middle Careerist Award.” Before becoming CEO, she served as COO of Beauregard Health System.
Chris Thomas. President and CEO of Colorado West Healthcare System (Grand Junction). Mr. Thomas has served as president and CEO of Colorado West Healthcare System since 2008, leading a remarkable transformation that brought the organization out of federal sanctions and into a position of regional leadership. With over 30 years of experience in healthcare administration, he has overseen dramatic revenue growth and the recruitment of more than 150 providers over the past decade. Under his leadership, the system opened a new 142,000-square-foot facility in 2016, and has continued expanding services through projects including a regional cancer center, a new clinic, and an early childhood education center to support employee and community needs. Guided by his strategic vision, the system has been recognized by multiple community accolades, including “Business of the Year” awards and “Best of the West” hospital honors. Mr. Thomas is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Erik Thorsen. CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital (Astoria, Ore.). Mr. Thorsen’s extensive experience in healthcare, including more than 25 years in administration, lends itself to his role as CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital. He is responsible for guiding the organization through its five-year strategic plan and priorities, which are set by the board of trustees. Columbia Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital and one of very few remaining independent hospitals in Oregon. Mr. Thorsen is currently overseeing an expansion project for Columbia Memorial Hospital, which broke ground in October 2024 and with the first phase set to complete in late 2027.
Dawn Trompeter. President of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center (Peru and Ottawa, Ill.). Ms. Trompeter is president of OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center with campuses in Peru and Ottawa, Ill. Her leadership was pivotal during a time of community need, as she led the rapid expansion of emergency and outpatient services following the unexpected closure of a local hospital in Peru. Under her direction, the hospital swiftly introduced accessible care options, including urgent care, primary care, digital care, OB/GYN, occupational health and rehabilitation services. Her work has directly contributed to OSF Saint Elizabeth being named one of the 2026 “Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals” by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, recognizing its excellence in performance and patient care.
Justin Turner. CEO of Logan (W.Va.) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Turner is in his second year as CEO of Logan Regional Medical Center, the 132-bed, Joint Commission-accredited acute care facility where he launched his healthcare career in 2012 and held roles in business development, customer service, marketing and physician recruitment before becoming assistant administrator. After serving as COO at two other hospitals, he returned to Logan Regional as CEO, where he now leads an organization of more than 600 associates and medical staff. Under his leadership, the hospital launched a collaboration with nonprofit Coalfield Health to provide more affordable primary care, a separately accredited rural general surgery residency program, and a memorandum of understanding with Huntington, W.Va.-based Mountain Health Network to form a regional collaboration framework. Logan Regional earned a Leapfrog “A” safety grade in both the fall 2024 and spring 2026 cycles, and was named one of five West Virginia hospitals on Forbes‘ inaugural top hospital list. The hospital also earned Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth’s “Platinum Award” for 2025, Chartis’ 2025 “Performance Leadership Award for Patient Outcomes” and the West Virginia Hospital Association’s “Gold Honor for Excellence in Patient Care.” Mr. Turner serves on the boards of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, the Chief Logan Recreational Center and the Logan County Economic Development Authority.
Virgil Underwood. President and CEO of Boone Memorial Health (Madison, W.Va.). Mr. Underwood has transformed Boone Memorial Health from a small rural hospital into a thriving regional health system serving thousands across four West Virginia counties. Since becoming CEO in 2015, he has overseen the opening of a new hospital facility, multiple rural health clinics, a behavioral health center, and an innovative health and wellness center. His leadership is rooted in financial discipline, community responsiveness and deep ties to the region, having previously served on the system’s board before transitioning into healthcare from the business and insurance sectors. Under Mr. Virgil’s direction, the system has launched creative health access programs and formed key partnerships with regional academic health centers. Mr. Underwood in 2024 earned recognition on WV Executive Magazine’s “Health Care Hall of Fame” list. He is also a passionate community advocate, serving on boards for the American Lung Association and Boone County Community Foundation.
Kevin Unger, PhD. President and CEO of UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital (Fort Collins, Colo.) and UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies (Loveland, Colo.). Dr. Unger became president and CEO of Poudre Valley Hospital in 2005. When he took the helm, it was part of a small, regional two-hospital health system. It’s now part of Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth. He is also president and CEO of UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies. Dr. Unger was named one of the “30 Most-Influential Business Leaders in Northern Colorado” by BizWest in 2022.
Mason Van Houweling. CEO at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas). Mr. Van Houweling has served as CEO of University Medical Center of Southern Nevada for 12 years, making him the longest-serving CEO in the hospital’s 95-year history, leading a team of nearly 5,000 employees at Nevada’s largest public hospital. The medical center houses the state’s only level 1 trauma center, only verified burn center and only center for transplantation. Under his leadership the UMC Transplant Center has tripled the number of kidney transplants performed annually and recently introduced a new pancreas transplant program. Mr. Van Houweling led the medical center to become the first hospital in Nevada to introduce the da Vinci 5 robotic surgery system, and he has built in-house, employed physician groups across service lines including orthopedics, radiology, anesthesiology, hospitalists and emergency medicine to address physician shortages. In January 2026, the hospital became the first and only in Nevada to achieve Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Under his leadership, it also completed the largest renovation project in its history across its 26-acre campus, upgraded its adult emergency department and trauma center, and opened new quick care, primary care and specialty clinics along with a telemedicine app. Mr. Van Houweling serves on the American Hospital Association’s board of trustees and the Nevada Hospital Association’s board of directors, and he received the Nevada Taxpayers Association’s 2025 “Cashman Good Government Award” as overall winner.
Patti VanDort. CEO of Holland (Mich.) Hospital. Ms. VanDort took the reins as CEO of Holland Hospital in January 2024, but she has served as a leader at the hospital for decades. She joined Holland as a staff nurse in 1987, serving in various leadership roles before joining the executive team as vice president of nursing and CNO in 2001. Prior to her most recent promotion, she was serving as president of the hospital and before that, as senior vice president of hospital operations. She is a past winner of the “Michigan Nurse of the Year” award by the Michigan Organization of Nurse Executives.
David Verinder. President and CEO at Sarasota (Fla.) Memorial Health Care System. Mr. Verinder oversees Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. Founded in 1925, it serves as the county’s safety net, caring for the majority of the county’s uninsured and Medicaid residents and remaining the only hospital in the county still providing inpatient obstetrics, neonatal intensive care, pediatrics and psychiatric and behavioral health care for patients of all ages. After serving as CFO and then COO, Mr. Verinder became CEO and has since led the most significant expansion in its century of service, transforming it from a single-hospital enterprise into a regional referral center, trauma center and teaching hospital through more than $2 billion in capital projects. He established Sarasota County’s first and only trauma center, partnered with Florida State University College of Medicine to create a graduate medical education program, and opened SMH-Venice (Fla.), a 212-bed hospital that launched in the midst of the pandemic. Mr. Verinder also created the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, replaced an aging behavioral health hospital with the Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion, and opened the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute to bring the system’s research and graduate medical education programs together. Under his leadership, SMH has earned a CMS 5-star quality rating in every reporting period since the program began in 2016, making it the only Florida hospital to do so, along with consecutive “A” Leapfrog safety grades and Magnet nursing recognition five times over 20 years. He has served as past chairman of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida and has been named to Florida Trend‘s “Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders” list.
Rob Vissers, MD. President and CEO of Boulder (Colo.) Community Health. Dr. Vissers leads Boulder Community Health, one of Colorado’s last remaining independent community health systems. In his role, he contributes to the strategic planning and overall management of Foothills Hospital, two emergency departments, and various primary care and specialty care clinics. Dr. Vissers led the system in building its own instance of Epic EHR, making it one of the smallest health systems to do so. He also facilitated the system’s partnership with Optum around revenue cycle, analytics and performance optimization.
Darrell Wachowiak, BSN, RN. President, ProMedica Flower Hospital (Sylvania, Ohio). Mr. Wachowiak joined ProMedica in 1998. He has served in various clinical and operation leadership roles during his tenure and was named ProMedica Flower Hospital president in September 2020. In 2021, the Ohio Department of Health designated the hospital as an ST-elevation myocardial infarction center, permitting local emergency responders to take patients in need of emergency heart care directly to ProMedica Flower Hospital instead of a farther location.
Brian Walch. President and Chief Hospital Executive at Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center (Manahawkin, N.J.). Mr. Walch serves as president and chief hospital executive of Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center, a nonprofit, 176-bed hospital with 1,300 team members and $310 million in annual revenue, bringing more than two decades of leadership experience within the Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health network. He began his career in 1998 as a staff physical therapist before advancing through successive leadership roles. He now oversees medical center operations, physician relationships and the continuous improvement of quality, safety and patient experience. Under his leadership, the community hospital’s patient experience scores have significantly risen as the hospital increases its subspecialty providers, expands surgical services and invests in new technology, including robotics. The hospital is also attracting orthopedic, breast and plastic surgeons and oncology subspecialists. Under his leadership, the medical center has earned the Joint Commission’s “Gold Seal of Approval” and “Leader Status” with a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2024 Healthcare Equality Index. Before his current role, Mr. Walch served as vice president of clinical services and operations at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City, N.J., where he played a key executive role in developing a $1 billion, 10-year master facility plan and helped secure $35 million in grant funding for campus expansion.
David Walz. CEO and President of Madelia (Minn.) Health. Mr. Walz has led a massive turnaround at Madelia Health, transforming it into a financially stable, award-winning rural health system known for culture and community engagement. Under his leadership, the system achieved a positive net income for the first time in years and retained over 90% of its workforce. The community health system has earned multiple recognitions, including the Minnesota Hospital Association’s “Exceptional Hospital Workplace Award” in 2024. Mr. Walz expanded services across four clinics, two therapy sites, behavioral health, emergency medical services and surgical care, increasing both access and market share. As Minnesota Chapter of American College of Healthcare Executives regent, vice president of healthcare consortium Medi-Sota and founding CEO of the Headwaters High Value Network, Mr. Walz is a prominent advocate for independent rural hospitals.
Denise Webber. President and CEO, Stillwater (Okla.) Medical. Ms. Webber has served as president and CEO of Stillwater since 2016. She began her tenure at the health system in 2003 as an administrative fellow. She was promoted to the senior leadership team in 2006 and was promoted to COO before assuming her current role. Ms. Webber is a board member of the Oklahoma Hospital Association and has served on various other boards, including United Way, Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, American College of Healthcare Executives’ regents advisory council and Stillwater Economic Development advisory council.
Meagan Weber, DPT. CEO at Scotland County Hospital (Memphis, Mo.). Dr. Weber is committed to improving rural healthcare, directing hospital functions with a focus on fiscal challenges, staffing shortages and revenue processes, while simultaneously expanding access through measures such as specialized telehealth initiatives. She took over as CEO in 2022 during a period of significant financial uncertainty marked by declining revenue, an outsourced billing department and the potential closure of the obstetrics department. She led a strategic turnaround that brought the revenue cycle back in-house, optimized pricing structures and secured an additional $500,000 in reimbursements through cost report amendments, thus stabilizing the hospital’s finances and preventing a potential closure. Under her leadership, the hospital has implemented initiatives to do more with less, including rethinking post-Covid scheduling models, leveraging automation, and cross-training staff across departments such as imaging and lab. She strengthened the obstetrics program by joining the Missouri Perinatal Quality Collaborative, partnering with independent lay midwives to serve Amish and Mennonite communities, and securing a grant to provide iPads for telehealth visits and remote monitoring. Dr. Weber received the 2024 Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services “Rural Health Champion” award.
Brian Wetzel. President of Orlando Health St. Cloud (Fla.) Hospital and Vice President of Orlando (Fla.) Health. Mr. Wetzel is responsible for leading operations and monitoring quality care to achieve organizational goals at Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital. Mr. Wetzel facilitated the opening of Orlando Health Cancer Institute–St. Cloud, the first cancer center in the city. Additionally, he expanded specialties at the hospital to include pulmonology and pain management, achieving significant reductions in patient length of stay and readmission rates. Previously, Mr. Wetzel served as the president of Orlando Health Horizon West (Fla.) Hospital, where he created a leadership team for continued success and future growth.
Kay Whitley. CEO of Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center and Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center (Walsenburg, Colo.). Ms. Whitley is responsible for managing Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital, and Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center, a 120-bed verteran’s home. She took on the role in 2016 and played a key part in keeping patients and veterans safe during the pandemic. Before her current position, Ms. Whitley held leadership roles at Pueblo, Colo.-based Parkview Medical Center from 1999 to 2016.
Kristie Williams. President and Administrator of Carilion Giles Community Hospital (Pearisburg, Va.) and Carilion Tazewell (Va.) Community Hospital. Ms. Williams has spent more than 25 years with Roanoke, Va.-based Carilion Clinic, working her way from a licensed practical nursing role to hospital leadership before taking the helm of Carilion Giles Community Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, and Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital. Under her leadership, Carilion Giles Community Hospital was named among the 374 cleanest healthcare facilities nationwide for the second consecutive year and earned top scores from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association for patient willingness to recommend the facility based on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems results. She has expanded specialty access in Giles and Tazewell, launching an outpatient neurology clinic, telemedicine services in geriatrics, palliative care, dermatology, rheumatology and hospice, and Ceribell bedside brain-monitoring technology to detect nonconvulsive seizures. Ms. Williams also introduced two robotic team members to assist nursing and care staff, making Giles the first hospital in Western Virginia to adopt the technology, and supported a partnership with Virginia Tech’s Biodesign for Health Equity summer program. She recently celebrated Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital’s 50th anniversary while helping expand virtual care and telemedicine-based cardiology services there, and received Carilion’s “President’s Award,” the organization’s highest honor, in 2022.
Troy Wood. CEO at Lakeview Hospital (Bountiful, Utah). Mr. Wood serves as CEO of Lakeview Hospital, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare. There, he oversees strategy, operations and clinical performance, and has driven growth in the hospital’s primary care network alongside expanded value-based care and telehealth offerings. Under his leadership, Lakeview Hospital has earned multiple consecutive 5-star CMS ratings and maintained 19 straight “A” Leapfrog safety grades. From 2020 to 2025, the hospital doubled its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and improved its profit margin by 7% under his direction. Mr. Wood has kept physician engagement above the 90th percentile throughout his tenure and cut employee turnover from 30% to less than 10%, elevating Lakeview to top-tier engagement rankings within the broader HCA system. He established HCA’s first value-based enterprise for orthopedics, which ranked third out of 137 hospitals for operational efficiency, outcomes and financial performance, and expanded Lakeview’s primary care network providers by 250%. Earlier in his career, he led divisionwide growth initiatives including the launch of tele-stroke services and virtual urgent care that were later adopted more broadly across the enterprise. He previously served as Lakeview’s COO, assistant administrator, director of business development and director of behavioral medicine, and holds board leadership roles including chair of the Davis County Health Department board of directors and chair of the Davis Technical College board of directors.
Dan Woods. CEO at El Camino Health (Mountain View, Calif.). Mr. Woods brings more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience to his role as CEO of El Camino Health, where he sets the strategic vision for a regional network of acute care, specialty and outpatient services that includes two community hospitals. Under his direction, patient volume has increased by nearly 74%, and the system now delivers more than 5,000 births annually, making it a market leader in the region. He oversaw a multi-year expansion of The Women’s Hospital that added a dedicated obstetrics emergency department, 44% more mother-baby rooms and a 20% increase in neonatal ICU beds. Mr. Woods also guided the development of a dedicated mental health hospital and a rehabilitation hospital as part of El Camino Health’s broader expansion. He has positioned the system as a “living lab” for healthcare technology, reaching milestones in ambient AI and surgical robotics as of early 2026 and fostering collaboration with Fogarty Innovation to bring new medical devices into clinical use. His tenure has brought sustained recognition from U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, Healthgrades and the CMS. Before joining El Camino Health, Mr. Woods served as president and CEO of WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center in Marietta, Ga., senior vice president of healthcare consulting company Verras Healthcare, and vice president of operations at Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Healthcare.
Jimmy Young. CEO of Bolivar Medical Center (Cleveland, Miss.). Mr. Young is in his fifth year as CEO of Bolivar Medical Center, a 164-bed hospital that includes a long-term care unit and behavioral health services. He brings more than three decades of healthcare experience to the role, including two decades as CFO for various hospitals and systems. Since 2022, Mr. Young has focused on recruiting providers, investing in facility upgrades and building a culture of safe, high-quality care, adding 20 providers in 2025 alone. That year also brought a reopened outpatient services center, a new MRI machine, an advanced endoscopy imaging system, a urology laser and new orthopedic operating room equipment. Under his leadership, Bolivar Medical Center earned an “A” grade for hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group in both the spring 2025 and spring 2026 cycles and received the “Platinum Award,” the highest honor in Louisville, Ky.-based ScionHealth’s “National Quality Strategy,” for 2025. The hospital also earned Bolivar Bullet‘s “Best of the Best” distinctions for “Best Hospital” and “Best Emergency Room,” along with accreditations for chest pain from the American College of Cardiology and for CT, mammography and MRI from the American College of Radiology. Beyond the hospital, Mr. Young serves as a community partner liaison for the Delta Children’s Advocacy Center and as a unit leader for Bolivar Medical Center’s Career Exploration Post through Scouts of America.
Jeff Zewe. President and CEO of Northern Maine Medical Center (Fort Kent). Mr. Zewe joined Northern Maine Medical Center as president and CEO in May 2022. He oversees a 49-bed acute care hospital staffed by 55 healthcare providers servicing 15,000 people in the community. Mr. Zewe brings over 30 years of healthcare experience to the role. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of Olean, N.Y.-based Upper Allegheny Health System.
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.