126 critical access hospital presidents and CEOs to know | 2026

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When the nearest hospital is miles away, critical access hospitals function as both everyday care providers and emergency rooms.

These institutions deliver round-the-clock care to rural and underserved communities, and the CEOs recognized on this list are the ones keeping them strong. They bring deep expertise in work like service line expansion, provider recruitment and retainment, and strategic partnership creation. 

Note: Becker’s Healthcare developed this list based on nominations and editorial research. Leaders do not pay and cannot pay for inclusion on this list. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of the leaders or organizations mentioned. 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.

Angela Ammons. CEO of Clinch Memorial Hospital (Homerville, Ga.). As CEO, Ms. Ammons has brought stability to Clinch Memorial Hospital despite threats of closure and financial issues. She has implemented innovative strategies that led to the expansion of telemedicine services, enhanced critical care, and established partnerships with larger healthcare networks. Her work has helped ensure that the community has access to top-tier medical services. These efforts have led to the hospital’s financial turnaround, an increase in patient satisfaction, and the retention of crucial healthcare services in a region where access is often limited.

Tammy Anderer, PhD, MSN. Chief Administrative Officer of Geisinger’s North-Central and Western Pennsylvania Regions. Dr. Anderer leads all operations at Geisinger Jersey Shore (Pa.) Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in the north-central region of the state. The hospital is a designated advanced primary stroke center and level 4 trauma center. She also oversees Geisinger Medical Center Muncy (Pa.), Geisinger Lewistown (Pa.) Hospital and other regional outpatient facilities. She is a board-certified nurse practitioner who continues to practice clinically in emergency medicine. Dr. Anderer has an extensive background in clinic, health plan and hospital operations, which she pairs with a deep passion for community engagement and outreach. She was a key partner in the development of a regional mobile food pantry to address food insecurity needs. She also frequently champions community initiatives, including agricultural safety, trauma education, preventive health screenings and overall access to healthcare.

Scott Alwin. CEO at Hot Springs Health (Thermopolis, Wyo.). Mr. Alwin leads Hot Springs Health, a 15-bed critical access hospital with four rural health clinics serving Thermopolis and the surrounding region. Under his leadership, days cash on hand increased from 76 to 123, accounts receivable days fell from 79 to 42, and gross revenue grew from $46 million to $58 million. He expanded access by introducing general orthopedics, spinal orthopedics and urology, recruiting two physicians and five advanced practice providers. Mr. Alwin also led the organization’s transition to Oracle Cerner in partnership with Billings (Mont.) Clinic and implemented monthly operating reviews that bring department leaders and executives together to review quality, operational and financial performance. After he invited Wyoming’s senator to learn about the hospital’s “Rural Training Track Residency Program,” the senator sponsored legislation, which Mr. Alwin helped shape, creating up to $250,000 in matching funds over two years for rural medical training through the University of Wyoming. Mr. Alwin previously served as chief clinical officer at Hot Springs Health, also located in Thermopolis, and held leadership roles at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Neb. and Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance, Neb. He is president of the Thermopolis-Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Stacy Augustyn, BSN, RN. CEO at Coffey Health System (Burlington, Kan.). Ms. Augustyn leads Coffey Health System, which includes 238 staff across a county-based critical access hospital, four primary care clinics, hospital-based emergency medical services, an offsite rehabilitation services center and a 26-bed assisted living facility. She also serves as the organization’s safety officer, coordinating drills with plant personnel and the Federal Emergency Management Agency because Coffey County is home to Kansas’ sole nuclear operating station. When the system closed obstetrics, a decision carrying a $2 million annual impact, Ms. Augustyn developed the “Coordinated OB Prenatal Pathways Program,” under which area hospitals provide third-trimester care and delivery while prenatal and postnatal care remain local; every employed obstetrics nurse stayed with the organization. She also moved general surgery to a shared services agreement with another critical access hospital, adding a second surgeon within seven months and pushing surgery revenue to a two-year high. Under her leadership, the hospital’s patient satisfaction score rose from 77% in 2024 to 100% year to date in 2026, and days cash on hand climbed from 6.5 to 40.1. Ms. Augustyn joined the system in 2013 as an emergency room and clinic nurse, and previously served as chief quality and compliance officer and COO before becoming CEO in 2024. She serves on the Kansas Clinical Improvement Collaborative’s board of managers and executive committee, as well as on several Kansas Hospital Association committees.

John Ayoub. CEO of Mobridge (S.D.) Regional Hospital and Clinics. Mr. Ayoub is CEO of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics, where he oversees the 25-bed critical access hospitals as well as four rural health clinics, an assisted living and senior living facility, and a specialty clinic. Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics serves as the largest employer in Mobridge and Walworth County, S.D., with over 190 staff members. Under Mr. Ayoub’s leadership, the organization was recognized by The Chartis Group as one of the top 100 critical access hospitals in 2024.

Manuela “Manny” Banner, RN. President and CEO of Memorial Community Hospital and Health System (Blair, Neb.). As president and CEO of Memorial Community Hospital and Health System, Ms. Banner oversees all operations, ensuring high-quality healthcare for the rural community. She leads strategic initiatives, manages financial performance and ensures regulatory compliance. Her role involves collaboration with medical staff, board members and community stakeholders to improve patient care and expand services. Under her leadership, the hospital has focused on fostering a positive organizational culture, driving innovation and addressing rural healthcare challenges. Ms. Banner is also active in community engagement and healthcare advocacy at both state and national levels. Previously, she served as CEO of Harlan County Health System in Alma, Neb., from 2013 to 2018.

Kristi Barnd. CEO at Henry County Hospital (Napoleon, Ohio). Ms. Barnd serves as CEO of Henry County Hospital, guiding strategy, operations, financial stewardship, quality, compliance and technology adoption for an independent community provider. She led the successful implementation of Meditech’s cloud-based solution, building a structured approach to preparation, communication and engagement that improved provider experience and reduced change-management anxiety. The implementation also strengthened care coordination, patient engagement and operational efficiency across the organization. Ms. Barnd is recognized for disciplined financial management that has supported stability despite broader pressures on independent hospitals. A longtime leader at the organization since 2010, she previously served as COO and held roles spanning risk, compliance, safety and quality improvement. She co-chairs the Ohio Hospital Association’s Northwest Ohio Quality Collaborative, serves as a state examiner for Ohio’s “Partnership for Excellence” program, and is active in community boards and civic organizations.

Steve Barnett, DHA, CRNA. President and CEO at McKenzie Health System (Sandusky, Mich.). Dr. Barnett has served as president and CEO of McKenzie Health System since 2008, leading strategy, operations and financial sustainability for a rural health system in Michigan’s Thumb region. Drawing on clinical experience in respiratory care, nursing and anesthesia, he has expanded local access to family and surgical medicine to reduce unnecessary transfers for rural patients. He is known for advancing collaborative partnerships across the region, strengthening care coordination and shared sustainability among rural providers. Under his leadership, McKenzie Health System has maintained and grown essential service lines while navigating workforce and reimbursement pressures. Dr. Barnett emphasizes daily engagement with physicians, staff and community stakeholders to keep the organization mission-driven and patient-centered. His tenure has positioned the system as a stable, collaborative model for rural healthcare delivery.

Billie Bell, BSN, RN. CEO at Medina Healthcare System (Hondo, Texas). Ms. Bell has led Medina Healthcare System since June 2023, overseeing a 25-bed critical access hospital, three rural health clinics and four specialty provider clinics as the only care provider in the county. She previously spent seven years as the system’s CNO. Under her leadership, the hospital adopted an EHR-as-a-service model to maintain independence and reduce operational costs, and added a telestroke robot that provides 24/7 access to stroke experts. Ms. Bell also upgraded diagnostic imaging with a CT scanner accredited by the American College of Radiology, 3D mammography and a new MRI machine. Planned expansions include a two-story addition to the Castroville (Texas) Rural Health Clinic and a physical therapy and rehab wing at Medina Regional Hospital. In January 2025, the governor of Texas appointed her to the statewide health coordinating council, where she serves as the nurse representative through Aug. 31, 2027. Ms. Bell, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, also sits on the board of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. She was named to the Texas Hospital Association’s 2025 “Women to Know” list.

Doug Bentz. CEO at Roane General Hospital (Spencer, W.Va.). Mr. Bentz has led Roane General Hospital since 2000, overseeing a rural network that includes a critical access hospital with a 25-bed acute care unit, a 35-bed swing bed rehabilitation unit, a level 4 trauma center, five rural health clinics, a long-term care facility and a center for wellness complex. In 2021, he spearheaded the free “Prescription for Your Health” wellness program, which integrates medical management, health education and medical fitness. Data verified by West Virginia University’s School of Public Health showed 55.4% of active participants with diabetes improved their HbA1c levels, with a 0.25% mean reduction that moved the average patient from the diabetes range into the prediabetes range. Mr. Bentz led a $29 million hospital expansion, including a $26 million investment that added 40,000 square feet of new facilities centered on a two-story Center for Health and Wellness building and renovated 20,000 square feet of existing space. In 2024 alone, he helped secure more than $7 million in funding, including a $3.7 million grant through the West Virginia governor’s “Rural Hospital Grant Program.” The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health named the hospital West Virginia’s “Community Star for 2025. Mr. Bentz chairs the West Virginia Hospital Association’s quality committee and received the American College of Healthcare Executives’ “Young Healthcare Executive of the Year” award in 2004.

Carissa Bergren. CEO at Big Sandy (Mont.) Medical Center. Ms. Bergren leads Big Sandy Medical Center, a critical access hospital and rural health clinic, after stepping up from the organization’s governing board to serve as interim CEO during a period of financial distress. She oversees operations, regulatory compliance, budget planning and capital allocation while also directly managing the human resources department. After inheriting a financial deficit, Ms. Bergren initiated a top-down audit of operational expenditures and restructured operations to reduce overhead costs. She is also leading the procurement and launch of CT scanning services, which will spare patients 90-minute drives to regional centers for head injury and trauma scans. The hospital received Montana Performance Improvement Network quality awards in 2024 and 2025.

Kara Besst. President and CEO at Gritman Medical Center (Moscow, Idaho). Ms. Besst serves as president and CEO of a 25-bed critical access hospital and multi-county clinic network supporting approximately 150,000 patient visits annually. Over more than three decades at the organization, she advanced from accountant to CFO to CEO, bringing deep institutional knowledge and financial discipline to system growth. Under her leadership, the medical center significantly expanded primary care and specialty services, including general surgery, orthopedics and urology. She has also built strategic partnerships, including collaborations with competing hospitals, to bring oncology, neurology, and ear, nose and throat services to rural communities across the Palouse region. The organization has received multiple awards for quality, safety and organ donation. Ms. Besst serves as immediate past chair of the Idaho Hospital Association board and as a member of the American Hospital Association’s rural health services committee.

Shannon Black. CEO at Manning (Iowa) Regional Healthcare Center. Ms. Black leads Manning Regional Healthcare Center, an independent 17-bed critical access hospital serving rural west-central Iowa. Under her leadership, the organization launched a 24/7 “eHospitalist” program, expanded women’s health through a collaboration with a neighboring rural hospital, added podiatry services and expanded pediatric therapy. The hospital operates a 16-bed residential substance-use treatment program and has broadened its continuum to include prevention, outpatient services and medication-assisted treatment. Ms. Black helped secure five grants totaling more than $2.5 million for behavioral health, opioid-use disorder services, workforce recruitment and diagnostic technology, including a permanent in-house MRI that replaced a mobile unit available one day per week. In fiscal 2026, gross revenue reached $28.2 million, exceeding budget by more than $805,000, while total margin finished $1.14 million above budget. She also created the hospital’s “Legacy Fund,” an in-house philanthropic initiative supporting programs, technology and healthcare scholarships. The hospital’s employee engagement score reached 4.34 out of 5, placing it in the 88th percentile nationally.

Barry Bloom. CEO of Jeff Davis Hospital (Hazlehurst, Ga.). As CEO of Jeff Davis Hospital, Mr. Bloom provides strategic leadership and promotes community responsibility, collaboration and patient-centric care within the organization. In 2020, he was recognized by HomeTown Health as a 2020 “Hospital Leader of the Year” for his innovation, leadership, and commitment to his employees and community. Prior to working with Jeff Davis Hospital, Mr. Bloom was the vice president of physicians and informational services at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga.

Rolland “Boomer” Bojo, Jr. President and CEO of UHS Delaware Valley Hospital (Walton, N.Y.). Mr. Bojo serves as CEO of UHS Delaware Valley Hospital, where he leads the hospital’s financial success, growth and care access improvement efforts. Since becoming CEO in 2021, he has expanded the inpatient unit and introduced new services for the community, while fostering a compassionate workplace culture that has contributed to long-term staff retention. A former nurse who started his career at Delaware Valley in 1995, Mr. Bojo takes a hands-on leadership approach, often working closely with the emergency room nursing team. His background includes previous service as vice president of patient care services and CNO at Catskill (N.Y.) Regional Medical Center. He is currently active in the local community as a member and past chief of a fire department.

Bessie S. Brown, DNP, MSN, RN. Hospital Administrator and Vice President of Nursing at Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital (Kilmarnock, Va.). Ms. Brown provides executive leadership across clinical care, nursing operations, hospital operations, quality, patient safety and strategic initiatives at Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital, a critical access hospital serving the Northern Neck. Her responsibilities include nursing leadership, workforce development, patient flow and throughput, regulatory readiness and resource management. She leads efforts to improve access to care, strengthen behavioral health services, optimize emergency department throughput and address workforce challenges within the critical access hospital model. Ms. Brown also oversees major strategic and capital initiatives aimed at strengthening the hospital’s long-term sustainability and infrastructure. As of October 2026, the hospital is moving forward with a $73.3 million modernization project.

Eric Briesemeister. CEO of UnityPoint Health—Jones Regional Medical Center (Anamosa, Iowa). Mr. Briesemeister has served as the CEO of UnityPoint Health—Jones Regional Medical Center since 2010, overseeing seven clinics, a critical access hospital and an ambulance service. Mr. Briesemeister successfully spearheaded a $10.3 million hospital expansion in 2014, addressing the growing healthcare needs of the community. He has also navigated the financial challenges of running a rural hospital, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, and positioned the medical center as a model for similar hospitals. Additionally, he serves as director of the Cedar Rapids Regional Network at Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health and has been active as board chair of the Iowa Donor Network, fostering community and healthcare partnerships across the region.

Wyatt Brieser. CEO at Hammond-Henry Hospital (Geneseo, Ill.). Mr. Brieser was named CEO of Hammond-Henry Hospital in July 2025. He began his career at Hammond-Henry in 2009 as a rehab tech and advanced through a series of leadership roles, including physical therapist, long-term care living center manager, director of ancillary services and vice president of operations. In his executive roles, Mr. Brieser has been instrumental in recruiting new physicians and expanding service lines such as neurology, chiropractic care and pain management, with plans underway to add rheumatology and an employed orthopedic surgeon. He oversaw major capital and infrastructure projects, including upgrades to MRI, fluoroscopy and 3D mammography equipment, and a $1 million laboratory remodel completed in 2023. Mr. Brieser also led the hospital’s long-term care living center through the Covid-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021. A strong advocate for community engagement, he is active in local athletic training initiatives and civic organizations. He was recognized as a 2024 Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network “4 Under 40” hospital leadership award recipient.

Carisa Buegler. President of New Ulm (Minn.) Medical Center. Ms. Buegler was named president of New Ulm Medical Center in February 2026, taking on strategic leadership and operational management of the hospital where she was born. She has worked at the medical center for more than 20 years, most recently as director of operations from 2015 to 2026, a role in which she guided long-term planning, oversaw major building updates, and led clinical and support service teams. She also supported the 2020 openings of the Springfield, Minn. and Lamberton, Minn. clinics. Earlier, Ms. Buegler spent 11 years as director of foundation and community engagement, leading major fundraising projects and community partnerships, and before that served as executive director of United Way of New Ulm. New Ulm Medical Center has been named a Chartis Center for Rural Health “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” 13 times. Ms. Buegler has served with the New Ulm Area Foundation, the city’s park and recreation commission and the New Ulm Rotary.

Julie Bulin. Vice President at Emplify Health by Bellin Oconto Hospital and Clinics (Oconto, Wis.). Ms. Bulin has served as vice president of Emplify Health by Bellin Oconto Hospital and Clinics since 2020, providing operational leadership for the Oconto Hospital Corporation. She guides northern regional expansion and growth, oversees physician contracting and serves as a community ambassador and public health liaison. During her tenure, the hospital has earned Chartis “Performance Leadership Awards” for patient perspective each year from 2022 through 2025, adding recognition for quality in 2024 and 2025. Ms. Bulin was appointed to the Rural Health Transformation Program advisory council that is helping shape Wisconsin’s rural health strategy, and she serves as 2025-26 president of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative board. She is also incoming president of Bay Area Workforce Development, where she is the only local healthcare representative. Ms. Bulin previously served as Northern Region strategy vice president, surgical services director and neuro team leader. In 2025, the Women’s Giving Circle of Marinette and Menominee Counties named her “Queen Marinette” for her impact on women and girls in the region.

Rob Carnahan, RN, MSN. CEO of Banner Churchill Community Hospital (Fallon, Nev.). Mr. Carnahan leads the 25-bed Banner Churchill Community Hospital, which serves a Western Nevada population of 45,000 with over 300 employees and 40 active physicians and allied health professionals. Among his accomplishments are opening a second emergency medical services station, recruiting additional primary care physicians, and expanding patient services for quicker access to care for the growing population. He decreased employee turnover, vacancy rate and contract labor. As CEO, he has fostered an environment of financial stability. In addition to his facility work, his accomplishments have been recognized at the system, state and national levels.

Karen Cheeseman. CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System (St. Ignace, Mich.). Ms. Cheeseman has served as CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System, a 15-bed hospital with an emergency medical center and outpatient surgery center, since 2017. She has spent more than two decades with Mackinac Straits and serves on the Michigan Health and Hospital Association small and rural council.

Kym Clift. CEO at TriState Health (Clarkston, Wash.). Ms. Clift serves as CEO of TriState Health, leading a 25-bed critical access hospital and multi-site system that employs about 650 people. She is accountable to a board for operational and financial performance in a high-volume rural setting. Under her leadership, TriState built a new 60,000-square-foot inpatient wing and raised $9 million in philanthropy within 12 months to support the expansion. She also drove improvements in patient experience, while increasing gross revenue and improving total margin through service line growth, revenue cycle initiatives and operational efficiencies. Ms. Clift modernized core diagnostic capacity by replacing CT, MRI and 3D mammography equipment and adding a second CT, funded through federal appropriations and philanthropy. She strengthened the workforce pipeline through a high school certified nursing assistant program with a local community college, and reduced employee turnover by advancing Just Culture and team-based training initiatives.

Jeff Cook. President and CEO at Forrest Health (Hattiesburg, Miss.). Mr. Cook leads Forrest Health, one of Mississippi’s largest regional health systems, serving a 19-county area that includes three critical access hospitals: Pearl River County Hospital & Nursing Home in Poplarville, Miss., Walthall General Hospital in Tylertown, Miss. and Jefferson Davis Community Hospital in Prentiss, Miss. He launched the “FORREST For Life” campaign to unify the system’s hospitals and employees under a shared identity, connecting critical access hospital staff and patients to the broader network’s physicians, specialists and services. At Pearl River County Hospital, Mr. Cook has championed a $5.6 million emergency department modernization that adds new trauma and exam rooms, dedicated ambulance and walk-in entrances, and advanced X-ray and CT capabilities. Forrest Health worked with the Pearl River County board of supervisors to secure $3.6 million in federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant funding for the project and contributed about $2 million of its own. In 2026, all seven of the system’s hospitals, including its critical access facilities, earned American Heart Association “Get With The Guidelines” recognition. Before becoming CEO, Mr. Cook served as Forrest Health’s vice president and general counsel, and previously held legal and strategic operations roles at Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, Tenn. He is an adjunct professor in the public health program at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Matt Dammeyer. CEO of Memorial Hospital of Converse County (Douglas, Wyo.). Mr. Dammeyer, CEO of Memorial Hospital of Converse County, oversees a 25-bed critical access hospital, multiple rural health clinics, and 24-bed Summit Medical Center in Casper, Wyo. Despite challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Dammeyer led the hospital through with no layoffs and maintained a positive profit margin. He spearheaded the acquisition of Summit Medical Center in 2022, a controversial move aimed at securing Memorial Hospital’s independence while expanding services for communities in eastern Wyoming. Mr. Dammeyer is committed to improving staff wellbeing, personally redirecting part of his salary to raise the hospital’s minimum wage. He prioritizes both the hospital’s strategic growth and the financial stability of its employees.

Jeremy P. Davis. CEO at Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics (La Grande, Ore.). Mr. Davis has served as CEO at Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics since 2018, leading an independent rural health system through significant growth, transformation and the largest facility expansion in its history. A native of Eastern Oregon, he combines local roots with national leadership experience to advance access, workforce recruitment and long-term sustainability for underserved communities. Under his leadership, the organization has remained mission-driven while expanding facilities and strengthening provider recruitment in a rural setting. He has been recognized nationally with the American College of Healthcare Executives’ “Early Career Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award” and the “Health Equity Advancement Award” from The Ohio State University. In 2024, he was appointed as an Oregon delegate to the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board 9 and served as the sole hospital administrator testifying before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on rural healthcare.

Valerie Davis. Administrator of Mercy Hospital Aurora (Mo.), Mercy Hospital Cassville (Mo.), Mercy Hospital Lebanon (Mo.) and Mercy Hospital St. Francis (Mountain View, Mo.). Ms. Davis oversees three critical access hospitals in southern Missouri, Mercy Hospital Aurora, Mercy Hospital Cassville and Mercy Hospital St. Francis, as well as Mercy Hospital Lebanon, a community hospital recently added to her responsibilities. She leads strategic planning, operations and long-term capital investment across the hospitals, which employ approximately 500 people. All four hospitals received Chartis Center for Rural Health “Performance Leadership Awards” in 2024 and 2025. At Mercy Aurora, obstetric deliveries have grown from just more than 100 a year to nearly 250, and the hospital was selected by Missouri’s Office of Rural Health Transformation to serve as an anchor hub for Barry and Lawrence counties. Ms. Davis led a multiyear financial turnaround at Mercy St. Francis, moving it from operating losses to a healthy positive net margin, restoring essential services, and adding a fixed MRI and a new CT scanner capable of low-dose lung cancer screening. Mercy Cassville is renovating its emergency department and outpatient space to add patient care rooms. Ms. Davis, who previously served as a manager of quality and patient safety and as an emergency room and post-anesthesia care unit nurse, received the “Patriot Award” from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Mike Delfs. President and CEO of Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Delfs serves as the president and CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, an award-winning critical access hospital. He has successfully provided the community with access to services not typically seen in critical access hospitals, such as orthopedics, podiatry, urology, otolaryngology services and more. He has spent more than 30 years in the healthcare industry, including time as director, COO and CEO of both independent hospitals and health systems. He is passionate about developing leadership skills in himself and others. 

Nickolas Dirkes. CEO at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital (Glasgow, Mont.). Mr. Dirkes has led Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, a 25-bed nonprofit rural hospital, since October 2022 and also serves on its board of trustees. Starting in July 2025, he spearheaded the merger of the Valley County Health Department into the hospital’s new public health department, consolidating services such as vaccinations and clinical screenings under the hospital. He also forged a partnership with Glasgow Public Schools that supports the development of a new multisport athletic complex and introduces students to healthcare careers. Mr. Dirkes is one of six critical access hospital representatives on the 25-member Montana Rural Health Transformation advisory council, which will guide how the state uses its Rural Health Transformation Program funds. In 2023, he was named the top leader for large companies in Top Workplaces Montana, and the hospital became the first in Montana to earn the Joint Commission’s “Gold Seal of Approval” for advanced total hip and knee replacement certification. The hospital received the Chartis Center for Rural Health’s “Performance Leadership Award” for patient perspective in 2025. Mr. Dirkes joined the hospital in 2006 as marketing director and later served as director of strategic planning; he also co-founded the Valley Care Coalition, a community-based mental health nonprofit.

Sidni Durler. CEO and CFO at Hodgeman County Health Center (Jetmore, Kan.). Ms. Durler serves as both CEO and CFO of Hodgeman County Health Center, overseeing its critical access hospital, the O’Shea Memorial Clinic and community health services. She joined the organization in 2010 in admissions and registration, moved into accounts receivable in 2012 and became health information manager in 2015. Ms. Durler added controller responsibilities in 2021, was promoted to CFO in 2024 and was named interim CEO in July 2025 before the role became permanent that September. Under her leadership, Hodgeman County Health Center was named a Chartis “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” in 2025 and 2026. She also helped facilitate the groundbreaking for the O’Shea Memorial Clinic expansion.

John Durrett. CEO of Fredonia (Kan.) Regional Hospital. Mr. Durrett serves as Fredonia Regional Hospital’s CEO. The 25-bed critical access hospital employs over 130 individuals and offers care including medical, surgical, emergency, physical therapy, interventional radiology, as well as various other outpatient services. Mr. Durrett has previous experience as an administrative project manager at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, Kan.

Jake Erickson. CEO at Bingham Memorial Hospital (Blackfoot, Idaho). Mr. Erickson leads Bingham Healthcare, which includes Bingham Memorial Hospital, an independent nonprofit critical access hospital, and is part of a network employing more than 1,000 people across eastern Idaho. Under his leadership, the organization operates two hospitals, an ambulatory surgery center, six urgent care facilities and more than 20 physician offices. Over more than a decade in leadership, including as head of physician recruitment, he was instrumental in building what is now eastern Idaho’s largest employed physician group and expanded offerings to more than 35 physician specialties. Mr. Erickson also championed a unified EHR platform across the hospital, birthing center, and dozens of practices and clinics. Community efforts under his direction include a September 2025 campaign highlighting the “Senior Life Solutions” program and an August 2025 program through the Bumps & Bruises Clinic to ease the cost of summer and back-to-school activities for families. In 2025, Bingham Memorial Hospital received a national award for rural healthcare excellence from the American Hospital Association. Mr. Erickson joined Bingham in 2006 and has served as assistant administrator and COO. He is a member of the Idaho State University Foundation board of directors.

Chelsie Falk, RN. CEO and Administrator of Sanford Wheaton (Minn.) Medical Center. Ms. Falk leads Sanford Wheaton Medical Center, a critical access hospital and clinic providing emergency, inpatient, outpatient, primary care, rehabilitation, diagnostic and ambulance services. A registered nurse with 30 years of experience, primarily in intensive and neonatal intensive care, she still assists with trauma codes and spends about 1,000 hours a year on call as an EMT with the Sanford Wheaton Ambulance service, which she directly leads. Under her leadership, the medical center secured a 3D mammography machine, replacing a mobile service that visited once a month, and recruited a physician who began practicing in January 2026. Through a PrimeWest Health insurance grant, Sanford Wheaton offers food-security boxes and “Food Rx” programming, and Ms. Falk helped establish a lease agreement to bring a community dental clinic offering Medicaid-accessible services to the medical center. The medical center maintains level 4 trauma center and acute stroke-ready designations from the Minnesota Department of Health and added 16 perimeter security cameras and an emergency entrance call system to prevent workplace violence. It earned Chartis “Performance Leadership Awards” in 2024 and 2025, as well as a 2025 “Operational Excellence Award” from the Minnesota Department of Health. Ms. Falk previously served as the hospital’s director of nursing from 2013 to 2018 and is vice president of the Wheaton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Marty Fattig. CEO of Nemaha County Hospital (Auburn, Neb.). Mr. Fattig has over two decades of experience as Nemaha County Hospital’s CEO, where he oversees all operations of the critical access hospital. Under his leadership, the hospital was recognized as a College of Healthcare Information Management Executives “Most Wired” facility for 10 years. In addition to his role at the hospital, Mr. Fattig also serves on the board of directors of CyncHealth and as the chair for the Nebraska Hospital Association. He has previous experience as a director of ancillary services and a consulting medical technologist.

Lukas Fischer. CEO of Linton (N.D.) Regional Medical Center and South Central Health (Wishek, N.D.). Mr. Fischer is the CEO of the critical access hospital Linton Regional Medical Center and of South Central Health, overseeing operations at both. Mr. Fischer is responsible for developing and managing staff teams, negotiating improvements, promoting quality of care, coordinating staffing and reporting, performing related administrative duties, doing community outreach, and making decisions about hiring and staffing. He has overseen a hospital campus renovation, and has previously held roles like COO and CNO. 

Casey Fleckenstein. CEO at Monroe County Hospital (Forsyth, Ga.). Ms. Fleckenstein leads Monroe County Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, after more than 20 years in nursing and clinical roles there, most recently as hospital administrator. She began her nursing career at the hospital in 2001 and has served as CNO, emergency management coordinator and director of patient care services. In 2025, the hospital completed participation requirements in the Kids Alliance for Better Care, a collaboration among Mercer University School of Medicine, Mercer’s Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta that brings pediatric education, training and equipment to rural hospitals. Also in 2025, the hospital soft-reopened its operating room for cardiac procedures, with a full reopening following renovations. The hospital significantly grew its swing bed program in 2024 and has added specialty care to its medical office suites, initiatives led by Ms. Fleckenstein and managing partner Aletheia Health Partners. She serves as the hospital’s primary liaison to local, state and federal officials on rural hospital legislation. In June 2026, Monroe County Schools named her a “Friend of Education,” and insurer Hometown Health named the hospital its 2025 “Hospital of the Year.”

Kurt Forsyth. President of Delta (Utah) and Fillmore (Utah) Community Hospitals. Mr. Forsyth, president of both Delta Community Hospital and Fillmore Community Hospital in rural Millard County, Utah, has overseen significant achievements, including gaining trauma 4 designations for Delta. He has fostered a positive work culture, increasing caregiver satisfaction. Mr. Forsyth prioritizes safety and continuous improvement while focusing on leadership development, employee engagement and operations management. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, he is committed to rural healthcare innovation, addressing social determinants of health, and expanding service lines and revenue streams.

Laura Gamble. CEO at Pender (Neb.) Community Health. Ms. Gamble directs strategy and operations across the Pender Community Hospital District, which includes the hospital, four rural health clinics, three pharmacies, Prairie Breeze Assisted Living and the Little Sprouts Child Development Center. In June 2025, she led an affiliation with nonprofit healthcare organization Bryan Health that allows Pender Community Hospital to retain local decision-making authority while gaining operational support, leadership guidance and staff training. A month earlier, she initiated a partnership with Pioneer Ambulance to optimize patient transfers and ease the burden on local emergency medical services teams. Ms. Gamble led the hospital to 275% of its political action committee goal in 2025, the highest among Nebraska’s critical access hospitals, earning her the American Hospital Association’s 2026 “Most Valuable PAC Player” award. The hospital received a 2025 “Performance Leadership Award” for quality from the Chartis Center for Rural Health, and its Pender Medical Clinic earned a 5-star rating from the National Rural Rating System. Ms. Gamble serves on the Nebraska Hospital Association’s services board and sponsors employees to attend the association’s leadership academy. She previously served as CEO and director of nursing at MercyOne Oakland (Neb.) Hospital.

Timothy Gullingsrud. CEO of Ogallala (Neb.) Community Hospital. Mr. Gullingsrud has served as CEO of 18-bed Ogallala Community Hospital since December 2019. The hospital, a part of Phoenix-based Banner Health located in Western Nebraska, employs over 150 people, making it one of the largest employers in Keith County. Mr. Gullingsrud has more than 35 years of experience working to improve and enhance healthcare services to residents living in rural communities across the upper Midwest. Through effective recruiting and creating strategic partnerships, he has expanded the breadth and depth of services in the 5,000 resident community, most notably in the areas of obstetrics, general surgery and orthopedic surgery. He has also led efforts that dramatically reduced patient falls, improved financial operations, maintained high employee engagement and increased patient satisfaction. Creating opportunities for team members to thrive has been one of his major priorities. The success of his efforts is evident, as greater than 35% of his team have been promoted into the role they currently hold.

Stacy Harberson. CEO of Howard Memorial Hospital (Nashville, Ark.). Ms. Harberson was appointed as CEO of critical access hospital Howard Memorial in September 2024. Prior to her promotion, she served as the hospital’s COO. Before that, she spent 10 years as the hospital’s radiology director. She is a licensed radiologic technologist, licensed nuclear medicine technologist and registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in radiography, mammography, nuclear medicine and computed tomography.

Mark Harrel. CEO of Phelps Memorial Health Center (Holdrege, Neb.). Mr. Harrel has led Phelps Memorial Healthcare Center as CEO since 2007. The center is a 25-bed, nonprofit critical access hospital employing over 328 healthcare professionals, and contracting with an additional 150. Phelps Memorial offers a wide variety of patient services, including cardiology, ear, nose and throat, and otolaryngology, gastroenterology, psychiatry, oncology, orthopedics, surgery and more. 

Amy Hart. CEO at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (Crosby, Minn.). Ms. Hart leads Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, a critical access hospital that generates more than $170 million in net revenue annually and employs more than 1,000 people. She led $100 million in construction projects, including a 100,000-plus-square-foot surgical and clinical facility and two off-site facilities totaling 30,000 square feet, all completed on time and under budget. Process improvements in joint replacement cut length of stay from 2.1 days to 17 hours, and she helped establish the robotic center of excellence and joint preservation program, which stand out among more than 10 specialty service lines she has strengthened. Ms. Hart also launched endocrinology services, bolstered endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and spine services, and is leading 2026 projects that include a new primary care clinic in Nisswa, Minn., a medical-surgical expansion and an oncology expansion. During her tenure at the organization, employee engagement has grown by more than 50 percentage points. The medical center was named among Newsweek‘s 2023 “World’s Best Hospitals” and is Minnesota’s first and only critical access hospital certified by Det Norske Veritas in four orthopedic programs. Ms. Hart, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, served as the organization’s COO from 2013 to 2021.

Michael Hassell. CEO at Melissa Memorial Hospital (Holyoke, Colo.). Mr. Hassell has led Melissa Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed critical access hospital, since April 2022, helping stabilize the organization after a period of leadership change and financial difficulty. A former paramedic, he previously served as administrator of allied health and support services at Troy (Ala.) Regional Medical Center and as deputy incident commander for Florida’s Region 7 All Hazards Incident Command during the Covid-19 response. In 2025, the Colorado Rural Health Center recognized Melissa Memorial as one of the state’s top three critical access hospitals and named the hospital-based Family Practice of Holyoke a top 10 rural healthcare facility for overall performance. The hospital and clinic were also recognized in 2024 for advocacy connected to Colorado Senate Bill 24-168, which expanded Medicaid members’ access to remote patient monitoring and continuous glucose monitors. The Colorado governor appointed Mr. Hassell to the state’s emergency medical and trauma advisory council, where he serves on the trauma designation review subcommittee. He also serves on the boards of the Colorado Hospital Association and the Eastern Plains Health Consortium and is an adjunct instructor in Regis University’s healthcare leadership program. Mr. Hassell is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Rural Health Association.

Jonathan Hatfield. CEO at Klickitat Valley Health (Goldendale, Wash.). Mr. Hatfield leads Klickitat Valley Health, a critical access hospital where he began his career more than 18 years ago as a janitor before advancing through the IT department to become director of IT and compliance. Under his leadership, the hospital recovers more than $1 million per year by automating processes such as denials, eligibility and remittance posting, and staff who were once wary of AI now propose new areas for automation. He recently broke ground on a dual clean-energy microgrid project featuring a 60-ton ground-source heat pump system and 375 kilowatts of solar carports, designed to lower operating costs and protect against energy disruptions. Klickitat Valley Health was named one of “Washington’s Top 10 Best Places to Work” per Populus in 2026 and received a 2025 “Performance Leadership Award” from the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Its hospice program earned a 2025 “Best of the Gorge Gold Award” from Bicoastal Media Columbia River and a “Hospice Honors Elite Award” from MatrixCare. Mr. Hatfield serves on the board of the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts and the executive board of The Rural Collaborative.

Alisha Herrmann. CEO at Edwards County Medical Center (Kinsley, Kan.). Ms. Herrmann serves as CEO of Edwards County Medical Center, leading strategic vision, daily operations, long-term planning, financial performance, regulatory compliance and quality of care. Since joining the organization in 2009, she has advanced through progressively senior roles, including COO, CIO, IT director, HIPAA security officer and education coordinator, building a comprehensive understanding of hospital operations and risk management. With a technical background and education in network and communications management, Ms. Herrmann has emphasized the role of health IT in sustaining high-quality care and operational effectiveness in a rural setting. She extends her impact beyond the organization through leadership with the Kansas Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society chapter, and she holds Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society “senior member” status. As a certified emergency medical technician, Ms. Herrmann brings a practical clinical perspective to technology and operational decisions that support patients and frontline teams.

Meg Hickey-Boynton. CEO of Community Hospital of Anaconda (Mont.). As the CEO of Community Hospital of Anaconda, Ms. Hickey-Boynton oversees the operations of the critical access hospital, which offers services in family practice, obstetrics, general surgery, orthopedics, neuroscience, emergency medicine, gastroenterology and more. In addition to offering acute, emergency and laboratory services, the hospital also offers home health, hospice and long-term care.

Jodi Hovdenes, RN. President of CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington (N.D.) Medical Center. Ms. Hovedenes was named president of CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center in 2022 after serving several months as interim president. She has previous nursing experience at Carrington Health. Under her leadership, CHI St. Alexius Health Medical Center was named a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association in 2025.

Brian Howells. Administrator at Wamego Health Center (Wamego, Kan.). Mr. Howells has served as the primary leader of Wamego Health Center for four years, overseeing hospital operations. Under his leadership, the hospital earned the National Rural Health Association’s 2026 “Outstanding Healthcare Organization of the Year” award. Wamego Health Center previously received the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative’s “Quality in Healthcare” award. Mr. Howells has focused on expanding the services available to the community locally and ensuring all patients have access to care. He previously served as director of rehab services at Ascension Via Christi Manhattan in Kansas.

Trevor Huffman. President and CEO of Jacksonville (Ill.) Memorial Hospital. Since 2023, Mr. Huffman has served as president and CEO of Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, part of Springfield, Ill.-based Memorial Health, and the hospital first attained critical access hospital status during his tenure. He began his career at the hospital in 1998 as a physical therapist and athletic trainer, later serving as coordinator of outreach services, leading rehabilitation services and becoming director of ambulatory services in 2019. Mr. Huffman serves on the Illinois Hospital Association’s Small and Rural Hospital Task Force and participates in the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network’s obstetrics recruitment and shortage initiatives. He is a past president of the Prairieland United Way board and sits on the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation executive committee and Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce board. Jacksonville Memorial Hospital has earned four consecutive Magnet designations for nursing excellence, most recently in 2023.

Carrie Jankowski. President of Mercy Health–Allen Hospital (Oberlin, Ohio). Ms. Jankowski serves as president of Mercy Health–Allen Hospital, overseeing daily operations, strategic growth initiatives and performance goals for a Joint Commission-accredited critical access hospital serving southern Lorain County. She began her career in 1997 as a radiology technologist and brings deep operational experience and community-rooted commitment to her hometown hospital. Under her leadership, surgical volume increased year-over-year and gross revenues rose, reflecting service growth and disciplined execution of the strategic plan. She also oversaw expansion of the emergency department, increasing annual visits. Ms. Jankowski introduced advanced capabilities including MAKO robotic surgery and expanded pain management services to strengthen access to higher-acuity care locally. She has built a strong engagement culture as well. In addition, she chairs the Lorain market’s leadership councils for diversity and inclusion, reinforcing workforce belonging and community trust.

Kelly Jefferson, MSN. President at OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group (Escanaba, Mich.). Ms. Jefferson has been serving as president since 2022 and has been with OSF HealthCare since 1998. She leads with a steadfast commitment to operational excellence, fiscal stewardship and access to high-quality, affordable care for residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. OSF St. Francis has earned significant national recognition, including recognition on the inaugural Forbes 2026 “Top Hospital” list. These recognitions are based on patient outcomes, hospital best practices, value and patient experience. Ms. Jefferson has advanced strategic growth initiatives, including certificate-of-need approval for a new cardiac catheterization lab and key partnerships to ensure advanced oncology and cardiology care. She has also helped to ensure local access to neonatal advanced care so newborns stay close to home. In fiscal year 2025, OSF St. Francis served 31,476 individuals, supported 17,934 emergency department visits, 109,374 outpatient visits, had 1,723 admissions and had 435 dedicated employees, demonstrating exceptional impact for a rural critical access hospital.

Arlan Johnson. CEO at Howard County Medical Center (St. Paul, Neb.). Mr. Johnson leads Howard County Medical Center, a 10-bed critical access hospital, where he has served as CEO for more than 15 years after joining as clinic director in 2007. Before entering healthcare, he spent more than 15 years in banking, most recently as a bank manager at Bank of the West in Grand Island, Neb. His most significant project is an $8 million, 17,000-square-foot wellness center offering physical, occupational and speech therapy, a pediatric sensory gym, therapy pools and cardiac rehabilitation, funded through community contributions so the hospital took on no debt. Physical therapy modalities rose more than 60%, from 17,581 between June 2021 and June 2022 to 28,479 between June 2024 and June 2025. Under his leadership, the hospital also introduced outpatient psychiatric services for patients of all ages and mental health visits through its rural health clinic. Mr. Johnson serves on the board of ruralMED Health Cooperative, a Nebraska network whose clinically integrated network includes 19 critical access hospitals. The hospital was named a Chartis “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” in 2024 and 2025.

Helen Johnson, RN. President and CEO at Helen Newberry (Mich.) Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center. Ms. Johnson became president and CEO of Helen Newberry Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center, an independent critical access hospital serving Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula, in 2024. Under her leadership, the organization ended fiscal 2024 with a margin of more than $4 million and more than 270 days cash on hand. She has expanded access to dermatology, hospice, remote patient monitoring, cardiology and orthopedics services. Ms. Johnson helped secure a $2 million appropriation in Michigan’s 2024 state budget and cultivated a $1 million private gift to support development of an oncology infusion center. Prior, as president of University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Eaton in Charlotte, she oversaw a 28% revenue increase, the hospital’s first CMS 5-star designation and an improvement in emergency department patient satisfaction from the ninth to the 100th percentile. Her more than 30-year career has progressed from bedside nurse to CNO, COO and hospital president. Ms. Johnson chairs the Michigan Hospital Association’s Upper Peninsula hospital council and has served as chair of its small or rural council, as well as president of the Great Lakes chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Jeremy Jones. CEO at Arbuckle Memorial Hospital (Sulphur, Okla.). Mr. Jones leads Arbuckle Memorial Hospital, overseeing daily operations, strategic planning, regulatory compliance and community relations for the hospital serving Murray County and surrounding communities. Under his leadership, the hospital has developed and expanded rural health clinics, invested in facility improvements, and pursued grants and partnerships to fund new technology, infrastructure and programs. He has also focused on recruiting and retaining physicians and other healthcare professionals. Mr. Jones serves on the Oklahoma Hospital Association’s council on rural health and the board of directors of the Texas Hospital Insurance Exchange.

Gary Jordan. President and CEO of Cherokee (Iowa) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Jordan serves as president and CEO of Cherokee Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital with four regional clinics, senior housing, wellness services and inpatient care. He has many years of hospital leadership, beginning when he was vice president of support services at Carroll Regional Medical Center in Berryville, Ark. Mr. Jordan also has experience as CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System’s Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, Mo.

Gary Kartchner, RN. CEO of Benson (Ariz.) Hospital and Northern Cochise Community Hospital (Willcox, Ariz.). Mr. Kartchner leads Benson Hospital and Northern Cochise Community Hospital, both critical access hospitals, a dual role that supports Tucson, Ariz.-based TMC Health’s effort to align leadership across its Cochise County hospitals. A Benson native and registered nurse, he previously served as clinical project specialist at Benson Hospital. Under his leadership, Benson Hospital implemented a remote cardiac rehabilitation program that pairs on-site nursing support with real-time virtual guidance from TMC experts. He also achieved swing bed certification for Benson Hospital, making it one of two certified swing bed programs in Arizona. Mr. Kartchner champions the “Cochise Produce Rx” program at both hospitals, which provides eligible patients with locally grown produce, nutrition education and health monitoring to help manage chronic conditions. He has prioritized workforce stability, reducing turnover, and supports the Cochise Technology District’s “Patient Care Technician” program and youth healthcare camps.

Kevin Kincaid. CEO of Knoxville (Iowa) Hospital & Clinics. Mr. Kincaid leads a critical access hospital and three rural clinics. As CEO, he transformed the hospital from one on the brink of financial ruin to a successful, high-quality facility. Thanks to his leadership, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics has been recognized as a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” by the National Rural Health Association in previous years. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Kincaid served as COO of Dallas County Hospital in Perry, Iowa. 

James Kiser. CEO at Holy Cross Medical Center (Taos, N.M.). In August 2022, Mr. Kiser became CEO of Holy Cross Medical Center, a nonprofit 25-bed critical access hospital serving north-central New Mexico, bringing more than 30 years of hospital management experience. Under his leadership, the hospital moved to a new cloud-based EHR delivered as software as a service, chosen under an AI-forward strategy that keeps humans in the loop and eliminates the need for costly on-site servers. In 2024, the medical center implemented the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system for general and gynecological surgeries. Mr. Kiser expanded specialty care at the Taos Orthopaedic Institute and secured state appropriations for a new medical office building for primary and urgent care. The hospital also created a medical assistant training program open to people with a high school diploma or GED, which seven staff members have used to advance their careers. Mr. Kiser previously served as CEO of Montrose (Colo.) Memorial Hospital, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, Mont., and St. James Healthcare in Butte, Mont. He is a director-at-large on the New Mexico Hospital Association board.

Andrew Knust. CEO at Gothenburg (Neb.) Health. Mr. Knust leads Gothenburg Health, a critical access hospital, overseeing operations, financial stability, regulatory compliance, quality improvement and long-term planning. He works closely with the board of directors, physicians and leadership team, and prioritizes recruiting and supporting healthcare professionals. Mr. Knust previously served as director of finance and CFO. In September 2026, Gothenburg Health was recognized with the 2026 Nebraska Governor’s “Wellness Award” at the “Harvester” level, the statewide workplace wellness program’s highest level of recognition.

Kenneth Kozel. President at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (Easton). Mr. Kozel leads University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, a regional system serving five counties across more than 2,000 square miles on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The system includes an acute care hospital in Easton, a critical access hospital in Chestertown, Mo. and freestanding medical facilities in Cambridge and Queenstown, Mo. Under his leadership, UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown became Maryland’s first rural designated hospital under a state pilot program and has developed geriatric emergency care, remote patient monitoring and community outreach programs for an aging rural population. Mr. Kozel is also overseeing the largest capital initiative in the organization’s history, comprising the approximately $664 million UM Shore Regional Medical Center in Easton, which began construction in 2024 with occupancy planned for 2028. In 2025, the system received a $25 million gift toward the new medical center, the largest private donation in its history. The organization has also expanded freestanding emergency care, medical pavilions and breast, women’s and urgent care services across the region. Mr. Kozel joined UM Shore Regional Health in 2011 after 14 years in senior leadership at Bel Air, Md.-based Upper Chesapeake Health, including as president, and roughly a decade in management at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He has been named to The Daily Record‘s “Power 100” for multiple consecutive years and serves on the board of the Maryland Association of Healthcare Executives.

Tamar Kutz. President and CEO of Lincoln (Ill.) Memorial Hospital. Ms. Kutz has served since October 2025 as president and CEO of Lincoln Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital serving Lincoln and Logan County, Ill. She previously served as vice president of quality and operations at Decatur (Ill.) Memorial Hospital and stepped in as its interim president and CEO in early 2025. At Decatur Memorial, she helped facilitate improvement initiatives that contributed to a nearly $50 million positive shift in operational income within 12 months, and partnered with ambulatory services to increase cath lab gross revenue by 155% in the first seven months of fiscal 2025. Ms. Kutz led a patient-placement redesign that generated more than $3 million in annual savings and reduced biopsy scheduling wait times by 87%. Her standardized diabetes care work helped improve glycemic control by 83%, and depression care improvements increased remission rates by 33%. Lincoln Memorial Hospital was one of 250 U.S. hospitals and seven in Illinois to earn a CMS 5-star patient experience rating this year. She serves on the board of Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development.

Brian Lady. CEO at Ferry County Health (Republic, Wash.). Mr. Lady leads Ferry County Health, which operates a critical access hospital, two rural health clinics and a retail drugstore as the most remote rural healthcare facility in Washington. He took over an organization that had not maintained proper financial filings for three years, leading to seven CMS rate changes in his first year. He guided the system out of a liquidity crisis in which payroll was clearing by less than $100,000, days cash on hand were under one and accounts payable went unpaid. The organization now prepays accounts payable and holds more than 30 days cash on hand. Mr. Lady, who leads a two-person executive team and also functions as a partial COO, has also implemented new service lines and production standards. Ferry County Health is the county’s largest employer, with 177 employees. Mr. Lady has previously served as CEO of several critical access hospitals.

Ryan Larsen. CEO of Community Medical Center (Falls City, Neb.). Mr. Larsen has served as CEO of 24-bed Community Medical Center since 2005. During his time with the organization, he has led the opening of a new facility in 2009 and an expansion in 2018. In 2025, the hospital was recognized by the National Rural Health Association as a top 20 critical access hospital under his leadership. Mr. Larsen has previous experience in healthcare management as CFO of Wamego (Kan.) City Hospital, as well as CFO of Memorial Hospital Association in Carthage, Ill. 

Brian Lawrence. President and CEO at Coffeyville (Kan.) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Lawrence leads Coffeyville Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed nonprofit critical access hospital serving southeast Kansas, and brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience spanning hospital administration, operations, marketing, human resources and physician relations. He championed improvements to the hospital’s utilization review process, strengthening patient status determinations, documentation and payer appeals. Following implementation in 2021, the hospital secured more than $800,000 in successful payer appeals across 2022, 2023 and 2024, recovering revenue that had previously been written off. The changes also reduced unnecessary status conversions and improved compliance with length-of-stay metrics. Mr. Lawrence serves on the Kansas Hospital Association’s physician leadership committee and the boards of the Health Works Foundation and BancFirst. He previously served as director of operations at Jane Phillips Medical Center Ascension in Bartlesville, Okla.

Michelle LeBeau. President and COO of Alice Hyde Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. Ms. LeBeau leads both a 25-bed critical access hospital and a 300-bed level 3 trauma center, overseeing operations for organizations employing approximately 3,300 team members. Beginning her career as a bedside nurse, she brings a people-centered leadership approach shaped by experience across nursing, human resources, operations and executive leadership roles. She successfully transitioned Alice Hyde Medical Center to critical access hospital status, strengthening financial sustainability and rural access to care. Ms. LeBeau also advanced workforce development by bringing nursing and emergency medical technician programs on site through collaboration with Clinton Community College. She partnered with the hospital foundation to launch the William H. Miner Foundation Educational Career Advancement Program, addressing workforce shortages while supporting employee career growth. Her leadership emphasizes bi-directional learning, system collaboration and aligning patient, employee and community needs.

Michael J. LeJeune. CEO at Acadia St. Landry Hospital (Church Point, La.). Mr. LeJeune leads Acadia St. Landry Hospital, a critical access hospital he has guided through a period of operational, financial and strategic rebuilding. Under his leadership, the hospital recruited geriatric physicians, family medicine providers, psychiatric nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers. He led the opening of the hospital’s first owned and operated primary care clinic, and added family medicine and psychiatric nurse practitioners to its rural health clinic. Mr. LeJeune also oversaw expanded wound care services and helped establish a pediatric therapy clinic offering physical, occupational and speech therapy. Working with behavioral health partners, he strengthened inpatient psychiatric services and intensive outpatient programming, and he is driving efforts to develop a new hospital facility. His career has progressed from paramedic to registered nurse, educator, hospice leader, COO and interim CEO. The hospital has been voted “Best Hospital in Acadiana” through The Acadiana Advocate‘s “Acadiana’s Choice” contest for two consecutive years.

Marcus R. Lewis. CEO and Administrator at First Care Health Center (Park River, N.D.). Mr. Lewis has led First Care Health Center since December 2017, overseeing operations, physician and staff leadership, regulatory compliance, budgeting, strategic planning and capital projects. He previously served as CFO of Cavalier County Memorial Hospital in Langdon, N.D., from 2014 to 2016, with responsibility for budgeting, contracting and reimbursement. Before entering healthcare, Mr. Lewis was a communications manager at BAE Systems from 2012 to 2014, overseeing telecommunications infrastructure, network operations and information assurance. Since January 2018, he has also served as a volunteer EMT with the Park River volunteer ambulance. First Care Health Center was named one of Prairie Business magazine’s “50 Best Places to Work” in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and was a 2023 “Best-In-Class Employer.” Mr. Lewis has previously served on the board of the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s North Dakota chapter.

Lisa Lochner. President at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. Ms. Lochner has served since 2021 as president of Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, part of St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare, overseeing clinical services, nursing, medical staff relations, finance, quality, safety and support services. Her career with BJC HealthCare spans more than three decades and includes roles as vice president of operations and assistant administrator at the hospital. She leads with a “one heart, one team” philosophy that emphasizes shared accountability among physicians, leaders and frontline caregivers. Under her leadership, the hospital has earned multiple PRC Excellence in Healthcare Awards, including “Top Performer” and 5-star recognitions for patient experience. In 2024, Ms. Lochner received a CBIZ “Women Transforming Business Award” in the culture category, and in 2023 she received the PRC Healthcare Leadership Award for healthcare impact.

Kim Lucero. CEO at Mt. San Rafael Hospital and Clinics (Trinidad, Colo.). Ms. Lucero serves as CEO for Mt. San Rafael Hospital and Clinics, overseeing operations, strategy and financial sustainability. A longtime leader within the organization, she has guided Mt. San Rafael to repeated national recognition, including multiple top 100 and top 20 critical access hospital designations from the Chartis Center for Rural Health and the National Rural Health Association. Under her leadership, the hospital earned consecutive “Performance Leadership Awards.” She has prioritized workforce culture and engagement, and is known for fostering a team-centered culture that directly supports quality and patient outcomes. In addition to her executive role, she serves as president of the Las Animas County Health Services District and as a board member of the Trinidad State College Foundation.

Kelly Macken-Marble. CEO at Osceola (Wis.) Medical Center. Ms. Macken-Marble serves as CEO at Osceola Medical Center, partnering with a voluntary community board to lead the organization’s strategic plan, culture and rural access mission. With a career that began in nursing and evolved into executive leadership, she is known for a patient- and population-health focus paired with a strong emphasis on high-functioning teams. Her leadership approach prioritizes trust, accountability, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence and teamwork as foundational capabilities for delivering patient-centered care in a rural environment. She brings deep experience across ambulatory care, population health and physician enterprise leadership, including prior CEO roles at other hospitals as well. Under her direction, the organization has earned multiple community-based recognitions, including family-friendly workplace honors and “best place to work” awards, alongside accolades tied to innovative campus design and clinical excellence. Ms. Macken-Marble also extends her impact by providing leadership training as a consultant, reinforcing workforce development beyond her own organization.

Greg Madsen. President of Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital (Lexington, Va.). Mr. Madsen serves as president of the 25-bed Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital, overseeing inpatient, outpatient and outreach services while also holding regional responsibility for Carilion’s care delivery across the Alleghany Highlands, Rockbridge County, Lexington and Buena Vista. Under his leadership, the hospital has expanded surgical capacity and added new providers and specialties to better meet rural community needs. He oversaw a major expansion and renovation project that added 13,700 square feet, modernized operating rooms, pharmacy and lab space, and consolidated ambulatory and post-anesthesia care units. Mr. Madsen has introduced new services ranging from neurology and family medicine to a chaplaincy-on-call program to support holistic patient care. The organization has continued to grow its clinical footprint while improving access to more complex procedures locally. He also serves on regional economic development and community foundation boards, reinforcing the hospital’s role as a community anchor.

Michelle Majerus. CEO of Avera Holy Family Hospital (Estherville, Iowa). Ms. Majerus was named the CEO of 25-bed Avera Holy Family Hospital in August 2024. She then assumed the role at the end of September 2024. Previously, Ms. Majerus served as the vice president of operations of Hutchinson (Minn.) Health since 2021.

Teresa Mallett. CEO at Madison (S.D.) Regional Health System. Ms. Mallett was named CEO of 22-bed Madison Regional Health System in January 2025 after more than a decade of executive leadership within the organization. A South Dakota native, she previously served as CFO since 2012, where she played a central role in strengthening the system’s financial performance and operational infrastructure. During her tenure, Ms. Mallett led hospitalwide software implementations, served as financial project manager for the hospital replacement project and supported the recruitment of new medical providers. She also helped guide the acquisition of several physician practices, expanding access and continuity of care for the community. Her promotion followed a national search of more than 100 candidates. Ms. Mallett’s appointment ensured continuity in leadership and positioned Madison Regional Health System for sustained growth and long-term success.

Josh Martin. CEO at Summit Pacific Medical Center (Elma, Wash.). Mr. Martin is CEO at Summit Pacific Medical Center, accountable for the overall performance and long-term sustainability of a critical access hospital serving rural western Washington. He has led the organization through nine years of growth by advancing a vision focused on upstream wellness, population health and innovative rural care models. Under his leadership, Summit Pacific secured U.S. Department of Agriculture financing for Washington’s first hospital-based wellness center and achieved a Standard & Poor’s bond rating, enabling $63 million in expansion without taxpayer burden. He negotiated a value-based Medicaid contract funding “Food is Medicine,” transportation and wraparound services, while expanding specialty access in cardiology, gastroenterology and behavioral health. Mr. Martin guided the implementation of Epic EHR, earned DNV accreditation and ISO 9001 certification, and maintained financial strength through Covid-19 and reimbursement shifts. A recognized rural health advocate, he has expanded workforce pipelines, launched a rural family medicine residency, and led initiatives that earned state and national quality and rural health excellence awards.

Holly McCormack, DNP, RN. President and CEO at Cottage Hospital (Woodsville, N.H.). Dr. McCormack leads Cottage Hospital, a critical access hospital with a 10-bed acute geropsychiatric unit and level 4 trauma designation. She has been president and CEO since 2021, following a year as interim president and CEO. She also oversees the Rowe Health Center on the same campus, which offers primary care, behavioral health and specialty care clinics. Dr. McCormack joined the hospital as director of inpatient services in 2010 and served as CNO from 2016 to 2021. In 2025, NH Business Magazine named Cottage Hospital one of New Hampshire’s top women-led nonprofit hospitals, and the New Hampshire Hospital Association named Dr. McCormack a “Grassroots Champion.” She serves on the American Hospital Association’s rural healthcare board of directors and as secretary of the New Hampshire Hospital Association. 

Donna McGregor. President of Rochester (N.Y.) Regional Health St. Lawrence Region. Ms. McGregor serves as president of Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Gouverneur Hospital and Massena Hospital, overseeing a combined workforce of 2,165 employees and 234 medical staff. Gouverneur and Massena hospitals are designated as critical access hospitals, providing inpatient, surgical and emergency care to communities across New York’s North Country. Ms. McGregor joined the organization in 2020 as CFO and was promoted to president in 2022. She holds a strong track record in transforming rural health systems and driving strategic growth. Among her key accomplishments are the successful implementation of a region-wide EHR system and the acquisition of more than $20 million in state and federal funding to advance a rural health strategy focused on transportation, maternal and child health, behavioral health, primary care and workforce development.

Rex McKinney. President and CEO at Decatur County Memorial Hospital (Greensburg, Ind.). Mr. McKinney leads Decatur County Memorial Hospital, bringing a clinical foundation as a respiratory therapist and advanced education in business. Under his leadership, the hospital earned the Indiana State Office of Rural Health’s “Patient and Family Experience Award” and recorded a 0% C. difficile infection rate in both 2024 and 2025, alongside a 5-star CMS cleanliness rating. The hospital has received the Indiana Hospital Association’s “INspire Hospital of Distinction Award” for five consecutive years and CMS’ highest overall hospital rating, placing it among the top 15% of hospitals nationwide. He led the construction of the rehabilitation and medical offices building and championed community initiatives such as the hospital’s walking trail and “Holiday Lane,” an annual event that draws more than 700 community members each December. Mr. McKinney was appointed to the Indiana Department of Health executive board and led the hospital through the Covid-19 pandemic in a community among the nation’s most significantly affected. He previously held leadership roles at Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health, including vice president of access, and served as interim CEO of Dr. John Warner Hospital in Clinton, Ill. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Hannah McRae. CEO at Cody (Wyo.) Regional Health. In April 2025m Ms. McRae was named CEO of Cody Regional Health, an independent health system anchored by a 25-bed critical access hospital serving more than 60,000 people in northwest Wyoming. She first joined the organization as CFO in 2020, improving its financial and operational reporting. Previously, she held CFO and associate CFO roles at Phoenix-based Abrazo Community Health Network and a controller role at Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare. Under her leadership, Cody Regional earned designation from the Wyoming Department of Health as an area trauma center, the only one serving Wyoming Region 5 and the Big Horn Basin. She also launched advanced breast MRI screening and secured approval for the hospital to serve as a certified nursing assistant testing site, removing the need for local candidates to travel long distances for exams. Cody Regional oversees regional emergency medical services collaboration with Thermopolis, Wyo.-based Hot Springs Health and the Washakie and Big Horn counties, and operates an air ambulance joint venture with First Flight of Wyoming. Its home health and hospice program earned top recognition in the National Alliance for Care at Home’s 2026 “Quality Connections” program for the second consecutive year. 

Jac McTaggart. CEO and Administrator of Sanford Hillsboro (N.D.) and Sanford Mayville (N.D.) Medical Centers. Mr. McTaggart has jointly led Sanford Hillsboro and Sanford Mayville medical centers, two critical access hospitals, since 2017. He introduced a dedicated emergency department provider model at Sanford Mayville, freeing clinic providers from simultaneous emergency coverage, and later expanded the model to Sanford Hillsboro. He recruited three advanced practice providers for the Mayville emergency department and one for Hillsboro, along with a family medicine physician who will join Hillsboro in 2027. Sanford Hillsboro Care Center has ranked among the top 15% nationally for patient experience for three consecutive years, and Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center was named a 2025 “Top 20 Critical Access Hospital” for quality by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Recognizing that Sanford is Traill County’s only healthcare provider, Mr. McTaggart combined two community advisory boards into a single countywide board. He has kept the same leadership team across both campuses for seven years and has more than 30 years of healthcare executive experience, including CEO roles at Hillsboro Medical Center and Towner County (N.D.) Medical Center. He is a governor-appointed member of the North Dakota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators.

Thomas Mee, BSN, RN. CEO at North Country Healthcare (Whitefield, N.H.). Mr. Mee serves as system CEO of North Country Healthcare, overseeing three critical access hospitals and a home health and hospice agency. He leads strategy and operations for the region’s largest employer, ensuring cohesive, efficient and mission-aligned care delivery across geographically dispersed rural communities. Under his leadership, North Country Healthcare unified three previously competing organizations onto a single EHR platform, significantly improving collaboration, efficiency and continuity of care, including shared maternity services. He has championed data-driven improvement initiatives, including the “Sleepless Nights” campaign, which reduced biopsy result wait times by 50%. Mr. Mee maintains a strong focus on workforce engagement through daily patient and employee rounding, as well as systemwide Lean Six Sigma training. With more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, he continues to elevate access, patient experience and operational performance across rural academic and community hospitals.

Tylie Mills, BSN, RN. CEO of Pike County Memorial Hospital (Louisiana, Mo.). Ms. Mills became CEO of Pike County Memorial Hospital in August 2018 after serving as its director of nursing. She also is a former emergency department and emergency medical services director. The same month she took the helm at Pike County Memorial, the hospital underwent an unannounced on-site survey from the Joint Commission and received its “Gold Seal of Approval” for hospital accreditation.

Greg Miner. CEO at Appleton (Minn.) Area Health. Mr. Miner leads Appleton Area Health, the area’s largest employer, with a focus on expanding services for its rural community. Ahead of his planned 2028 retirement, he has prepared the next generation of leaders by placing people in the right roles and guiding their growth. Under his leadership, the organization has been named a “Best Place to Work in Healthcare” for four consecutive years, and the hospital’s COO was named the Minnesota Rural Health Association’s 2025 “Emerging Rural Health Leader.” Mr. Miner previously served as an Air Force hospital administrator and as an instructor at the Air Force School of Healthcare, teaching medical planning. He has held CEO roles at several Iowa facilities.

Jonathan Moe. CEO of Cass Health ((Atlantic, Iowa). Mr. Moe brings more than 15 years of progressive rural healthcare leadership experience to his role at Cass Health, which he took on in September 2026. Prior, he served as CEO of Palo Alto County Health System in Emmetsburg, Iowa. While there, the system saw significant financial and operational improvements, improved long-term strategic initiatives and strengthened facility planning efforts. He also served in executive leadership positions across various rural healthcare organizations. Mr. Moe is deeply committed to community involvement, with leadership roles at local economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and healthcare associations.

Monte Neitzel. CEO at Greater Regional Health (Creston, Iowa). Mr. Neitzel has led Greater Regional Health since August 2004, overseeing its evolution from Greater Regional Medical Center into a system with nearly 600 employees, more than 50 service lines, a 25-bed inpatient facility and four rural clinics in southwest Iowa. Under his leadership, the organization introduced Mako and da Vinci robotic surgery and expanded orthopedics, pulmonology, cardiology, oncology and OB-GYN services. The system has recruited 19 physicians over the past five years across specialties including cardiology, neurology, oncology, obstetrics and psychiatry. The institution remains one of the few critical access hospitals still delivering babies and providing comprehensive obstetrics services. Infrastructure investments under Mr. Neitzel include an emergency department expansion and remodel, a surgery center addition with obstetrics upgrades and a radiology expansion. He also led a campaign to establish a hospice house and developed a community paramedicine program. He also guided the organization through rebuilding after a tornado and through the Covid-19 pandemic. Greater Regional has been named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” by The Chartis Center for Rural Health for seven consecutive years and has received the Iowa “Top Workplaces” award eight years running.

Cory Nelson. CEO of Sioux Center (Iowa) Health. As CEO of 19-bed Sioux Center Health, Mr. Nelson is in charge of strategic planning, program development and modification, and coordination of all operations in alignment with the organization’s mission. In addition, he also serves on the Sioux Center Health Foundation board. Some of Mr. Nelson’s accomplishments include solidifying an obstetrics partnership with another regional facility, creating a medical director partnership with a federally qualified health center and growing Sioux Center Health by over 50% over the last four years. Under his leadership, the organization has been named a top workplace by the Des Moines Register and won Northwest Iowa Review‘s “Best of the N’West” categories two years in a row. Prior to joining Sioux Center Health, Mr. Nelson served as CEO of Genoa (Neb.) Medical Facilities. 

Chuck Nordyke, MSN, RN. President and CEO at Clarinda (Iowa) Regional Health Center. Mr. Nordyke serves as president and CEO of Clarinda Regional Health Center, leading the critical access hospital with a focus on transparency, collaboration and operational excellence. He has expanded community-focused services, including a mental health center, infusion center and a rehabilitation and sports medicine facility that consolidates therapy services under one roof. Mr. Nordyke has also advanced wellness initiatives, including the development of a hospital-based walking trail and an accessible wellness roots garden designed to support sensory and mobility needs. He has leveraged telemedicine to bring oncology services closer to home for rural patients and led the development of a new retail pharmacy to meet community demand. His leadership has positioned Clarinda Regional as a model for rural health innovation and community integration.

Robert F. Nutter. President and CEO of Littleton (N.H.) Regional Healthcare. Mr. Nutter serves as president and CEO of Littleton Regional Healthcare, a critical access hospital that received Press Ganey’s 2018 “Guardian of Excellence Award.” He has spent nearly 20 years in healthcare administration roles. Before assuming his current role in 2017, he was the vice president and COO of Mercy Health System in Portland, Maine.

Robert Ortmyer. President and COO of Elizabethtown (N.Y.) Community Hospital and Porter Medical Center (Middlebury, Vt.). Mr. Ortmyer serves as president of two critical access hospitals, providing oversight of inpatient and outpatient operations across rural communities in New York and Vermont. He led the integration of the hospitals into a shared operational and leadership model, reducing administrative redundancy while preserving local identity. Under his direction, lean methodologies and high-reliability principles were implemented, driving efficiency, safety and workforce engagement. Elizabethtown Community Hospital secured a $5.4 million state transformation grant to expand ambulatory rehabilitation services, while the Ticonderoga campus evolved into a “medical village” supported by a $9.1 million grant. Mr. Ortmyer also championed telehealth expansion, including telestroke and specialty consult programs integrated with the Epic EHR. His leadership has delivered emergency department wait times under 120 minutes, a left-without-being-seen rate below 1%, and top-quartile Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems performance, earning a Press Ganey “Guardian of Excellence Award.”

Jill Ostrem. President of River Falls (Wis.) Area Hospital, United Hospital (St. Paul, Minn.) and United Hospital-Hastings (Minn.) Regina Campus. Ms. Ostrem serves as president of Minneapolis-based Allina Health’s River Falls Area Hospital in Wisconsin and of United Hospital and United Hospital-Hastings Regina Campus in Minnesota, bringing more than 30 years of experience managing hospitals, clinics and multispecialty group practices. River Falls Area Hospital recently entered its 10th year hosting “Project SEARCH,” a one-year employment preparation program for local individuals 18 and older with developmental disabilities, in partnership with the River Falls School District and community partners. The hospital has also significantly grown its swing bed and transitional care program, transitioning most patients who no longer need acute care back to their homes and freeing metro capacity. River Falls Area Hospital earned a CMS 5-star inpatient experience rating, one of 25 hospitals in Wisconsin and 273 nationwide to do so. Its Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality patient safety culture composite rose from 68% positive in 2021 to 81% in 2024, equal to or higher than 91% of facilities in the database. The hospital was also named one of Chartis’ 2024 “Top 100 Critical Access and Rural & Community Hospitals.” Ms. Ostrem previously held senior leadership roles at Jefferson Health New Jersey in Cherry Hill, Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health and Group Health Cooperative.

Robert Pastor. CEO at Rainy Lake Medical Center (International Falls, Minn.). Mr. Pastor has led Rainy Lake Medical Center, an independent 25-bed critical access hospital with two rural health clinics and an offsite retail pharmacy in northern Minnesota, since 2018. Under his leadership, the organization has increased revenue by approximately 47% while expanding services and recruiting physicians and advanced practice providers. Employee engagement rose from the 22nd to the 71st percentile in about 10 months, and has since exceeded the 90th percentile during multiple measurement periods. The medical center recruited a full-time general surgeon, strengthened hospitalist coverage and began offering procedures such as hip replacement locally. Mr. Pastor has built relationships with larger health systems to gain access to technology and specialty expertise while preserving local governance. He was instrumental in establishing Headwaters High Value Network, a clinically integrated network of independent rural healthcare organizations, and serves on its board. He also serves on the Minnesota Hospital Association’s policy and advocacy committee, and the medical center received two Press Ganey awards in 2023.

Rozanna Penney. President and CEO at Athol (Mass.) Hospital. Ms. Penney serves as president and CEO of a critical access hospital and primary stroke center that serves a medically underserved rural region in Massachusetts. She led the organization through a financial turnaround, successfully guiding the hospital out of Chapter 11 to emerge as an independent community health system, which is an outcome achieved by fewer than 3% of health systems nationally. The hospital also received an IPRO quality award for outstanding quality improvement in rural care. Ms. Penney strengthened workforce engagement by leading a systemwide refresh of mission, vision and values, resulting in measurable gains in employee satisfaction. She has also advanced community-based innovation, including a nationally recognized school-based tele-behavioral health program delivering thousands of virtual therapy sessions to rural youth.

Michael Peterson. President of Androscoggin Valley Hospital (Berlin, N.H.). Mr. Peterson has served as president of 25-bed Androscoggin Valley Hospital since December 2015. He has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare, including 10 in as a senior executive of a rural community hospital. Mr. Peterson most recently served as COO of Sebasticook Valley Health in Pittsfield, Maine.

Cathy Pimple, DNP, MSN, RN. CEO at Newman Regional Health (Emporia, Kan.). Dr. Pimple was appointed CEO of Newman Regional Health in 2023 after serving as chief quality officer and chief administrative officer during her more than 14 years at the organization. She brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience. Under her leadership, the hospital introduced robotic-assisted surgery and ranks in the 90th percentile nationally for sepsis care compliance. In early 2025, Newman Regional entered a strategic affiliation with Kansas City-based The University of Kansas Health System and LMH Health in Lawrence, Kan., and in late 2025 it signed a shared services agreement with Coffey Health System in Burlington, Kan., beginning with general surgery. The hospital also joined the “Kansas Anchor Hospital Advancement Program,” part of the state’s “Rural Health Transformation Program.” Ms. Pimple secured a $485,000 grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to expand telemedicine and specialty access across seven East Central Kansas counties, and facilitated a $500,000 investment in Emporia State University’s simulation hospital. Recent milestones include the hospital’s first robot-assisted knee replacement, a new outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program and internal medicine clinic, and a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Emporia State, teaching healthcare informatics, operations, human resources and finance.

Aaron Puchbauer. President and CEO of Taylorville (Ill.) Memorial Hospital. Mr. Puchbauer has served since March 2026 as president and CEO of Taylorville Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital serving Taylorville and Christian County, Ill. He previously served as president and CEO of two other central Illinois rural hospitals, HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese. In earlier roles, he led financial turnarounds of critical access hospitals while driving employee and physician engagement to the 90th percentile or higher. He has reduced voluntary colleague turnover from 23% to 15% and earned national recognition including a Fortune/PINC AI “Top 100 Hospital” designation. At a previous hospital, Mr. Puchbauer launched a da Vinci robotic surgery program that increased gynecologic surgical cases by 32%, partnered on a $1.6 million renovated orthopedic and podiatry clinic, and recruited surgeons who helped grow ambulatory surgery volume by 68%. Taylorville Memorial Hospital was one of 250 U.S. hospitals and seven in Illinois to earn a CMS 5-star patient experience rating this year.

August Querciagrossa. CEO of OSF HealthCare’s Western Region (Peoria, Ill.). Mr. Querciagrossa is a driving force in efforts to improve access to care in the rural communities he serves. His leadership has been instrumental in expanding emergency services and developing a robust model of care in his region following the sudden closure of a community hospital in Peru, Ill. Under his guidance, OSF quickly established local options for urgent care, primary care, digital care, obstetrics and gynecology, occupational health and rehabilitation services. He successfully reopened the second OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center campus in rural Peru, Ill.. With approval from the state of Illinois, the campus is growing and thriving, providing jobs and security for the entire region. Overall, he oversees eight hospitals, including a critical access hospital. Several of the hospitals he oversees have achieved national recognition over the years.

Sarah Ragsdale. CEO of Smith County Memorial Hospital (Smith Center, Kan.). Ms. Ragsdale leads Smith County Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital. She has prior experience as CNO and COO at the hospital. She took on the CEO role in January 2024.

Andrew Raymond. President and CEO at Kalkaska (Mich.) Memorial Health Center. Mr. Raymond was named president and CEO of Kalkaska Memorial Health Center in March 2025 after serving eight years as its CFO. The northern Michigan critical access hospital provides inpatient and outpatient services, and operates two primary and specialty care rural health clinics, a 104-bed long-term care facility, an assisted living facility, a dialysis center and an ambulance service. Since he joined the organization in 2016, net revenue has increased by more than 130%. Mr. Raymond serves on the board of directors of the Michigan Hospital Association’s center of rural excellence and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Traverse City Business News named him one of its “40 Under 40” regional leaders in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Roger Reamer. CEO of Memorial Health Care Systems (Seward, Neb.). Mr. Reamer, CEO of Memorial Health Care Systems, has led the organization for over two decades, overseeing a critical access hospital, rural health clinics, a pharmacy, assisted living and a long-term care facility. His leadership has significantly strengthened rural healthcare delivery, policy development and public health initiatives. Under his guidance, Memorial Health Care Systems has been recognized by the National Rural Health Association and other organizations for excellence in quality and patient safety. Mr. Reamer’s strategic efforts have expanded specialized care in the community, recruited more providers and transitioned the hospital to a critical access facility, enhancing outpatient services. He is also a dedicated advocate for rural healthcare, serving on various health boards and fostering alliances that ensure long-term sustainability. He plans to retire in the spring of 2027.

Jeremy Roberge. President and CEO of Huggins Hospital (Wolfeboro, N.H.). Mr. Roberge has served as president and CEO of Huggins Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, since 2016. He is responsible for managing the delivery of care to the region’s 30,000 residents. Mr. Roberge joined the senior leadership team at Huggins Hospital in 2012 as senior vice president and CFO before being promoted to his current role.

Darlene Rodowicz. President and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems (Pittsfield, Mass.). Ms. Rodowicz leads Berkshire Health Systems, a nonprofit regional health system with more than 4,000 employees. It includes the community teaching hospital Berkshire Medical Center and two critical access hospitals. She became president and CEO in 2022 after 15 years as the system’s CFO, part of a career of more than 40 years with the organization. In March 2024, she oversaw the reopening of North Adams (Mass.) Regional Hospital as an 18-bed critical access hospital after a decade-long closure under previous ownership, restoring 24/7 emergency coverage, inpatient beds and swing beds. The reopened hospital earned a 2025 MassEcon “Gold Impact Award” for its contributions to economic growth, job creation and investment. Berkshire Health Systems is the only health system in Massachusetts that operates more than one critical access hospital, and Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Mass. was named a Chartis “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” in 2025. Under Ms. Rodowicz’s leadership, the system has opened urgent care centers in two nearby towns and built a “Career Pathways” program that gives local residents in-house training plus full-time pay and benefits while they train for fields such as nursing, medical assisting and biomedical engineering. She also directed a $300,000 investment in The First, a Pittsfield resource center for people experiencing housing insecurity.

Bruce Roesler. CEO of The Richland Hospital and Clinics (Richland Center, Wis.). Mr. Roesler was previously president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center–New Hampton (Iowa) and CEO of Avera Marshall (Minn.) Regional Medical Center before becoming CEO of Richland in 2015. At Richland, he oversees an integrated multispecialty medical group and critical access hospital with over 400 staff members. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a board member of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. He will retire in April 2027.

Shannon Rogers. CEO and Chief Ambulatory Operations Officer for Carson Valley Health (Gardnerville, Nev.). Ms. Rogers has been with Carson Valley Health since 2004. She took on the CEO role in April 2026 after having served as COO for several years. She is a member of the Society for Healthcare Market Planning and Development and the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Rogers is also a past president and current board member of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. 

Taylor Rose. CEO at Barrett Hospital & HealthCare (Dillon, Mont.). Mr. Rose serves as CEO of Barrett Hospital & HealthCare, leading the independent critical access hospital through a period of transformation and service line growth to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding southwest Montana community. Barrett Hospital is the only hospital in Montana to achieve top 20 critical access hospital recognition from National Rural Health Association multiple times. Mr. Rose has sustained strong financial performance while reinvesting in growth, including the development of a new 7,200-square-foot specialty clinic to expand access to needed services. His leadership emphasizes long-term independence, disciplined operations and strategic capacity expansion. In addition to his executive role, Mr. Rose serves on regional and state boards, and leads community engagement efforts that reinforce the hospital’s role as a cornerstone of care in rural Montana.

Freda Russell. President and Chief Administrative Officer at Ascension Saint Thomas Three Rivers (Waverly, Tenn.). Ms. Russell provides executive leadership for all operations at Ascension Saint Thomas Three Rivers Hospital, overseeing quality, financial stewardship, workforce engagement, regulatory compliance and strategic planning. Over more than 25 years at the hospital, she has advanced from registered nurse, starting in 2000, to CNO in 2003 and CEO in 2011, a role she held alongside CNO duties until 2019. She has led the hospital as president and chief administrative officer since 2022. Ms. Russell has served as chair of the Tennessee Hospital Association’s small and rural constituency and as an ex-officio member of the association’s board, as well as president of the Rural Health Association of Tennessee. She has chaired the Humphreys County Health Council since 2011 and serves as board secretary of the Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce.

Shelly Russell. CEO of Mitchell County Regional Health Center (Osage, Iowa). Ms. Russell is CEO of Mitchell County Regional Health Center. Appointed CEO in 2014, she leads three rural health clinics and a critical access hospital. During her tenure, she has driven significant growth in outpatient services and provider recruitment. She has more than 35 years of experience, having served in a variety of clinical nursing roles early in her career. Prior to assuming her current role, Ms. Russell was CNO at the health center. A devoted advocate for improving the quality of rural healthcare, she has served on the board of directors of the Iowa Hospital Association since 2018. Currently, Ms. Russell serves as the chairman of the Iowa Hospital Association’s board of directors. Ms. Russell also served on the American Hospital Association regional policy board for the Midwest region. Locally, Ms. Russell served the Osage Development Council, Mitchell County Economic Development Council, Mitchell County Substance Abuse Council and Osage Rotary. In 2005, Ms. Russell co-authored The Joint Commission’s Ernest Codman Quality award-winning abstract titled “Improving Diabetes Care and Outcomes in a Rural Primary Care Clinic.”

Rena Salamacha. CEO at Mee Memorial Healthcare System (King City, Calif.). Ms. Salamacha leads Mee Memorial Healthcare System, the only critical access hospital and primary healthcare system serving Southern Monterey County, a geographically dispersed and predominantly agricultural region. Before becoming CEO, she held executive roles at the organization, including COO and chief IT officer. She oversees emergency services, primary and specialty care, diagnostic imaging, skilled nursing and outpatient programs. Ms. Salamacha has prioritized workforce development through partnerships with local schools that offer students volunteering, internships and job shadowing opportunities. The organization’s recognitions include a Chartis “Performance Leadership Award,” a Lown Institute social responsibility recognition and a U.S. News & World Report “Best Nursing Homes” listing. She serves on the board of Girls Inc. of the Central Coast.

Michael Schafer. CEO of Spooner (Wis.) Health. Mr. Schafer is responsible for the direction of Spooner Health, which includes a 25-bed critical access hospital and rural home health agency. He has created a working environment that is top-ranked in employee engagement and has patient survey results that far exceed state and national averages. In 2017, he oversaw the construction of a replacement hospital and negotiated with a larger health system to bring on a local clinic to its new campus, where it partners for some services. He also was instrumental in establishing a nurse practitioner hospitalist model. In addition to his role at Spooner Health, Mr. Schafer is on the board of the Wisconsin Hospital Association.

Veronica Schmidt. Administrator and CEO at Sanford Vermillion (S.D.) Medical Center. Since 2021, Ms. Schmidt has leveraged her expertise in operating critical access hospitals and long-term care facilities as CEO of Sanford Vermillion. She aims to grow services, programs and community partnerships within the medical center to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of the community. She oversees a critical access hospital, clinic, assisted living and long-term care facility. She was critical in adding 3D mammography services to the hospital’s scope of care. Ms. Schmidt hosts bi-monthly “coffee and conversation” sessions, providing employees opportunities to hear from her and ask questions. She previously served Sanford Vermillion as director of ancillary services, as well as directing social work and mental health services for over 15 years. She also held executive roles for regional health systems in South Dakota and Nebraska, and additional roles as an adjunct professor. 

Matthew Sells. President and CEO of Shenandoah (Iowa) Medical Center. Mr. Sells became interim president and CEO of Shenandoah Medical Center in 2017 after serving four years as the hospital’s CFO. Later that year, he was named permanent CEO. Shenandoah has an outpatient clinic facility, disease prevention and wellness center and women’s health clinic in addition to its critical access hospital. Mr. Sells is also a board member of Bank Iowa.

Hoyt Skabelund. CEO at Banner Payson (Ariz.) Medical Center. Mr. Skabelund has spent most of his career serving rural, critical access facilities. As CEO of Banner Payson Medical Center, he has partnered with Banner Medical Group and other local physician groups to recruit providers to expand the breadth and depth of services in the 16,000-resident community. He has successfully implemented pain management, oncology and primary care services. Mr. Skabelund was also instrumental in starting one of the country’s few rural family medicine residency programs to fill the need for primary care providers. Additionally, a partnership with Banner Air ensures patients have easy access to tertiary and quaternary emergency and trauma medical care. Under his leadership, Banner Payson enjoys a low turnover rate. Mr. Skabelund began his career in 2014 with Banner Health and aims to continue expanding oncology and surgical services at Banner Payson to better serve the region’s significant Medicare population.

Kevin E. Smith, PhD. Senior Vice President of Wellstar Health System (Marietta, Ga.) and President of Wellstar Sylvan Grove Medical Center and Wellstar Spalding Medical Center (Jackson, Ga.). Dr. Smith leads Wellstar Sylvan Grove Medical Center, a critical access hospital with 25 inpatient and swing beds, as well as Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, a 160-bed hospital. He is responsible for strategy, operations, quality, safety, financial performance and growth at the critical access hospital, along with ambulatory services in the market. Dr. Smith is leading a growth period focused on local care that includes a new primary care clinic, outpatient physical therapy and replacement of the hospital’s CT scanner. He and his team are working with the Butts County Hospital Authority on plans to bring specialists from Wellstar Spalding to Wellstar Sylvan Grove on a rotating basis. In 2024, Wellstar Sylvan Grove was a first-time recipient of The Sterling Council’s “Georgia Oglethorpe Award,” which recognizes performance excellence using criteria based on the Malcolm Baldrige framework. Dr. Smith joined Wellstar in January 2025 after serving as vice president and COO of High Point (N.C.) Medical Center at Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Wake Forest Baptist Health from 2015 to 2024. He began his career as a radiology technologist and has more than 20 years of clinical and healthcare leadership experience.

Lynda Stanley. President and CEO of Dosher Memorial Hospital (Southport, N.C.). As CEO of Dosher Memorial Hospital, Ms. Stanley leads the administration and direction of all hospital activities, ensuring compliance with its mission and maintaining high-quality medical services. With a tenure of nearly four decades at Dosher, she began as the laboratory manager before ascending through the ranks to become the hospital’s president in 2020 and CEO in 2021. Under her leadership, Dosher has achieved a significant financial turnaround. Ms. Stanley has driven innovations in patient care, introducing advanced surgical robotics for hip and knee replacements and recently adding teleneurology services to enhance stroke care. She emphasizes employee engagement and wellness through initiatives aimed at recruitment and retention, fostering a supportive work environment. Additionally, Ms. Stanley is active in advocating for rural health representation, serving on boards for both the North Carolina Healthcare Association and the American Hospital Association’s rural health committee.

Kirk Stensrud. CEO at Glacial Ridge Health System (Glenwood, Minn.). Mr. Stensrud has led Glacial Ridge Health System, an independent nonprofit healthcare network, since 2005. The system maintains designations as a level 4 trauma center and an acute stroke-ready hospital. He spearheaded a $22 million hospital expansion, delivered under budget and ahead of schedule, that added 22 private patient rooms, modernized maternity suites and upgraded therapy clinic wings. Under his leadership, the system grew its medical staff from seven to more than 26 providers and expanded behavioral health services, including mental health counseling integrated into its medical centers. Glacial Ridge earned a 5-star CMS patient experience rating in 2025 and was named an “Exceptional Minnesota Hospital Workplace” by the Minnesota Hospital Association that September. It also ranked eighth among 47 midsize companies in the Star Tribune‘s 2025 “Top 200 Workplaces.” Before leading Glacial Ridge, Mr. Stensrud worked in medical and pharmaceutical sales and management.

Brian Stephens. President and CEO of Door County Medical Center (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.). Mr. Stephens is the CEO of Door County Medical Center, which has more than 175 physicians, an outpatient medical center and a skilled nursing facility. He spent time as the chief administrative officer before being promoted to CEO in January 2019.

Karissa Turner. President and CEO at Wabash General Hospital (Mt. Carmel, Ill.). Ms. Turner serves as president and CEO, setting strategic direction and overseeing daily operations, quality, patient experience and financial performance for a critical access hospital. She has expanded her influence statewide as president of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network and as a 2024 elected trustee of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. Ms. Turner is known for building a strong culture focused on recruitment, retention and engagement, paired with disciplined operational performance. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a 2019 Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network’s “Under 40” honoree, she has advanced from practice management to operational and executive roles during nearly two decades with the organization. She remains active in local civic and economic development groups, reinforcing the hospital’s community anchor role.

Tyler Ust. CEO and Administrator of Sanford Thief River Falls (Minn.) Medical Center. Mr. Ust became CEO of Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center, a critical access hospital serving northwest Minnesota, in January 2024. Over the past year, the medical center increased admissions by 9% and inpatient days by 11% while surpassing 100,000 annual outpatient visits. An expanded partnership with the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, N.D. contributed to an 8% increase in local infusion volumes, and cardiac rehabilitation volumes grew 7%. Employee turnover fell from 23.9% to 17.1% over two years, and the emergency department’s net promoter score rose 54% from 2023 to 2025. The hospital achieved top-decile quality performance from the Chartis Center for Rural Health each year from 2022 through 2025. Mr. Ust also partnered with local stakeholders on a land sale supporting additional housing development to help recruit healthcare workers. He chairs the Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce board and is vice chair of Minnesota Hospital Association Region 1.

Tom Vasko. CEO at Newman Memorial Hospital (Shattuck, Okla.). Mr. Vasko leads Newman Memorial Hospital, an independent rural health system anchored by a critical access hospital in a town of about 1,200 residents that cared for patients from 173 cities and 18 states in 2025. Over the past three years, he has helped launch 13 new service lines and add 17 physicians, advanced practice nurses and a physician assistant. The medical center has partnered with Oklahoma City-based Oklahoma Heart Hospital for cardiology, Oklahoma City-based OU Health for telestroke, St. Louis-based SSM Health for technology and telehealth, and Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic for Holter cardiac monitoring. To address one of the nation’s largest maternity care deserts, Mr. Vasko is preparing for a 2027 launch of labor and delivery services, and developed a partnership with SSM Health’s Weatherford (Okla.) Regional Hospital to share a certified nurse midwife. He has led capital projects including two new clinics and an employee childcare facility. In 2026, Newman was selected to receive the Joint Commission’s “Award of Excellence,” and its rural health clinic was the first in the nation to obtain Joint Commission accreditation. Mr. Vasko serves as Northwest Oklahoma chair and a board member of the Oklahoma Hospital Association.

George Von Mock. CEO of Hansen Family Hospital (Iowa Falls, Iowa). Mr. Von Mock has served as CEO of Hansen Family Hospital, a MercyOne affiliate, since December 2021. Prior, he spent several months with the hospital as interim CEO. Under his leadership, the hospital was named a top 20 critical access hospital for 2023 by the National Rural Health Association. With over two decades of healthcare leadership experience, Mr. Von Mock was most previously CFO for Hansen Family Hospital, and was director of finance for MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa before that. 

David F. Walz, BSN, RN. President and CEO at Madelia (Minn.) Health. Mr. Walz leads Madelia Health, an independent rural health system operating as a critical access hospital and serving Madelia, Lake Crystal, Truman and St. James, Minn., with expansion into New Ulm, Minn. planned. Under his leadership, the organization returned to positive net income after years of operating losses while maintaining caregiver retention above 90%. Madelia Health earned the Minnesota Hospital Association’s “Exceptional Workplace Award” and recognition as a best workplace in Minnesota from the Star Tribune. Mr. Walz, a registered nurse and certified nephrology nurse, previously served as senior director of women’s and newborn health and directed a kidney program overseeing multiple dialysis units. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on its Council of Regents.

Rhonda P. Webb, MD. CEO and CMO of Pagosa Springs (Colo.) Medical Center. As CEO and CMO of Pagosa Springs Medical Center, Dr. Webb leads operations for the medical center’s hospital, emergency and ambulatory services, and outpatient clinic. The hospital and its emergency and ambulance services are the only ones in the county, while the outpatient clinic is the largest in the county. Dr. Webb works closely with the board of directors to create and launch strategies that address the roadblocks faced by rural critical access hospitals. Under her leadership, the hospital has expanded service lines and undergone renovations. Dr. Webb maintains financial stability for the medical center while handling compliance and risk management. As CMO, she ensures the safe delivery of quality medical services. 

Meagan Weber, DPT. CEO at Scotland County Hospital (Memphis, Mo.). Dr. Weber leads Scotland County Hospital, a nonprofit 25-bed critical access hospital and the only hospital serving a five-county area in northeast Missouri. She previously served as the organization’s therapy services director. Under her leadership, the hospital has brought specialty care and other services to the region through partnerships with physicians, healthcare organizations, colleges and community resources. Dr. Weber oversaw implementation of the Meditech Expanse EHR across the hospital and its rural health clinics in four counties, creating a single patient record. She has also cross-trained staff across departments, rethought post-Covid scheduling models and used technology to automate processes. Scotland County Hospital was selected to lead Hub 17 in Missouri’s “Rural Health Transformation Program” and received the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ “Rural Health Champion Award” in 2024.

Kristie Williams, MSN, RN. President of Carilion Giles Community Hospital (Pearisburg, Va.). Ms. Williams serves as president of Carilion Giles Community Hospital and also oversees operations at Carilion Tazewell (Va.) Community Hospital, leading access expansion across rural southwest Virginia. With more than 25 years at Carilion Clinic, she has driven significant growth in specialty access, bringing services such as ear, nose and throat, urology, neurosurgery, pulmonology, cardiology and orthopedics to local communities. She played a key role in advancing the system’s swing bed strategy, increasing volumes while enabling patients to recover closer to home and easing capacity constraints at tertiary facilities. Ms. Williams also led the deployment of robotic support team members at Giles, making it the first hospital in western Virginia to adopt this innovation to enhance staff and patient experience. She expanded virtual and telemedicine services at Tazewell to increase access to specialty care in remote areas. Recognized with Carilion’s highest honor, the “President’s Award,” she aims to advance rural care delivery through innovation, workforce support and community-focused leadership. 

Dawnett Willis. CEO at Floyd County Medical Center (Charles City, Iowa). Ms. Willis has served as CEO since 2021, leading physician recruitment and retention, strategic partnerships, governance, process improvement and rural health advocacy for Floyd County Medical Center. She launched a $40 million expansion, which was the organization’s largest since its 1965 construction, supported by owner equity, a United States Department of Agriculture loan, grants and local bank financing. The project adds new speech and occupational therapy departments, an expanded lab, and a new hospital pharmacy designed for future oncology infusion capability, along with a three-story clinic housing family practice, obstetrics, urgent care and a new outpatient specialist clinic. Under her leadership, the organization earned a 5-star rating from Professional Research Consultants in 2025. She also advanced women’s and maternal health innovation, with the hospital’s midwifery program receiving the American College of Nurse-Midwives’ 2023 “Best Practices–Triple Aim Achievement Award.” A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Ms. Willis represents rural priorities through state and national advocacy efforts and serves on the Floyd County Ambulance Commission.

Lauren G. Wirth, MD. President and CEO of New London (N.H.) Hospital. Dr. Wirth is president and CEO of New London Hospital, which is part of Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Health system. She first joined the hospital in September 2023 as chief medical officer. Prior, she held various leadership roles within the Boston-based Mass General Brigham Community Group, including medical director and physician wellbeing chair.

Aaron Wood. President of Sanpete Valley Hospital (Mount Pleasant, Utah). Mr. Wood oversees Sanpete Valley Hospital, a nonprofit critical access hospital that is part of Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare. The Utah Hospital Association named Mr. Wood “Rural Hospital CEO of the Year” in 2019, recognizing his efforts to implement innovative healthcare delivery models. He has successfully recruited physicians and led the hospital to achieve one of the highest employee satisfaction scores in the Intermountain system.

Dustin Wright. CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare (Le Mars, Iowa). Since 2018, Mr. Wright has served as CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare, a leading critical access hospital that is nationally recognized for obstetrics. Starting in 2014, the healthcare center has had three multimillion-dollar additions. Mr. Wright most recently worked at West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health’s hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa, where he was vice president of operations.

The post 126 critical access hospital presidents and CEOs to know | 2026 appeared first on Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.

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