Becker's Hospital Review

58 ber of the WV Hospital Association-Committee for Small Rural Hospitals. He is also a founding member of the Small Rural Task Force for The Joint Commission. Dan Odegaard. CEO of Bigfork (Minn.) Val- ley Hospital. Mr. Odegaard has served as CEO of Bigfork Valley Hospital, located about 124 miles northwest of Duluth, Minn., since 2003. Under his leadership, the critical access hospital has made na- tional headlines for high-quality, patient-centered care. For instance, in 2012, the hospital was a top performer in iVantage's Patient Perspective Index, which ranks hospital performance based on two HCAHPS measures: overall rating and percentage of patients who would highly recommend the hos- pital. Bigfork was also one of the 49 cleanest hospi- tals in 2013, according to HCAHPS. Becky Pape. CEO of Samaritan Lebanon (Ore.) Community Hospital. Ms. Pape became CEO of Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, situ- ated about 80 miles south of Portland, in 2004. Under her leadership, the hospital added a healing garden, a center for infusion patients and a health career and training center. In 2013, Ms. Pape was a recipient of the American Hospital Association's Grassroots Champion Award, recognizing her leadership in creating grassroots and community activity in support of her hospital's mission. Larry Price. CEO of Limestone Medical Center (Groesbeck, Texas). Mr. Price was named CEO of Limestone Medical Center in October 2012, but he has been with the 20-bed critical access hospi- tal since 1982. He was previously LMC's COO, a position he held for seven years. In 2012, Mr. Price received the Essence of Leadership Award from the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. The award recognizes individuals for their outstanding leadership, service and contri- butions to healthcare. Chandler M. Ralph. President and CEO of Ad- irondack Health (Saranac Lake, N.Y.). Since 1995, Ms. Ralph has served at the helm of Ad- irondack Health — a system with two hospital sites, two nursing homes and four primary care outreach clinics. In 2006, she was the New York state recipient of the American Hospital Associa- tion's Grassroots Champion Award for her work generating community activity supporting Ad- irondack's mission. She is also active in the local community, having been a member of the Sara- nac Lake Rotary since 1995 and having become a board member of the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York in 2013. Steven Rose, RN, MSN. President and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services (Seaford, Del.). Mr. Rose leads Nanticoke Health Services, which is comprised of a 99-bed rural, community hospital and Nanticoke Physician Network. Mr. Rose has led the hospital through a health IT initiative, in- vesting in a new EMR and obtaining meaningful use meaningful use stage 2. In 2013, he was elect- ed to the board of trustees of the American Hos- pital Association for a three-year term beginning in 2014. He is the first Delawarean ever named to AHA's board of trustees. Christina Ryan. CEO of The Women's Hospi- tal (Newburgh, Ind.). Ms. Ryan has been with The Women's Hospital since 1999, when she was recruited by Evansville, Ind.-based Deacon- ess Health System — Women's parent — to help with the hospital's initial plans, construction and opening. Ms. Ryan has received several awards recognizing her leadership abilities, including the Health and Social Services Individual Award from Leadership Evansville. Maria Ryan, PhD, APRN. CEO of Cottage Hos- pital (Woodsville, N.H.). Dr. Ryan first joined Cottage Hospital in November 2006 as CNO and COO. She became CEO of the hospital in Febru- ary 2010. Under her leadership, Cottage Hospital became the first critical access hospital in New Hampshire to achieve meaningful use stage 1 cer- tification for its EHR in July 2011. Keith Safian. President and CEO of Phelps Me- morial Hospital Center (Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.). Mr. Safian has been at the helm of Phelps Me- morial Hospital Center, about 26 miles up the Hudson River from New York City, since 1989. Under his leadership, the hospital has grown from a $40 million operating budget to $200 million, and from 800 employees to more than 1,600. Mr. Safian has overseen major expansions, including a new emergency department and medical services building. Mike Schafer. Administrator and CEO of Spoon- er (Wis.) Health System. Mr. Schafer is the head of Spooner Health System in northwestern Wis- consin, which consists of a 25-bed critical access hospital, a 24-hour ED and a home care depart- ment. In addition to leading SHS, Mr. Schafer is also a Wisconsin Hospital Association delegate for the American Hospital Association, a post he will hold through 2014. Rob Schmitt, CPA. CEO of Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services (Gibson City, Ill.). Mr. Schmitt joined GAHHS in 2002 as CFO. He was promoted to CEO in 2007. GAHHS includes Gibson Area Hospital, the only critical access hospital in the nation with 100 percent of its ED nurses certi- fied in emergency medicine. Under Mr. Schmitt's leadership, GAHHS was the sole recipient of the Quality Award from the National Rural Health Association in 2013. Rick Schroeder. Administrator and CEO of North Big Horn Hospital (Lovell, Wyo.). Mr. Schroeder serves as CEO and administrator of North Big Horn Hospital, a 15-bed critical access hospital about 90 miles south of Billings, Mont. He is the president and chair of the board of the Wyoming Critical Access Hospital Network. Bryan Slaba. Administrator and CEO of Wagner (S.D.) Community Memorial Hospital-Avera. Mr. Slaba has led Wagner Community Memorial Hospital-Avera since May 2008. He championed a "Grow Your Own" project to keep local talent in Wagner, and he also implemented a telemedi- cine service at the 20-bed critical access hospital to improve patient management and safety. In 2012 and 2011, he was a finalist for the American Hospital Association's Shirley Ann Munroe Lead- ership Award, which recognizes accomplishments and innovative efforts of small or rural hospital leaders. Brad Solberg. CEO of Hammond-Henry Hospi- tal (Geneseo, Ill.). Mr. Solberg has served as CEO of Hammond-Henry Hospital, located about 154 miles west of Chicago, for about 12 years. Throughout his career, Mr. Solberg has held leadership roles at hospitals in Ohio, Michigan and North Dakota. In 2013, he was elected to the board of directors of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network. Susan Starling. President and CEO of Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital (Irvine, Ky.). Ms. Starling joined Marcum & Wallace Memorial in 1991 as COO and took on her current role in 2001. She has helped establish community lung and breast cancer screening programs during her time leading the critical access hospital. In 2013, she received the American Hospital Association's Shirley Ann Munroe Leadership Award, which recognizes accomplishments of small or rural hospital leaders. Philip Stuart. CEO of Tomah (Wis.) Memo- rial Hospital. Mr. Stuart serves at the helm of Tomah Memorial Hospital, located about 100 miles northwest of Madison, Wis., and roughly 170 miles southeast of Minneapolis. He is cur- rently serving his second term as a regional di- rector for the Wisconsin Hospital Association's western region. Under his leadership, the hospital was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by iVantage Health Analytics in 2013. Mary Sweet. Administrator of Kiowa County Memorial Hospital (Greensburg, Kan.). Ms. Sweet serves as administrator of Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed critical access hospi- tal about 110 miles west of Wichita, Kan. In 2007, the hospital was destroyed by a massive tornado. Under Ms. Sweet's leadership, the hospital was rebuilt and became the first LEED platinum certi- fied critical access hospital in the nation. Al Vogt. Administrator and CEO of Cook (Minn.) Hospital. Mr. Vogt originally joined Cook Hospital in northern Minnesota in 1976 as a lab supervisor. He became CEO in 1989. In 2013, he was named Rural Health Hero at the Minnesota Rural Health Conference for his rural health advocacy efforts. Mr. Vogt helped form the Minnesota Wilderness Health Care Coalition, a group of northeastern Minnesota hospitals that promotes accessible healthcare. Debra Wright, RN. CEO of Howard Memorial Hospital (Nashville, Ark.). Ms. Wright became CEO of Howard Memorial Hospital, a 20-bed critical access hospital roughly halfway between Dallas and Little Rock, in November 2009. Under her leadership, the hospital was named as one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals in the nation by iVantage Health Analytics in 2013. n

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