Multiple local and area health care professionals recently graduated from the Kansas Hospital Association Leadership Institute.
The graduation was conducted Nov. 18 at the Kansas Hospital Association Rural Health Symposium in Wichita.
The leadership institute was established to help hospitals provide professional development opportunities that accentuate the personal skills and abilities needed to facilitate positive change and innovation in Kansas hospitals. Leadership institute participants were nominated by their hospitals' CEOs.
“We are committed to strengthening and promoting the leadership capacity of hospital employees in Kansas,” said Chad Austin, president and CEO, Kansas Hospital Association.
The 2021 leadership institute class was diverse, according to the Kansas Hospital Association. They represented a wide geographic distribution of hospitals from Hoxie to Lawrence and Neodesha to Elkhart – there was representation from all parts of the state. Students had been working in health care for as little as two years to more than 20 years. Several students have been in management positions while others were new managers. Some students also supervisor other staff, from a few to more than 50 employees.
Members of the 2021 leadership institute class include the following.
Adriana Armenta-Rodriguez, Western Plains Medical Complex, Dodge City
Shannon Bartlett, Hospital District #1 of Rice County, Lyons
Josh Bowen, RN, Republic County Hospital, Belleville
Lisa Burnett, Salina Regional Health Center, Salina
Cindy Burton, RN, The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus, Larned
Justin Cline, HaysMed, Hays
Kara Dugan, Minneola Healthcare, Minneola
Rebecca Flora, Phillips County Health Systems, Phillipsburg
Jennifer Gillaspy, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, Topeka
Trisha Hageman, RN, Sheridan County Health Complex, Hoxie
Holly Hamilton, LMH Health, Lawrence
Krista Hardesty, RN, Salina Surgical Hospital, Salina
Megan Heier, Gove County Medical Center, Quinter
Chelsea James, RN, Amberwell Hiawatha, Hiawatha
Kathy McMillen, RN, St. Luke Hospital and Living Center, Marion
Jennifer Phillips, NMC Health, Newton
Sammie Ramos, St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City and Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital, Centura Health, Ulysses
Whitney Rohlman, PharmD, BCPS, Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt
Courtney Schmelzle, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca
Rhonda Schmid, Memorial Health System, Abilene
Jeanne Schumacher, Morton County Health System, Elkhart
Gretchen Snavely, Holton Community Hospital, Holton
Jessica Stewart, Phillips County Health Systems, Phillipsburg
Abbie Thomas, Stormont Vail Health, Topeka
Kristian Toms, RN, Wilson Medical Center, Neodesha
Susan Williams, Kingman Healthcare Center, Kingman