Recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review, community hospitals and their CEOs exemplify visionary leadership and patient-centered care.
MEDITECH is proud to recognize the exceptional leadership and achievements of its customer hospitals and executives, recently featured by Becker’s Hospital Review in the 2025 rankings of “100 Great Community Hospitals” and “207 Community Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know.”
Becker’s emphasizes the essential role community hospitals play in the U.S. healthcare system, particularly in delivering accessible, high-quality care outside major metropolitan areas. The hospitals honored exemplify clinical excellence, academic innovation, and personalized, whole-person care, reflecting their commitment to enhancing patient outcomes and supporting the well-being of their communities.
The “Community Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know” list highlights leaders who are instrumental in providing cost-effective, high-quality care while bridging gaps in healthcare access. These executives extend their impact beyond acute care, advancing primary care, specialty services, rehabilitation, and public health initiatives.
Across the two lists, 29 community hospital customers and 35 CEOs were recognized, with 11 customer CEOs and their respective hospitals or health systems achieving the distinction of appearing on both lists, including:
Augusta Health, Fishersville, VA – President & CEO Mary Mannix
Augusta Health was recognized for its evolution into a nationally acclaimed, community-focused health system, celebrated for its leadership in health equity, patient safety, and advanced clinical care. Under the leadership of President & CEO Mary Mannix, the health system earned both the CMS Health Equity Award and the American Hospital Association’s Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award in 2024, thanks to its innovative “Neighborhood Clinics” program and initiatives targeting food insecurity. The hospital consistently earns top patient safety ratings from The Leapfrog Group and has received national recognition for excellence in cardiovascular, surgical, and joint replacement care.
Citizens Memorial (Bolivar, MO) – CEO Michael Calhoun
Citizens Memorial has emerged as a model of excellence in rural healthcare, earning national recognition for its commitment to safety and quality. Under CEO Michael Calhoun’s leadership, the hospital is undertaking a $100 million expansion to double its capacity and has prioritized integrating social care navigation into its EHR, becoming the first MEDITECH customer to implement the Unite Us platform. These initiatives reflect the hospital’s dedication to comprehensive, patient-centered care and community well-being across its eight-county service area.
Colquitt Regional Medical Center (Moultrie, GA) – President & CEO James Matney
Colquitt Regional has transformed its 155-bed facility into a high-performing rural hospital recognized for award-winning patient safety, innovation, and workforce engagement. Under James Matney’s leadership, the hospital has earned 19 consecutive “A” grades from The Leapfrog Group and the Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence award for patient experience. Matney’s strategic vision has expanded the system’s workforce, introduced critical specialties and advanced procedures, and established the Ameris Bank Medical Education Center, solidifying Colquitt Regional as a leader in delivering tertiary-level care.
Frederick Health (Frederick, MD) – President & CEO Thomas Kleinhanzl
Frederick Health was recognized for its growth to 26 locations and the introduction of vital community services. The hospital has become a national leader in precision medicine, integrating genomics and pharmacogenetics into patient care. Under Thomas Kleinhanzl, the organization earned Magnet designation in 2025 and a spot on Healthgrades’ “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” list, reflecting his focus on innovation, care quality, and addressing clinician burnout.
Heywood Hospital (Gardner, MA) – President & CEO Rozanna Penney
Heywood Hospital successfully navigated Chapter 11 reorganization, emerging stronger while maintaining community ownership. CEO Rozanna Penney’s strategic leadership achieved $16 million in annual savings and optimized service lines, enabling the 134-bed hospital to expand critical offerings, including reopening its inpatient mental health unit and enhancing obstetric services. Her commitment to health equity is demonstrated through programs such as school-based telebehavioral services and trauma-informed youth care.
Logan Regional Medical Center (Logan, WV) – CEO David Brash
Logan Regional stands out as the only hospital in West Virginia to earn an “A” grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group and was also named to Newsweek’s “America’s Best-in-State” list. CEO David Brash has driven major investments, including a $20 million renovation of the emergency department, a state-of-the-art women’s center, and a pioneering rural general surgery residency program in partnership with Marshall University, significantly expanding access to specialty care in the region.
Mile Bluff Medical Center (Mauston, WI) – CEO Dara Bartels
Mile Bluff was recognized for its innovative, high-quality care and commitment to rural health. Under CEO Dara Bartels’ leadership, the medical center became the first to implement the AI-powered Expanse Navigator with Google Cloud, significantly reducing clinician charting time and earning the 2024 Performance Leadership Award from The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Its robust opioid stewardship program and award-winning diabetes care further highlight the center’s dedication to clinical excellence and technological advancement in rural healthcare.
Montrose Regional Health (Montrose, CO) – CEO Jeff Mengenhausen
Montrose Regional was honored for completing a four-story ambulatory care center, expanding services to surrounding communities, and adding over 45 new providers, growing its team to more than 950 staff and 188 providers across 32 specialties. Under CEO Jeff Mengenhausen, the hospital has received multiple accolades, including the 2025 Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award and Patient Safety Excellence Award, its ninth Chartis Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital designation, and recognition as a Best-in-Class Employer in Gallagher’s 2024 U.S. benefits strategy and benchmarking survey.
NMC Health (Newton, KS) – President & CEO Vallerie Gleason
NMC Health expanded its emergency department with new behavioral health crisis spaces and introduced robotic joint replacement using Mako SmartRobotics. Consistently ranked among Chartis’ Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals and a recent 4-star CMS recipient, the hospital actively nurtures future healthcare professionals, hosting over 350 students for training programs. Under Vallerie Gleason’s leadership, NMC launched a telemedicine program and opened a walk-in clinic, strengthening access to care.
Roosevelt General Hospital (Portales, NM) – CEO Kaye Green
Roosevelt General was recognized for its innovation and financial resilience in rural healthcare. The hospital’s implementation of a cloud-based MEDITECH EHR and optimized revenue cycle improved its payment-to-charge ratio. CEO Kaye Green’s focus on policy advocacy and strategic, data-driven investments earned her the American College of Healthcare Executives Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award and positioned the hospital as a model of operational sustainability and efficient care delivery.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center (Lewiston, ID) – CEO Ed Freysinger
St. Joseph Regional strengthened its role as a key provider of advanced specialty care in a rural region, earning dual Leapfrog “A” safety grades in 2024 and 2025. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care and a Maternity Care Access Hospital, the center serves maternity care deserts. Under CEO Ed Freysinger, the opening of a 10-bed acute rehabilitation unit and other strategic initiatives have earned the hospital national recognition for excellence.
Other MEDITECH customer executives were also featured among Community Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know, including:
- Kandice Allen, CEO, Share Medical Center (Alva, OK)
- Kurt Barwis, President & CEO, Bristol Health (Bristol, CT)
- Jim Brexler, CEO, Penn Medicine Doylestown Health (Doylestown, PA)
- J. Scott Steiner, President & CEO, Phoebe Putney Health System (Albany, GA)
- Jake Erickson, CEO, Bingham Healthcare (Blackfoot, ID)
- Jaf Fielder, President & CEO, Willis-Knighton Health (Shreveport, LA)
- Edward Herrman, President & CEO, Hays Medical Center (Hays, KS)
- Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System (Savannah, GA)
- James Holmes, President & CEO, Redlands Community Hospital (Redlands, CA)
- David Huffstutler, President & CEO, St. David’s HealthCare (Austin, TX)
- Jarrod Johnson, CEO, UAB Medicine Callahan Eye Hospital (Birmingham, AL)
- Clay Jordan, RN, CEO, Tri Valley Health System (Cambridge, NE)
- Katrina Keefer, CEO, DCH Health System (Tuscaloosa, AL)
- Nizar Kifaieh, MD, President & CEO, Hudson Regional Hospital (Secaucus, NJ)
- Felissa Koernig, President & CEO, Oneida Health (Oneida, NY)
- Chris Lumsden, President & CEO, Northern Regional Hospital (Mount Airy, NC)
- Thomas Mee, RN, BSN, CEO, North Country Healthcare (Whitefield, NH)
- George Mikitarian, President & CEO, Parrish Medical Center (Titusville, FL)
- Cathy Pimple, DNP, MSN, RN, CEO, Newman Regional Health (Emporia, KS)
- Darlene Rodowicz, President & CEO, Berkshire Health Systems (Pittsfield, MA)
- Christine Schuster, President & CEO, Emerson Health (Concord, MA)
- Roger Sharma, President & CEO, Emanate Health (West Covina, CA)
- Kay Whitley, CEO, Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center and Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center (Walsenburg, CO)
Other MEDITECH client hospitals recognized for excellence in community care include:
- Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (Hartsville, SC)
- Firelands Regional Medical Center (Sandusky, OH)
- Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare (Clinton, MO)
- Hancock Regional Hospital (Greenfield, IN)
- Humboldt Park Health (Chicago, IL)
- Kingman Regional Medical Center (Kingman, AZ)
- Major Health Partners (Shelbyville, IN)
- Northfield Hospital and Clinics (Northfield, MN)
- Ozarks Healthcare (West Plains, MO)
- Pender Community Hospital (Pender, NE)
- Signature Healthcare, Brockton Hospital (Brockton, MA)
- Southern Ohio Medical Center (Portsmouth, OH)
- Southwestern Medical Center (Lawton, OK)
- Val Verde Regional Medical Center (Del Rio, TX)
- The Valley Hospital (Paramus, NJ)
- Warren General Hospital (Warren, PA)
- Watertown Regional Medical Center (Watertown, WI)
- Wooster Community Hospital Health System (Wooster, OH)
“Our community hospital customers and their leaders exemplify outstanding dedication and visionary leadership,” said Executive Vice President and COO Helen Waters. “Being recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review underscores their remarkable accomplishments. We are proud of their transformative work and remain committed to supporting their ongoing innovation in patient care and community health.”
