MEDITECH is pleased to recognize the outstanding leadership and accomplishments of its customer hospitals and their executives, who were recently featured by Becker's Hospital Review in the 2025 lists of "100 Great Community Hospitals" and "207 Community Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know."
Becker's highlights the vital role that community hospitals have in the U.S. healthcare system, particularly in providing accessible and affordable care outside major metropolitan areas. These recognized hospitals are dedicated to clinical excellence, academic advancement, and personalized, whole-person care, showcasing their commitment to improving patient outcomes and community well-being.
The “community hospital presidents and CEOs to know” list honors leaders who are crucial in delivering high-quality, cost-effective care and bridging healthcare access gaps. These executives play a crucial role in expanding services beyond acute care to encompass primary care, specialty treatments, rehabilitation, and public health programs.
While 29 community hospital customers and 35 CEOs to Know were featured across the two lists, 11 customer CEOs and their hospital/health systems had the distinction of being named to both lists, including:
Augusta Health (Fishersville, VA) and President & CEO Mary Mannix
Augusta Health was featured for its transformation into a nationally recognized, community-based health system known for its leadership in health equity, patient safety, and advanced clinical care. Under Mannix’s guidance, Augusta Health earned both the CMS “Health Equity Award” and the American Hospital Association’s “Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award” in 2024 for its groundbreaking “Neighborhood Clinics” program and initiatives addressing food insecurity. The hospital consistently receives top patient safety ratings from The Leapfrog Group and has achieved national distinctions for cardiovascular, surgical, and joint replacement care.
Citizens Memorial (Bolivar, MO) and CEO Michael Calhoun
Citizens Memorial has become a beacon of excellence in rural healthcare, earning national recognition for its safety and quality. Calhoun is spearheading a $100 million expansion to double hospital capacity and has prioritized integrating social care navigation into the EHR, making Citizens Memorial the first MEDITECH customer to embed the Unite Us platform. These initiatives demonstrate their commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care and community well-being across their eight-county service area.
Colquitt Regional Medical Center (Moultrie, GA) and President & CEO James Matney
Colquitt Regional was named for its transformation of the 155-bed facility into a high-performing rural hospital recognized for award-winning patient safety, innovation, and workforce engagement. Under Matney’s leadership, the hospital has achieved an impressive 19 consecutive "A" grades from The Leapfrog Group, along with a Press Ganey "Pinnacle of Excellence" award for patient experience. Matney's strategic vision has also expanded the system's workforce, introduced vital specialties and advanced procedures, and established the Ameris Bank Medical Education Center, solidifying Colquitt Regional's role as a leader in delivering tertiary-level care.
Frederick Health (Frederick, MD) and President & CEO Thomas Kleinhanzl
Frederick Health was recognized for its expansion to 26 locations and introduction of vital community services. The hospital has become a national leader in precision medicine, integrating genomics and pharmacogenetics into care. Kleinhanzl's focus on innovation, including earning Magnet designation in 2025 and a spot on Healthgrades’ “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” list, reflects his commitment to enhancing care delivery and combating clinician burnout.
Heywood Hospital (Gardner, MA) and President & CEO Rozanna Penney
Heywood Hospital successfully navigated a Chapter 11 reorganization, emerging stronger and retaining its community ownership. Penney's strategic direction yielded $16 million in combined annual savings and service line optimization, allowing the 134-bed hospital to not only preserve but also expand key services, including the reopening of its inpatient mental health unit and the expansion of obstetric offerings. Her commitment to addressing health disparities is evident in programs like telebehavioral services in schools and trauma-informed youth care.
Logan Regional Medical Center (Logan, WV) and CEO David Brash
Logan Regional was recognized for being the only hospital in the state 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. Brash has championed key investments, including a $20 million emergency department renovation, a state-of-the-art women's center, and a pioneering rural general surgery residency program in partnership with Marshall University, expanding critical specialty care access in the region.
Mile Bluff Medical Center (Mauston, WI) and CEO Dara Bartels
Mile Bluff was recognized for its innovative, high-quality care and commitment to rural health. Under the leadership of Bartels, the medical center became the first to implement the AI-powered Expanse Navigator with Google Cloud, significantly reducing clinician charting time and earning a 2024 "Performance Leadership Award" from The Chartis Center for Rural Health. The center's robust opioid stewardship and award-winning diabetes care further cemented its reputation for clinical excellence and technological advancement in rural healthcare.
Montrose Regional Health (Montrose, CO) and CEO Jeff Mengenhausen
Montrose Regional was featured for completing a four-story ambulatory care center, expanding services into surrounding communities, and adding more than 45 new providers, which grew their team to over 950 staff and 188 providers across 32 specialties. Under Mengenhausen’s leadership, the hospital has earned multiple organizational honors, including the 2025 Healthgrades “Outstanding Patient Experience Award” and “Patient Safety Excellence Award,” its ninth designation as a Chartis “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospital,” and recognition as a “Best-in-Class Employer” in Gallagher’s 2024 U.S. benefits strategy and benchmarking survey.
NMC Health (Newton, KS) and President & CEO Vallerie Gleason
NMC Health expanded its emergency department with new behavioral health crisis spaces and introduced robotic joint replacement with Mako SmartRobotics. A consistent presence on Chartis’ “Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals” list and a recent 4-star CMS recipient, the hospital is dedicated to nurturing future healthcare professionals, welcoming over 350 students for various training opportunities. Gleason was recognized for overseeing the launch of the hospital’s telemedicine program and the opening of its walk-in clinic.
Roosevelt General Hospital (Portales, NM) and CEO Kaye Green
Roosevelt General was featured for its efforts in becoming a model of innovation and financial resilience in rural healthcare. The hospital’s implementation of a cloud-based MEDITECH EHR and optimization of the revenue cycle have significantly improved the hospital's payment-to-charge ratio. Green’s efforts, which include championing policy advocacy and strategic investments guided by real-time data, earned her the American College of Healthcare Executives' "Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent's Award" and established the hospital as a leader in operational sustainability and efficient care.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center (Lewiston, ID) and CEO Ed Freysinger
St. Joseph Regional solidified its position as a crucial provider of advanced specialty care in a rural area, earned dual Leapfrog "A" safety grades in 2024 and 2025 and was recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as a "Best Hospital for Maternity Care" and a "Maternity Care Access Hospital" for its service to maternity care deserts. Freysinger oversaw the opening of a 10-bed acute rehabilitation unit and guided the medical center to prestigious accolades.
Other MEDITECH customer executives featured as community hospital presidents and CEOs to know include:
- Kandice Allen, CEO at Share Medical Center (Alva, OK)
- Kurt Barwis, President and CEO at Bristol Health (Bristol, CT)
- Jim Brexler, CEO at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health (Doylestown, PA)
- J. Scott Steiner, President and CEO at Phoebe Putney Health System (Albany, GA)
- Jake Erickson, CEO at Bingham Healthcare (Blackfoot, ID)
- Jaf Fielder, President and CEO at Willis-Knighton Health (Shreveport, LA)
- Edward Herrman, President and CEO at Hays Medical Center (Hays, KS)
- Paul P. Hinchey, President and CEO at St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System (Savannah, GA)
- James Holmes, President and CEO at Redlands Community Hospital (Redlands, CA)
- David Huffstutler, President and CEO at St. David’s HealthCare (Austin, TX)
- Jarrod Johnson, CEO at UAB Medicine Callahan Eye Hospital (Birmingham, AL)
- Clay Jordan, RN, CEO at Tri Valley Health System (Cambridge, NE)
- Katrina Keefer, CEO at DCH Health System (Tuscaloosa, AL)
- Nizar Kifaieh, MD, President and CEO at Hudson Regional Hospital (Secaucus, NJ)
- Felissa Koernig, President and CEO at Oneida Health (Oneida, NY)
- Chris Lumsden, President and CEO at Northern Regional Hospital (Mount Airy, NC)
- Thomas Mee, RN, BSN, CEO at North Country Healthcare (Whitefield, NH)
- George Mikitarian, President and CEO at Parrish Medical Center (Titusville, FL)
- Cathy Pimple, DNP, MSN, RN, CEO at Newman Regional Health (Emporia, KS)
- Darlene Rodowicz, President and CEO at Berkshire Health Systems (Pittsfield, MA)
- Christine Schuster, President and CEO at Emerson Health (Concord, MA)
- Roger Sharma, President and CEO at Emanate Health (West Covina, CA)
- J. Scott Steiner, President and CEO at Phoebe Putney Health System (Albany, GA)
- Kay Whitley, CEO at Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center and Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center (Walsenburg, CO)
Other MEDITECH customers recognized as great community hospitals 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 executives demonstrate exceptional dedication and visionary leadership, and this recognition by Becker's Hospital Review is a true testament to that," said Executive Vice President and COO Helen Waters. "We are incredibly proud of their transformative achievements and look forward to supporting their continued innovation in patient well-being and community health."
