• provided by Kansas Hospital Association

The KHA Leadership Institute graduated its sixteenth class of 32 students on Sept. 7 at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Wichita, Kansas. Students were nominated by their hospital’s CEO to be part of this select group. They represent the future leaders of Kansas hospitals.
Helping to build future health care leaders is important to the Kansas Hospital Association. “We are committed to strengthening and promoting the leadership capacity of hospital employees in Kansas,” said Tom Bell, president and CEO, Kansas Hospital Association. The KHA 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.
The 2017 Leadership Institute class was diverse. They represented a wide geographic distribution of hospitals from Norton to Leavenworth and Parsons to Liberal – there was representation from all parts of the state. Students had been working in health care for as little as one year to more than 20 years. Several students have been in management positions for more than 10 years while others were brand new to management positions. Some students also are supervisors, supervising a range of employees, from a few to more than 50 employees.
It is important to note that the students nominated to participate in this program were not selected because they needed to learn “management skills”. They were nominated because their CEO recognized their potential to be future leaders and wanted to help cultivate that development. Each one of these students made a personal and professional commitment to
expand their skills by attending all six courses of the Leadership Institute.
The curriculum was structured to enhance each student’s leadership abilities. Course #1 focused on explaining the difference between leadership and management, identifying organizational values and creating a positive organizational climate. Course #2 focused on enhancing communication skills and examining ethics. Course #3 examined conflict and how to
effectively manage it. Course # 4 focused on team building – including how to lead a team and how to be part of a team. Courses #5 and #6 were at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show. Students learned about the challenges facing health care in the future.

KHA Leadership Institute Class of 2017
Timothy Barker, Wesley Healthcare, Wichita
Carrie Biermann, RN, Wichita County Health Center, Leoti
Liz Claassen, RN, Newton Medical Center, Newton
Cheri Comstock, RN, Fredonia Regional Hospital, Fredonia
Karla Crissman, Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington
Tara Dahlstrom, Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County, Hutchinson
Kelley Drake, ASN, Salina Regional Health Center, Salina
Erica Forbes, BSN, Memorial Health System, Abilene
Brie Greeson, RN, Southwest Medical Center, Liberal
Drew Hamel, Russell Regional Hospital, Russell
Amanda Hebb, RN, Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, Wichita
ReChelle Horinek, Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney
Ryan Jackson, RN, BSN, ADN, MHL, Wamego Health Center, Wamego
Megan Kear, Atchison Hospital, Atchison
Cherie Knott, Meade District Hospital/Artesian Valley Health System, Meade
Stephanie LaRue, Labette Health, Parsons
Misty Long, RN, Salina Surgical Hospital, Salina
Megan Mawhirter, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned
Bret McClure, RN, Saint Luke’s Cushing Hospital, Leavenworth
Kasey Nichols, MD, Valley Hope Association, Norton
Traci Noll, F.W. Huston Medical Center, Winchester
Tammy Oxford, Bob Wilson Memorial Grant County Hospital, Ulysses
Jennifer Ploeger, Hiawatha Community Hospital, Hiawatha
Elizabeth Rupp, HaysMed, Hays
Steven Seems, Phillips County Health Systems, Phillipsburg
Tammy Snelling, St. Luke Hospital and Living Center, Marion
Michael C. Stallbaumer, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca
Angie Taylor, Hospital District #1 of Rice County, Lyons
Stacy Trester, RN, Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute
Echo Vaden, RN, William Newton Hospital, Winfield
Elizabeth Yunghans, RN, Via Christi Hospital, Manhattan
Drew Zerr, Greeley County Health Services, Tribune

The Kansas Hospital Association is a voluntary, non-profit organization existing to be the leading advocate and resource for members. KHA membership includes 216 member facilities, of which 127 are full-service, community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA’s vision is: “Optimal Health for Kansans.”