Dr. William Wojciechowski, PRMC Board President; Brandi Graf, PRMC Director of Critical Care Services; and Susan Page, PRMC President and CEO at the awards banquet.

August 28, 2008 – The KHA Leadership Institute graduated its seventh class of 32 students on August 22 at the Critical Issues Summit 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 Thomas L. Bell, president of KHA. 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.

Students 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 focused on team building - including how to lead a team and how to be part of a team. Course #4 examined conflict and how to effectively manage it. Courses #5 and #6 were at the KHA Critical Issues Summit. Students learned about governance and the challenges facing health care in the future.

KHA Leadership Institute - Class of 2008

• Suzanne Ahlberg, RN - Chief Nursing Officer, Decatur Health Systems, Inc., Oberlin
• Wendy Barton - Business Office Supervisor, Fredonia Regional Hospital, Fredonia
• Doug Billings - Nuclear Medicine Dept. Manager, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence
• James Blackwell - Vice President and CFO, Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington
• Regina F. Borthwick, RN - Dir. Continuing Care/Rehab/Hospice, Hays Medical Center, Hays
• Kristie Brown - Director of Information Systems, Ellsworth County Medical Center, Ellsworth
• Katie Burenheide, PharmD, MS - Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator, Stormont-Vail Health Care Inc., Topeka
• Blaine Cappel - IT Director, Memorial Health System, Abilene
• Jeff Colburn - Administrator and CEO, Hamilton County Hospital, Syracuse
• Jim Cook - Contract Manager Associated Purchasing Services, Overland Park
• Janet Cruse - Laboratory General Supervisor, Labette Health, Parsons
• Christopher M. Ekrem - Chief Operating Officer, Greeley County Health Services, Tribune
• Karen Gillespie - Human Resources Director, Anderson County Hospital, Garnett
• Brandi Graf, RN, BSN - Director of Critical Care Services, Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt
• Joella Hett - Materials Manager, Saint Luke Hospital & Living Ctr., Marion
• Ashley Hinkson, RN - Health Department Director, Morris County Hospital, Council Grove
• Donna Hoefer - Director of Radiology, Memorial Hospital Inc., McPherson
• Patricia Howell, RN - Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, Citizens Medical Center, Colby
• Paula Jones, RN - Hospice Director, Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems, Beloit
• Teresa Lenon - Director of Healthcare Systems, South Central Kansas RMC, Arkansas City
• Ali McFadden - Director of Nutrition Services, Coffeyville Regional Medical Center, Coffeyville
• Shari Melton - Director of Radiology, Coffey County Hospital, Burlington
• Kathy Morrison - Clinic Administrator, St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City
• McKay Perry - Chief Financial Officer, Edwards County Hospital and Healthcare Center, Kinsley
• Sarah Ragsdale, RN - Director of Nursing, Smith Co. Memorial Hospital, Smith Center
• Sarah Roberts, RN - Director of Nursing, Satanta District Hospital, Clinics and LTCU, Satanta
• Leslie Schrag - Supply Coordinator, Ninnescah Valley Health Systems, Inc., Kingman
• Lori C. Smith - Chief Financial Officer, Meade Dist. Hospital/Artesian Valley Health System, Meade
• Alicia Sorensen, RN - Director of Critical Care Services, Mercy Regional Health Center Inc., Manhattan
• Penny Stephenson - Chief Financial Officer, Ellinwood District Hospital, Ellinwood
• Ryan Stover - Chief Financial Officer, Norton County Hospital, Norton
• Susan Thomas, RRT, MHSA - Compliance/Audit Coordinator, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence

The Kansas Hospital Association is a not-for-profit, private, voluntary membership association of health care-related organizations in Kansas. The association supports members by providing a variety of information and services, including legislative advocacy, data products and education.  The mission of the Kansas Hospital Association is to provide leadership in the delivery of health and human services. 

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