TOPEKA - The Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) Leadership Institute graduated its 23rd class of 31 students on Sept. 5, at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Wichita. 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 Chad Austin, 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 2025 Leadership Institute class was diverse. They represented a wide geographic distribution of hospitals from St. Francis to Liberal and Neodesha to Lawrence – there was representation from all parts of the state.
Students had been working in health care for as little as a year to 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.
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 expanding 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 grassroots advocacy. Course #3 focused on team building - including how to lead a team and how to be part of a team and Course # 4 examined conflict and conflict management. Course #5 was at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show.
Students learned about the challenges facing health care.
The class of 2025 includes: Steven Bazan, Newman Regional Health, Emporia; Lori Bortzfield, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson; Sara Boyd, Memorial Health System, Abilene; Terance Brooks, Select Specialty Hospital, Wichita; Kourtney Brown, Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills Campus, Junction City; Anoria Carlson, Prairie View, Inc., Newton; Jessica Carson, Cheyenne County Hospital, Saint Francis; Shannon Deines, The University of Kansas Health System, Great Bend Campus; Megan Donecker, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned; Misty Duncan, Caldwell Regional Medical Center, Caldwell; Amy Elliott, Amberwell Hiawatha, Hiawatha; Stephanie Flegler, Russell Regional Hospital, Russell; Natalie Fowler, NMC Health, Newton; Adam Gall, Wilson Medical Center, Neodesha; Wesley Goforth, Republic County Hospital, Belleville; Taylin Hein, LMH Health, Lawrence; Ashley Hutchinson, Salina Regional Health Center, Salina; Jayna Kelly, Wamego Health Center, Wamego; Sonjia Lemons, Greenwood County Hospital, Eureka; Amy Meyer, Meade District Hospital/ Artesian Valley Health System, Meade; Chandra Michaelis, Rice Community Health, Lyons; Jodi Miller, Minneola Healthcare, Minneola; Monica Mullender, Osborne County Memorial Hospital, Osborne; Jaqueline Nieblas, Southwest Medical Center, Liberal; Brian Pfannenstiel, HaysMed, Hays; Cameron Rickel, Holton Community Hospital, Holton; Braden Shackelford, Stormont Vail Health, Topeka; Hanna Sharp, Scott County Hospital, Scott City; Patricia Smith, Edwards County Medical Center, Kinsley; Kristen Srna, Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc., Manhattan; and Shawn Weldin, Sabetha Community Hospital, Sabetha.
(Courtesy photo)
