2022 Rural Health Fellowship Projects

The 2022 ICAHN Rural Health Fellows graduated Wednesday, April 27 at O'Shea University, Springfield, culminating six-months of study and an in-depth look at rural health and the challenges needed to be a strong voice for rural healthcare by developing leadership and advocacy skills. Each of the graduating Fellows was paired with an experienced mentor who provided support and guidance regarding leadership roles and the development of the Fellowship project.

Graduates, their projects, and mentors are listed below:

• Lisa Ambuehl, Chief Nursing Officer, Salem Township Hospital, mentored by Ada Bair, CEO, Memorial Hospital, Carthage (2021 Community Health Needs Assessment)
• Amy Arnett, Quality Director, Horizon Health, mentored by Pam Pfister, CEO, Morrison Community Hospital (Quality Flashes)
• Emily Bailey, Director, Clinical Operations, Taylorville Memorial Hospital, mentored by Nancy Newby, Retired CEO, Washington County Hospital (Outpatient Suicide Risk Assessment Implementation)
• Darin Buttz, Director of Community Health, Taylorville Memorial Hospital, mentored by Gregg Ohlson, CEO, Rochelle Community Hospital (Taylorville Memorial Hospital Emergency Department Supply Room Renovation)
• Judah Donaldson, Clinical Informatics/Infusion Center Manager, Horizon Health, mentored by Sue Odle, Administrator, St. Joseph Memorial Hospital (Strategic Employee Partnership Program)
• Nan Dunning, Human Resources Manager, Horizon Health, mentored by Andrew Buffenbarger, Chief Compliance Officer, Kirby Medical Center (New Manager Orientation)
• Greg Eberle, Manager Wellness Center, Hopedale Medical Complex, mentored by Heather Whetsell, Administrative Director, Population Science and Policy (HMC Wellness Center Community Collaboration)
• Joanna Elliott, Performance Improvement Officer, Marshall Browning Hospital, mentored by Nancy Allen, Senior Operations Specialist, ICAHN (Driving Performance Improvement Through Occurrence Reporting: Implementing SQSS)
• Ozlem Ersin, Professor, Health and Human Services, Eastern Illinois University, mentored by Pat Schou, Executive Director, ICAHN
• Nathaniel Hall, Chief Human Resources Officer, Memorial Hospital, Carthage, mentored by Trina Casner, CEO, Pana Community Hospital (Employee Engagement: Strategies for Maximum Employee Empowerment and Satisfaction)
• Shelly Hunter, Director of Inpatient Services, Memorial Hospital, Carthage, mentored by Jim Johnson, CEO, Franklin Hospital (Nursing Retention and Recruitment)
• Tyler Killpack, Administrative Director-McHenry County Hospitals, Mercyhealth Harvard Hospital, mentored by Kathleen Hull, Administrator, Illini Community Hospital (Mercyhealth Hospital Project)
• Morgan Kincaid, Rehabilitation Services Supervisor, Horizon Health, mentored by Jim Timpe, President and CEO, HSHS St. Francis Hospital (Establishment of a non-CAH Physical Therapy Practice at Sycamore Pain and Wellness Clinic)
• Chelsea Lowe, ADON, Quality Control, Infection Control, Hopedale Medical Complex, mentored by Kendra Taylor, McKendree University (Bedside Shift Report Fellowship Project)
• Samantha McCarty, Director of Emergency Services, Horizon Health, mentored by Tracy Bauer, CEO, Midwest Medical Center (Remote Physiologic Monitoring: New Service Line Addition 2022)
• Katie Meusel, Clinic Manager, Midwest Medical Center, mentored by Richelle Rennegarbe, Division of Nursing Chair, McKendree University (Emergency Room Tracking and Scheduling)
• Jennifer Rigdon, Outpatient Clinic Manager, Horizon Health, mentored by Rob Schmitt, CEO, Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services (Non Rural Health Dermatology Project)
• Aldo Rossi, Senior Director of Patient Care Services, Hopedale Medical Complex, mentored by Bob Sellers, CEO, Clay County Hospital (Providing Inter-Hospital Transport for Patients at Hopedale Medical Complex)