Hicks Honored For Visionary Leadership
Jenna Hicks, R.N., MBA, Director of Quality and Population Health at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Visionary Leadership Award. The award, established in 1999, recognizes hospital executives who have taken innovative approaches to improving health in Missouri. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.
“Jenna understands that improving individual and community health requires great clinical care,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Her vision for mobile integrated health services supports care continuity in the home while connecting patients with the community support they need to heal and lead healthier lives. Together with her teammates throughout CMH, Jenna catalyzes excellent whole-person care.”
Hicks helped establish CMH’s Mobile Integrated Health program in July 2023 to provide whole-person care to homebound residents who are not eligible for home health services in Polk and surrounding counties. The MIH extends a patient’s primary care team into the community — providing a range of health care services and bridging care and social gaps to address each patient’s needs and reduce the risk for rehospitalization. Since inception, the team has made more than 1,200 visits and grown from its initial staff of two community paramedics to include a certified lactation consultant and a behavioral health provider.
Hicks also leads CMH’s participation in MO HealthNet’s Transformation of Rural Community Health program. As one of six Missouri hospitals engaging in the demonstration, CMH is using the program to strengthen and deliver resources to local partners to address disparities related to lack of transportation, food insecurity, financial insecurity, health literacy and more.
“Jenna’s passion for serving others and her innovative approach to care are truly transforming how CMH supports our communities,” said Michael Calhoun, CEO and executive director of Citizens Memorial Hospital and Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation. “Through her leadership, we’re reaching more people, closing gaps in care and making a lasting difference in the health and well-being of our region.”
A video honoring Hicks is available here.
Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair, (left) and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present Jenna Hicks, R.N., MBA, Director of Quality and Population Health at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., with a 2025 Visionary Leadership Award.
The Missouri Hospital Association is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 136 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.