MHA established its Quality and Safety Committee, made up of clinical and operational leaders from Missouri’s hospitals and health systems, in the fall of 2025 and convened the first in-person meeting in March 2026.

The committee’s purpose is to guide and align quality and safety improvement efforts for hospitals around the state and build off the work of two former MHA committees — the Strategic Quality Advisory Committee (established in 2014) and the Health Equity Committee (established in 2020).

“Aligning the work of both committees under one effort is creating greater collaboration for members and their care teams as inpatient quality improvement and community-facing health improvement efforts overlap,” said Jackie Gatz, MHA’s senior vice president of quality, safety and research.

A Focused, Strategic First Year

MHA’s Quality and Safety Committee will prioritize the following focus areas in the first year:

• establish and monitor quality key performance indicators that align with MHA’s 2026-2028 strategic plan
• identify variations in care — using available data resources by geography, population and care setting — to develop hospital-centric interventions aimed at reducing variations in care, addressing nonclinical risk factors and improving health
• guide data-driven discussions that include developing board-level templates as well as supporting compliance, transparency and peer benchmarking
• promote a culture of safety through education and shared learning
• evaluate new care delivery models to support care coordination, improve health and reduce costs
• leverage established MHA committees, grant-funded work plans and existing hospital initiatives to enhance committee goals

The committee’s work is centered on data and the environment in which Missouri hospitals deliver care.

“This includes trends we can glean from claims data reported through the Hospital Industry Data Institute and quality improvement process measures collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network, as well as new and emerging regulatory requirements,” said Shephali Wulff, D.O., system vice president and chief quality officer at SSM Health and committee chair. “For example, with direction from the committee, staff will evaluate hospital performance against Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Star Ratings to support member quality strategy and improvement efforts.”

Once the framework for the key performance indicators is finalized, the committee will guide staff in prioritizing specific quality-improvement resources and member-engagement opportunities.

Collaborative Work

A core strength of the Quality and Safety Committee is its connection to the work already happening across Missouri’s hospitals and within MHA’s Quality, Safety and Research division.

In addition to reporting updates to the MHA Board of Trustees and developing templates for member hospitals to provide to their boards, the committee will collaborate closely with MHA groups such as the Maternal-Child Learning and Action Network, Patient and Family Advisory Council and Diabetes Shared Learning Network.

“These work groups will advance committee discussion and inform committee strategies that strengthen alignment among established, complementary efforts,” said Jenna Hicks, MBA, BSN, B.S., R.N., director of quality and population health at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., and vice chair of the committee.

MHA will support member hospitals through technical assistance and educational offerings based upon the committee’s guidance. Quality leaders from Missouri hospitals can expect committee updates, as appropriate through MHA’s quality and safety newsletter. Not currently receiving this publication? Subscribe by contacting Jada Schwartz at jschwartz@mohospitals.org.

Karen Orr, CEO of Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., will serve as the KCMHC president, and David Argueta, senior vice president, Community Operations and Acute and Ambulatory Care at Mercy in Chesterfield, Mo., will continue to serve as SLMHC president.

Patrick Avila, CEO of Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Mo., will continue to serve as president of MHA’s North District. Brady Dubois, CEO of Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Mo., will serve as Central District president; Greg Weaver, CEO of Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Mo., will serve as Southwest District president; and Annette Schnabel, president of Parkland Health Center, will serve as Southeast District president.

MHA’s metro and district councils provide input on association policies and activities, and shape recommendations of state, regional and national health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees.

“We are happy to have these great leaders serving during this time of change in health care,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA president and CEO. “The MHA Board of Trustees and staff rely on district feedback to understand how state and federal policies influence hospitals and the communities they serve throughout Missouri. Throughout the districts, Missouri hospital CEOs drive mission-driven improvement through their regional collaboration.”

Jeremy M. Fotheringham, J.D., MHSA, R.N., Academic, St. Louis & Southern Illinois regional president for SSM Health – St. Louis, was elected to serve as 2026 chair-elect, anticipating his role as MHA board chair in 2027. 

Karla Clubine, CEO of General John J. Pershing Memorial Hospital in Brookfield, Mo., and Jason Shenefield, president and CEO of Phelps Health in Rolla, Mo., were elected to three-year terms. Three additional leaders were elected to serve one-year terms. Stephanie Meyer, R.N., MS-FNP, NEA-BC, executive vice president and chief nurse executive, and COO of acute care with Children’s Mercy Kansas City, will return to the board as the nurse executive. Darin Haug, D.O., FACOI, FACOP, chief medical officer and E.D. medical director with Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, Mo., will serve as the physician trustee, and Dan Hegeman, past board member of both Heartland Regional Medical Center and Heartland Health Board of Directors, now known as Mosaic Health System Board of Trustees in St. Joseph, Mo., will serve as the hospital trustee member. 

The MHA Board of Trustees selected several board officers and at-large members to serve on the board’s executive committee. In 2026, Andrew J. Bagnall, MHA, FACHE, president and CEO of St. Luke’s Health Corporation in Chesterfield, Mo., will serve as secretary, and Tina L. Gillespie, CEO of Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo., will serve as treasurer. Max D. Buetow, president and CEO of CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo.; and Justin Davison, MBA, president and CEO of Saint Francis Healthcare System in Cape Girardeau, Mo., will serve as at-large members.  

A complete listing of the MHA 2026 Board of Directors is available online.

Stephen L. Reintjes Sr., M.D., president and CEO of NKC Health in North Kansas City, Mo., began his one-year term as MHA board chair Jan. 1.

“We’re excited to have Dr. Reintjes leading the board in 2026,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “As a physician executive, he provides the board with insights that shape both operational and patient care elements of policy that support hospitals’ service in Missouri’s communities.”

As chair, Reintjes’ duties include overseeing and directing activities of the MHA Board of Trustees, acting as a day-to-day adviser to MHA, and testifying before committees of the Missouri General Assembly and Congress. He also will lead a Missouri delegation to Washington, D.C., during the year and will act as a state and national spokesperson for Missouri’s hospitals.

“It is an honor to serve as chair of an association that is making a meaningful impact across our state and nation,” said Dr. Reintjes. “I look forward to the progress we will achieve this year as we work to better serve our communities and advance our vision for health care.”

Dr. Reintjes has held numerous leadership positions in the community, including board member of BioNexus KC, president of the Kansas City Medical Society, and board member of both the Midwest Transplant Network and St. Luke’s Hospital Kansas City. He has served as a member of the MHA Board of Trustees since 2020.

Dr. Reintjes is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Jeremy M. Fotheringham, J.D., MHSA, R.N., Academic, St. Louis & Southern Illinois regional president for SSM Health – St. Louis, will serve as the 2026 chair-elect.

The Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees approved Stephen L. Reintjes Sr., M.D., president and CEO of NKC Health in North Kansas City, Mo., as its 2026 chair at the board’s Nov. 5 meeting held during MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention at the St. Charles Convention Center.

Dr. Reintjes’ term will begin Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. He will succeed Craig Thompson, P.T., MSA, FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo. Thompson will continue to serve on the board’s executive committee in 2026 as the immediate past chair.

“In 2026, MHA will embark on a new three-year strategic plan — aligned with the moment we’re in and designed to create a system that helps hospitals thrive while delivering value back to patients and communities,” Dr. Reintjes said.

Dr. Reintjes has held numerous leadership positions in the community, including board member of BioNexus KC, president of the Kansas City Medical Society, and board member of both the Midwest Transplant Network and St. Luke’s Hospital Kansas City. He has served as a member of the MHA Board of Trustees since 2020.

Dr. Reintjes is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

MHA member-hospital representatives elected Jeremy M. Fotheringham, J.D., MHSA, R.N., Academic, St. Louis & Southern Illinois regional president for SSM Health – St. Louis, as the 2026 chair-elect during MHA’s Annual Meeting also held Nov. 5. His election to the role is a path to serve as chair of the MHA Board of Trustees in 2027.

The MHA board also approved the following individuals for board roles.

• Secretary: Andrew J. Bagnall, MHA, FACHE, president and CEO of St. Luke’s Health Corporation in Chesterfield, Mo.
• Treasurer: Tina L. Gillespie, CEO of Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo.
• At-Large Members: Max D. Buetow, president and CEO of CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo.; and Justin Davison, MBA, president and CEO of Saint Francis Healthcare System in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

MHA members elected Karla Clubine, CEO of General John J. Pershing Memorial Hospital in Brookfield, Mo., and Jason Shenefield, president and CEO of Phelps Health in Rolla, Mo., for three-year terms to the board beginning Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.

Members also elected the following physician, nurse executive and hospital trustee to serve on MHA’s board in 2026 for one-year terms: 

• Darin Haug, D.O., FACOI, FACOP, chief medical officer and E.D. medical director with Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, Mo., as the physician trustee;
• Stephanie Meyer, R.N., MS-FNP, NEA-BC, executive vice president and chief nurse executive, and COO of acute care with Children’s Mercy Kansas City as the nurse executive; and
• Dan Hegeman, past board member of both Heartland Regional Medical Center and Heartland Health Board of Directors, now known as Mosaic Health System Board of Trustees in St. Joseph, Mo., as the hospital trustee.

Learn more about MHA’s governance and board composition at MoHospitals.org.

Renee Fordyce, Board Treasurer at Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo., has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as a 2025 Trustee of the Year. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“Renee’s energy, coupled with her understanding of the clinical and operational aspects of health care, make her an extraordinary board leader,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “She is a frequent contributor to MHA events who is deeply committed to improving health in Harrison County and, indeed, throughout the state.” 

Fordyce was elected to the Harrison County Community Hospital Board of Directors in 2011 and has served as board treasurer since 2018. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse, which informs her thinking as a board member. Fordyce has been deeply involved in progress toward the replacement hospital, which is currently under construction.

“Renee has a deep passion for our community and an unwavering commitment to our hospital,” said Tina Gillespie, CEO of Harrison County Community Hospital. “She has long been a strong advocate for growth and continuous improvement in patient care. As a respected member of our board, Renee not only provides thoughtful leadership but also stands side by side with our health care workers, understanding firsthand how meaningful — and at times challenging — their work can be. We are truly honored and proud to have Renee recognized as Trustee of the Year.” 

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 Renee Fordyce Board Treasurer at Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo., (center) a 2025 Trustee of the Year Award. 

Mike Hoffman, Board Chair of Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as a 2025 Trustee of the Year. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“Mike is committed to a strong hospital and health care system that serves Sullivan and the region,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “He connects his board service to his role as CEO of Sullivan Bank, and his leadership extends the reach of the hospital through engagement with local schools, and community health improvement and economic partners.” 

Hoffman joined the Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital board in 2007 and has served as board chair since 2015. During his tenure as board chair, the hospital has expanded significantly, adding important service lines, renewing the hospital facility and expanding increasing employment by 50%. As board chair, he provides a trusted voice for hospital leadership and his fellow board members. 

“Mike’s dedication to both Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital and the Sullivan community is truly inspiring,” said Lisa Lochner, president of Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. “His leadership reflects the heart of what it means to serve.” 

Photo caption: 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 Mike Hoffman, Board Chair at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital (center) a 2025 Trustee of the Year Award.

Stephanie Meyer, R.N., MS-FNP, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Children’s Mercy Kansas City, was confirmed Jan. 24 to serve in the newly created nurse-trustee role on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. She will serve on the board in 2025.

MHA’s board provides governance for the association and assists in policy development on behalf of the state’s 137 member hospitals.

“We’re excited to welcome Stephanie to the MHA board,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Her vast experience and firsthand perspective as a nurse leader will help ensure that the decisions our board makes reflect the needs of caregivers and patients across the state.”

Meyer brings more than two decades of experience in clinical practice and nursing leadership to her new position on the board. In addition, her service as an adjunct nursing faculty member at both the undergraduate and graduate levels allows her to see nursing from both an operational as well as workforce development perspective.

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Kansas, leading to her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Meyer also holds certifications in health care administration, LEAN methodologies and patient safety.

Kevin McRoberts, FACHE, CEO of Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Mo., will serve as the 2025 president of MHA’s Central District Council. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

As District Council President, McRoberts’ responsibilities include presiding over council meetings and guiding discussions on association policies and activities. One of six MHA district council presidents, he will direct input from council members on national, state and regional health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees.

“We are excited to have Kevin’s leadership as president of the Central District Council,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “He is a respected executive with a track record of strategic leadership. His insights will help shape policy that improves the lives and health of central Missourians and statewide.”

McRoberts has more than 30 years of health care experience, including 24 years at Lake Regional. He was named Lake Regional CEO in 2022 and previously served as executive vice president and COO. Before joining Lake Regional in 2000, McRoberts served as CEO for Missouri Advantage in Jefferson City, Mo., a provider-sponsored HMO, and as executive director with Conemaugh Health Systems in Johnstown, Pa. McRoberts has served as a member of the Central District Council since 2022 and served as president-elect in 2024.

McRoberts has a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., and a bachelor’s degree in management from Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Michael Calhoun, CEO of Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., will serve as the 2025 president of MHA’s Southwest District Council. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

As District Council President, Calhoun’s responsibilities include presiding over council meetings and guiding discussions on association policies and activities. One of six MHA district council presidents, he will direct input from council members on national, state and regional health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees.

“We are excited to have Michael as District Council President,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His leadership in Bolivar and throughout southwest Missouri has strengthened hospitals statewide, and his service as president of the Southwest District Council will extend his commitment to innovation and excellence in serving all Missouri communities.”

Calhoun has served as CEO of Citizens Memorial Hospital since January 2022. He has been a member of the CMH team for more than 25 years, in a variety of leadership roles.

Calhoun earned bachelor’s and master’s in business administration from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.

Jason Schrumpf, P.T., MBA, FACHE, CEO of Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo., will serve as the 2025 president of MHA’s Southeast District Council. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

As District Council President, Schrumpf’s responsibilities include presiding over council meetings and guiding discussions on association policies and activities. One of six MHA district council presidents, he will direct input from council members on national, state and regional health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees.

“We are excited to have Jason connected at the district level as well as serving on the MHA Board of Trustees,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His work regionally and statewide will help hospitals continue to improve care and health, and support stronger communities.”

Schrumpf has served as CEO of Missouri Delta Medical Center since October 2010. He joined Missouri Delta Medical Center in May 2006 as director of rehabilitation services and served in several leadership roles until he was selected to lead the medical center.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., in 1999 and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia College in 2004.

David Argueta, FACHE, regional president of Mercy East and Southwest communities, was elected to serve as the 2025 president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Hospital Council. His term began Jan. 1.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Hospital Council was established in January 1995 as a regional office of the Missouri Hospital Association to serve member hospitals in the bistate metropolitan area of St. Louis. Guided by member input, SLMHC’s primary goals are local representation and advocacy for member hospitals, increased public relations and media communication, and networking for joint community projects.

“David is passionate about the work hospitals do to make every health care experience a good one,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA president and CEO. “As a member of the MHA Board of Trustees, through his executive leadership at Mercy in St. Louis and with nearly 20 years of service in hospital administration, he will provide important insights into making the St. Louis community — and all of Missouri — healthier while strengthening the health care system.”

Prior to his current roles as regional president in Mercy’s East and Southwest communities, Argueta served as the chief administrative officer for five years at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. Before joining Mercy, he served as president of the North Houston, Texas, region of Catholic Health Initiatives — St. Luke’s Health for five years. Before joining CHI, he served in several leadership roles, including as chief operating officer at Baylor Scott and White — Hillcrest Region in Waco, Texas.

Argueta is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of business administration and health care administration at Baylor University, in Waco, Texas.

Jason Shenefield, President and CEO of Phelps Health, in Rolla, Mo., was elected to serve on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

MHA’s board provides governance for the association and assists in policy development on behalf of the state’s 137 member hospitals.

“We are pleased to have Jason join the MHA board,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His proven leadership and deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in health care will strengthen the board’s ability to address critical issues facing hospitals and health systems today.”

Shenefield joined Phelps Health in 2016 as COO and was selected to serve as president and CEO in 2021. Prior to joining Phelps Health, Shenefield served in leadership roles at health care organizations in Illinois and Wyoming.

Shenefield earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree in health care management from Capella University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Darin L. Haug, D.O., FACOI, FACOP, Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Department Physician at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, Mo., was elected to serve as the physician representative on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

MHA’s board provides governance for the association and assists in policy development on behalf of the state’s 137 member hospitals.

“We are pleased to have Darin’s physician perspective available to the MHA board,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “As a physician executive and chief medical officer, Darin’s insights will be essential to understanding how policy decisions influence care and the caregiver workforce.”

Dr. Haug serves as CMO and as an emergency department physician at Fitzgibbon Hospital. He served as president and CEO of the hospital from 2015-2020 and previously served as executive vice president of academic and medical affairs and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience.

Dr. Haug is a graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience and completed his dual residency program in internal medicine and pediatrics at the UMKC School of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians.

Craig A. Thompson, P.T., MSA, FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., was elected to serve as the 2025 chair of the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. His one-year term as chair began Jan. 1.

As chair, Thompson’s duties include overseeing and directing activities of the MHA Board of Trustees, acting as a day-to-day adviser to MHA, and testifying before committees of the Missouri General Assembly and Congress. He also will lead a Missouri delegation to Washington, D.C., during the year and will act as a state and national spokesperson for Missouri’s hospitals.

“Craig is passionate about hospital teams’ abilities to deliver great care locally and to partner well with others on behalf those we are privileged to serve,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Craig’s leadership and clarity of purpose will serve all our state’s hospitals, supporting an environment that helps them provide care and health to their patients and communities.”

Thompson has served as CEO of GVMH since 2017. He joined GVMH in 2002 and served in positions of increasing responsibility including director of rehabilitation and wellness services, assistant administrator, chief compliance officer and COO before being selected as the health system’s CEO.

Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a master’s degree in health services management from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Serena Naylor, member of the Mosaic Life Care Board of Trustees, has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as Trustee of the Year for her service to both Mosaic Life Care and Mosaic Medical Center-Albany. Naylor was presented the award on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“Serena Naylor is a tireless supporter of Mosaic Life Care and her community of Albany, Mo.,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “She understands the importance of the hospital to Albany, and as a board leader in both Albany and Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, translates her passion into building value and access to care in communities throughout northwest Missouri.”

Naylor served as a board member of the hospital in Albany since 2003 and as chair since 2013. When the hospital, formerly Northwest Medical Center, affiliated with Mosaic Life Care — which she championed — she transitioned to chairing the hospital’s foundation board. In 2014, she joined the board of Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Mo.

During her tenure on the board, she has been influential in supporting and strengthening Mosaic Life Care under her banner of “keep local care, local.”

“In her 21 years of service to Mosaic Medical Center-Albany, its clinics, and Foundation Board, Serena supported and led change that resulted in the sustainability of our critical access hospital during a time of insecurity for health care organizations our size,” said Katie Dias, D.O., President, Mosaic Medical Center-Albany. “She has championed significant capital investments at our hospital and truly understands the need for quality care in our rural setting. Her work throughout Mosaic and in Albany shows her dedication and passion to care in our area.”

Dennis Carter, Board Chair of Liberty Hospital, has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as a 2024 Trustee of the Year. Carter was presented the award on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“As a life-long resident of Liberty, Dennis understands this importance of Liberty Hospital as an essential community institution,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “During his tenure on the board, he has provided a businessman’s eye to board decisions, while remaining focused on how the hospital supports health and care in the community.”

Carter was initially elected to the Liberty Hospital Board in 2013 and served as secretary and vice chair before being selected as chair. During his tenure, he has led the board through several important milestones, including system affiliation and a major cybersecurity incident.

“Dennis truly cares about Liberty Hospital, our employees, patients and community,” said Raghu Adiga, M.D., President and CEO of Liberty Hospital. “He makes a point to be visible and accessible to people, asking valuable questions and identifying barriers he can address as a trustee. His dedication makes this prestigious award a well-deserved one.”

In his regular support of the hospital’s core mission and values, he remains laser focused on the people who make that mission a reality. His mantra is, “a hospital is more about people than bricks and mortar.”