Leadership
Mercy
Lynn Britton - Mercy President/CEO
Lynn Britton has served as the president and chief executive officer of Mercy since January, 2009, after serving as senior vice president since 2004. Lynn has been with Mercy for 18-plus years, serving as vice president for Mercy’s supply chain operating division, Resource Optimization and Innovation (ROi) from 2000 to 2004. Prior to that, he served as executive director of materials management for St. John’s Mercy Health Care in St. Louis and director of materials management at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City.
Lynn holds a master's degree in business from Oklahoma City University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Abilene Christian University.
Michael McCurry - Executive Vice President/Mercy Chief Operating Officer
Mike McCurry has served the Mercy health ministry since 1988. Since 2009, he has been executive vice president and chief operating officer. He concurrently served as president of Mercy Hospital St. Louis from 2010 to 2011 and also as regional president of Mercy’s East Communities from 2010 to March 2012. Prior to that, he served as vice president/chief information officer and as president of Mercy’s supply chain operating division, Resource Optimization and Innovation (ROi). Mike began his career with Mercy in Springfield, Mo., and served in various operational roles for 12 years.
Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southwest Missouri State University.
Shannon Sock – Executive Vice President, Organizational Effectiveness
In this role, Shannon is responsible for initiatives to create and reshape Mercy’s care model. This includes oversight of Mercy’s Center for Innovative Care, strategic planning, care management and philanthropy.
Shannon joined Mercy in 1999 and has served in a variety of leadership roles focused on major business and clinical transformation initiatives, including ROi, Mercy Meds, Mercy SafeWatch, electronic health record systems and most recently the Center for Innovative Care. Prior to joining Mercy, he worked in consulting for CSC Healthcare.
Shannon holds a master’s in business administration and bachelor’s of science in engineering and public policy, both from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Randy Combs - Senior Vice President/Mercy Chief Financial Officer
Randy Combs has served with Mercy for over 25 years. He assumed his present responsibilities as senior vice president and CFO in March 2009. He has also been executive vice president, CFO and COO for Mercy’s operations in St. Louis and Washington.
Prior to joining Mercy, Randy served as vice president, finance, for Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He also held the position of senior accountant with Peat, Marwick Mitchell & Co.
Randy is a certified public accountant in the State of Missouri and holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Donn Sorensen - Regional President East Communities
Donn Sorensen was named regional president of Mercy’s East Communities in March 2012. He had been vice president/COO of Mercy Clinic since 2010. He was previously executive vice president with responsibility over Mercy’s hospitals and services in Springfield and surrounding communities. He also served as senior vice president/COO for St. John’s Mercy Clinic.
Donn has more than 25 years of experience in health care including work with Premier Practice Management (a national practice operations organization), several specialty and multispecialty groups in Nashville, Tennessee, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds a master’s in business administration from Missouri State University. Donn is a member of the American Medical Group Association’s board of directors and is a former chair of the group’s CAO/COO council. He is a fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
Diana Smalley, FACHE - Regional President West Communities
Di Smalley has served with Mercy since 2007, when she was appointed president and CEO of Mercy’s services and hospitals in Oklahoma. Prior to that, she served in various leadership roles with Alegent Health, Omaha, Nebraska. While at Alegent, Di co-founded Avantas, an Omaha, Nebraska-based company nationally recognized for proven best-practice work strategies for the health industry.
Di holds a master’s in public health from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s in biology from Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Nebraska. Di is a graduate of the Nebraska Methodist School of Nursing, Omaha, Nebraska. She is a fellow and former regent of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
Kim Day - Interim President, Mercy Hot Springs, and Regional President, Mercy Central Communities
Kim Day serves as interim president of Mercy Hospital Hot Springs, in addition to his role as regional president, Mercy Central Communities (Springfield, Arkansas, and Joplin/Kansas). Prior to that, he was president and CEO of St. John’s Health System in Springfield, Missouri, (part of Mercy Health) from September 2005 to December 2009. He also served as executive vice-president/chief financial officer for St. John’s Health System from February 2000 to September 2005.
Before joining Mercy, Kim was affiliated with SSM Health Care in St. Louis for 24 years.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Rockhurst University and a master’s in business administration from Central Missouri State University.
East Communities - St. Louis and Washington, Missouri
John W. Hubert, MD - President, Mercy Clinic East Communities
In his role as president of Mercy Clinic East Communities, Dr. Hubert leads over 400 physician members of Mercy Clinic in St. Louis and Washington, Missouri. Before serving as Mercy Clinic president, he was chairman of the Division of Cardiology at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis.
Dr. Hubert attended Washington University Medical School and completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology. He still sees patients at his physician practice, Mercy Heart and Vascular.
Jeffrey Johnston – President, Mercy Hospital St. Louis
Jeff Johnston was named president of Mercy Hospital St. Louis in September 2011. Prior to that, he was president of Mercy Hospital Fort Smith (Ark.), for three years, where he was instrumental in expanding Mercy’s physician group as well as leading a community master planning process. Prior roles with Mercy include senior vice president – Operations for Mercy Hospital Ardmore in Oklahoma., chief operating officer for Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City, and interim CEO of Mercy Health Oklahoma Communities.
Before joining Mercy, Jeff held several leadership positions over a six-year period with MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla., and a master’s in business administration and hospital and health administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Terri L. McLain, FACHE – President, Mercy Hospital Washington
Terri McLain has been president of Mercy Hospital Washington since 2007. Previously, Terri worked for ProMedica Health System as president of both ProMedica Eastern Region and Bay Park Community Hospital in Oregon, Ohio, from 1999 to 2007. Prior to ProMedica, she worked with various St. Louis health care organizations, including Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, Incarnate Word Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes Hospital. Terri began her health care career at Mercy Hospital St. Louis as a nursing assistant, staff nurse and nurse supervisor.
Terri has a master’s in nursing from Saint Louis University and a bachelor’s in nursing from Maryville University. She is a certified health care executive by the American College of Healthcare Executives.
West Communities - Oklahoma
Cullen Thomas, MD - President, Mercy Clinic West Communities
Dr. Thomas leads a team that has seen Mercy Clinic grow from 13 to 45 locations in Oklahoma. It has increased to 224 providers, up from 65, over a two-year period.
Prior to joining Mercy, Dr. Thomas spent 27 years in general surgery at Mercy Health Center, Oklahoma City. For 10 years, he served as president and chairman of the board of a 40-physician group in Oklahoma City.
Dr. Thomas is also a lawyer and member of the Oklahoma and Arizona Bar.
He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City. He completed his internship and his residency in general surgery at St. Francis Hospital, University of Kansas, Wichita. Dr. Thomas is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Pat Patton - Chief Operating Officer, Mercy Clinic West Communities
Pat Patton is Chief Operating Officer of Mercy Clinic in Oklahoma. Patton brings more than 23 years of experience to this position and served most recently as vice president of surgery for Mercy Clinic in Springfield, Mo., formerly nationally known as St. John’s Clinic.
Patton earned a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Kansas and a bachelor’s from Wichita State University. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a certified member of the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
Jim R. Gebhart, FACHE - President, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
Jim Gebhart, a native of western Oklahoma, has served as president of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City since July 2009. He relocated to Oklahoma from Texas where he held a similar position in Waco.
Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma Baptist University and a master’s degree from the University of Dallas in healthcare administration.
Jim is a board member of Leadership Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Hospital Association, Oklahoma March of Dimes, Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), United Way of Oklahoma City and YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. He has been a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2007.
Sharon Smeltzer – CEO, Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Oklahoma City
Sharon Smeltzer, CEO of Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital in Oklahoma City, has 20 years of experience as a therapist and administrator in rehabilitation settings.
Smeltzer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master’s in communication disorders from The University of Oklahoma. She served as a construction battalion engineering aide in the U.S. Navy, in which capacity she drafted and surveyed for amphibious construction battalions. This experience helped her guide the design of Mercy’s 50,000-square-foot rehabilitation hospital, which opened in 2012.
Randy Jobe - Interim President, Mercy Hospital Ardmore
Randy Jobe leads Mercy Hospital Ardmore as interim president. While serving in this role, Jobe will remain vice president of operations for Mercy Clinic in southern Oklahoma. Jobe relocated from northern Oklahoma where he served as chief operating officer for Integris Health in Grove and Miami, Oklahoma.
Jobe received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. and his master’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He has 26 years of health care experience, including serving as a nursing home administrator, administrative director for physician recruitment and practice management, as well as his position as chief operating officer for Integris Health.
Josh Tucker - Administrator, Mercy Hospital Logan County
Josh Tucker has served as administrator of Mercy Hospital Logan County since December 2011.Prior to this position, he was executive director of finance for all of Mercy’s rural hospitals in Oklahoma. He has also served as chief financial officer for Mercy Hospital El Reno.
Josh earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University. He is a board member of the Oklahoma chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Richard Barker, FACHE - Regional Administrator, Mercy Hospital Love County and Mercy Hospital Tishomingo
Richard Barker has been with Mercy since 1991 as administrator of Mercy Hospital Love County in Marietta, Okla. He also has responsibility for Mercy Hospital Tishomingo.
Bobby Stitt, Administrator, Mercy Hospital Watonga
Bobby Stitt joined Mercy Hospital Watonga, as administrator, in 2012. Prior to this he served as chief nursing officer at Kingfisher Regional Hospital in Kingfisher, OK.
Douglas Danker, RN - Administrator, Mercy Hospital El Reno
Douglas Danker has been administrator of Mercy Hospital El Reno since February 2012. Prior to his appointment as administrator, Doug spent 23 years at Mercy in a variety of capacities, including paramedic, ER nurse, medical and surgical supervisor of nursing, intensive care unit coordinator and director of nursing.
Doug has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a master’s in science management from Southern Nazarene University.
Jeremy Jones - Administrator, Mercy Hospital Healdton
Jeremy Jones has been administrator of Mercy Hospital Healdton since January 2011. He joined Mercy from Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, where he served as a recruiter. Prior to that, he was the Human Resources recruiting coordinator for Mercy in Ardmore.
Jeremy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from East Central University in Ada, Okla. In addition to recruiting, he has Human Resources experience in the areas of benefits, compensation, and safety and training. He is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Healthcare Recruiters, the National Association of Healthcare Recruiters and the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters.
North Central Communities - Springfield, Rolla, Joplin, Kansas and surrounding communities
Fred McQueary, MD - President, Mercy Clinic North Central Communities
Dr. McQueary has practiced at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, for 25 years. He has been part of St. John’s Clinic since its beginning in 1993 and served in various leadership roles with Mercy in the years since, including time as a member of the executive team of the Sisters of Mercy Health System.
He has served in his present capacity since January 2009.
Dr. McQueary received his medical education from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa, and a clinical fellowship in arthritis and joint reconstructive surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston. He also holds a master’s degree in medical management (MMM) from Tulane University School of Public Health in New Orleans.
Stuart Stangeland - Chief Operating Officer, Mercy Clinic North Central Communities
Stuart Stangeland has served as COO for Mercy’s physician group in Springfield, Rolla, Joplin, Kansas and surrounding communities since October 2010. He previously served as senior vice president, clinical operations. He has been with Mercy for over 11 years, also serving as vice president of medical and surgical specialties.
Stuart holds a master’s degree in business from Illinois State University and a bachelor’s degree in health care financial management from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.
Jon D. Swope - President/CEO, Mercy Hospital Springfield
Jon Swope has been president/CEO of Mercy Springfield Communities since December 2009. This service area covers 35 counties in southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas.
Jon has been with Mercy since 1980. His positions include executive vice president of Mery Springfield Communities; president/CEO of Mercy Kansas Communities; senior vice president/COO of Mercy Springfield Communities; vice president of Unity Health System, St. Louis; and vice president of Mercy’s East Communities
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Maryville University, St. Louis, and a master’s degree in health administration from Webster University, St. Louis.
Reta Baker - President/ CEO, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott
Reta Baker has been president/CEO of Mercy Hospital Fort Scott since 2009. Prior to that, she was the chief operating officer for four years. She also served as vice president of operations for Mercy hospitals in Kansas and as vice president of Patient Care Services at Mercy Fort Scott. She began her career at Mercy as a staff nurse in 1981, followed by several years in nursing administration at Mercy Fort Scott.
Reta has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Mo., and a master’s in public healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She also holds an advanced certification in health care administration from the University of Minnesota.
Reta is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a board member for the Kansas Hospital Association.
Eric Ammons - President and CEO, Mercy Hospital Independence
Eric Ammons was appointed president and CEO of Mercy Hospital Independence in November 2009. He joined the Mercy organization in 1987 as director of Rehabilitation Services for Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. Since that time, he has served as director of Rehabilitation Services for Mercy Health System of Kansas and Health for Life and as vice president of Human Resources and Customer Service for Mercy Hospital Fort Scott.
Eric received his undergraduate degree in biology from Mid-America Nazarene University and a physical therapy degree from the University of Kansas.
Gary Pulsipher - President and CEO, Mercy Hospital Joplin
Gary Pulsipher has served in his current role as president and CEO of Mercy Hospital Joplin since November 2009. He was president of Breech Regional Medical Center in Lebanon, Mo., when that hospital joined Mercy in the late 1990s. While working in Lebanon, he also served as a regional vice president representing smaller hospitals around Springfield.
From 2002 to 2009, Gary served as president of hospitals in Oregon and Nebraska before returning to Mercy in 2009. Prior to Lebanon, he had served in various financial roles in hospitals in Missouri and Colorado, and as a consultant with Deloitte in Denver, Colo.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in German and accounting from Weber State University and a master’s in public administration from Brigham Young University.
Robert Y. Copeland, Jr., FACHE - President, Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital, Carthage
Bob Copeland joined Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital in May 1996 as director of Patient Care Services and was named CEO in July 1998. His prior administrative experience includes hospitals in Oklahoma City, McAlester and Tulsa, Okla., and Branson, Mo.
Bob received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in health administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Bob is board certified in health care management and is a fellow and past regent of the American College of Healthcare Executives, where he represented the Show-Me Region of Missouri. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Hospital Association and continues to serve on several committees.
Jonathan Wade, FACHE - President, Mercy St. Francis Hospital, Mountain View
Jonathan Wade has been president of Mercy St. Francis Hospital since 2009. Prior to that, he was CEO of Covenant Plainview Hospital in Plainview, Texas, for three years. He also served as senior vice president of Mercy Hospital Springfield for five years. Jonathan is a veteran, serving as detachment commander for the U.S. Army Task Force Medical Falcon in Kosovo and Macedonia.
Jonathan has a master’s degree in health administration from Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa, and a bachelor’s in biology from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. He is a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Douglas Stroemel – President, Mercy Hospital Aurora and Mercy Hospital Cassville
Douglas Stroemel serves as president of Mercy Hospital Aurora and Mercy Hospital Cassville, a position he has held since February 2010. Doug previously served as vice president and COO in Aurora. He has also held Mercy roles as clinical executive director and manager of respiratory therapy and cardiopulmonary rehab. His health care experience as a clinician and leader spans more than 40 years.
Doug has a master’s degree in health administration from Webster University and a bachelor’s in general studies from Drury University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Kristy Estrem - President, Mercy Hospital Berryville
Kristy Estrem has been president of Mercy Hospital Berryville since August 2006. She was senior vice president from 1995 to 2006. Prior to that, she was vice president for Community Relations and Development. Before coming to Mercy Hospital Berryville, she was director of Community Relations and Marketing at Mercy Hospital Hot Springs. Kristy is a native of Berryville.
Kristy has a bachelor’s in business administration from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Ark., and a master’s in business administration from Chadwick University in Birmingham, Ala. She is a certified healthcare executive (CHE) with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Kristy is a member of the Arkansas Hospital Association Board. She received the Young Administrator of the Year award from the Arkansas Hospital Association in 2007 and the Grassroots Champion award for Arkansas from the American Hospital Association in 2012.
Mike Gillen, FACHE - President, Mercy Hospital Lebanon
Mike Gillen has been president of Mercy Hospital Lebanon since July 2007. His previous experience includes serving as administrator at Sterling Regional Medical Center for eight years, as administrator for Ann Carlsen Center for Children for four years and as administrative director for McKee Medical Center.
Mike has a bachelor’s degree in health services administration from the University of South Dakota and a master’s degree in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is certified as a Lean Six Sigma-Black Belt. Mike serves on the American Heartland Economic Partnership Board. Mike is a veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1986 to 1994.
Cindy Neely - President/ Administrator, Mercy Maude Norton Hospital
Cindy Neely has been president/administrator of Mercy Maude Norton Hospital since 1996. She has 31 years of health care experience with the facility.
Cindy holds a bachelor‘s degree in business administration from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan., and a master’s of business administration in health care management from William Woods University in Farmington, Mo. She is an advanced member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and has been awarded the Follmer Bronze Merit Award for outstanding service.
Cindy is a past president of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and is active in her community. She also serves on the Columbus Community Economic Development committee.
South Central Communities - Northwest Arkansas
Stephen Goss, MD - President, Mercy Clinic Northwest Arkansas
Dr. Goss has served as president of Mercy’s integrated physicians in Northwest Arkansas since November 2003. In this role, he works with over 80 multispecialty physicians at 22 clinic locations.
Board-certified in pediatrics and internal medicine, Dr. Goss has practiced medicine since 1983. He earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, where he also completed his residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics.
Scott Street - President/CEO, Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas
Scott Street serves as president/CEO of Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas. He previously served as president/CEO of Duncan Regional Health System in Duncan, Okla., and also worked for Baptist Health in Little Rock, Ark.
Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ouachita Baptist University and a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Missouri.
Steven Hughes - Chief Administrative Officer, Mercy Clinic Northwest Arkansas
Steven Hughes serves as chief administrative officer for the Mercy Clinic physician organization in Northwest Arkansas, a position he’s held since March 2008. He is responsible for the overall management of 22 clinics.
Steven has over 25 years of medical practice management experience.
He holds a master of science degree in business, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, from Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas. Steven is also a certified medical practice executive with the American College of Medical Practice Executives (ACMPE).
South Central Communities - Hot Springs
Tim Johnsen - President, Mercy Hospital Hot Springs
Tim Johnsen, who has been with Mercy since 2003, is president of Mercy Hospital Hot Springs. Before his current role, he was president of St. John’s Hospital in Lebanon, Mo., and began his career as a nurse in intensive care and as a flight nurse for an air ambulance program.
Tim is a native of St. Louis and has a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University and a master’s degree in health services administration from Southwest Baptist University.
Andy Runge - Chief Operating Officer, Mercy Clinic Hot Springs
Andy Runge has served as COO for Mercy Clinic Hot Springs since July 2008. He has been with Mercy for 10 years. From 2001 to 2008, he served at St. John’s Clinic in Springfield, Missouri, as operational vice president working with the Medical Specialty and Primary Care departments.
Prior to working for Mercy, Andy was a physician group practice executive in Central Florida.
He holds a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University.
South Central Communities - Fort Smith
R. Cole Goodman, MD - President, Mercy Clinic Fort Smith
Dr. Goodman was named to his present position with Mercy Clinic Fort Smith in January 2010. Since that time, the clinic has grown from 26 physicians to 74.
Dr. Goodman also serves as director, Wound Management and Prevention, for Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. He has been on the plastic surgery staff of the hospital since 1978. He was chief of surgery at Mercy Hospital in 1985 and again in 1990.
He also practiced plastic and reconstructive surgery for Plastic Surgery Specialists in Fort Smith from 1978 to 2009.
Dr. Goodman attended the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in English literature from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Matt Keep - Chief Operating Officer, Mercy Clinic Fort Smith
Matt has served as COO with Mercy Clinic Fort Smith since January 2008. Under his leadership, the clinic has grown to more than 80 providers and includes 200 co-workers.
Prior to joining Mercy, Matt was an executive in clinic-focused roles for two large integrated health systems.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University and a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Oklahoma. He is board certified by the American College of Medical Practice Executives.
Ryan Gehrig - President, Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
Ryan Gehrig was named president of Mercy Hospital Fort Smith in April 2012. He came to Mercy from Norman Regional Health System where he served as vice president of enterprise systems and chief administrative officer for Moore Medical Center, one of the system’s hospitals in Norman, Okla. He previously served as chief operating officer of Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg, Miss., as CEO and chief operating officer of Bristow Medical Center in Bristow, Okla., and as chief operating officer of Cushing Regional Hospital in Cushing, Okla.
Ryan graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science. He received his master’s in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He completed an administrative residency at Hillcrest Healthcare System in Tulsa.
Michael K. Smith - Administrator/Chief Nursing Officer, Mercy Hospital Ozark
Michael Smith has been hospital administrator and chief nursing officer for Mercy Hospital Ozark since July 2009. He worked as a paramedic, flight nurse and clinical educator with Air Evac Lifeteam in West Plains, Mo., for eight years prior to his service with Mercy. Before that, he was a paramedic and ICU RN charge nurse for Johnston Regional Medical Center in Clarksville, Ark. and a field paramedic and nurse in the CCU/CVICU for Conway Regional Medical Center, Conway, Ark.
Michael has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark., and an associate’s degree in nursing from Excelsior College in Albany, NY.
Michael is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the National Association of EMT, the National Association of EMS Educators, the National Association of Flight Paramedic, the Arkansas Hospital Association, the Arkansas EMT Association, the Ozark Chamber of Commerce and the Ozark Rotary Club.
Sharon Sorey - Administrator, Mercy Hospital Paris
Sharon Sorey has been administrator at Mercy Hospital Paris since 2007. She started working at Mercy in 1981, serving as staff nurse on the Med/Surg floor and as director of Nursing for 10 years. Prior to that, she was a nurse in Wichita Public Schools for three years.
Sharon graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1977. She lives in Paris and has two teenage sons.
Dorothy O’Bar, RN - Administrator/Director of Nursing, Mercy Hospital Waldron
Dede O’Bar was named administrator of Mercy Hospital Waldron in 2010. She has worked for Mercy since 1971. She started as a nurse in Labor and Delivery for 12 years, served as a house supervisor for three years and became director of Nursing in 1986. Dede has an associate’s degree in nursing from Westark Junior College. She and her husband, John, have five children and six grandchildren.
