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Northwest AR
ROGERS, Ark. — Following an extensive national search, Mercy named Rhett Stover the president of Mercy Northwest Arkansas Communities, effective Dec. 1. Stover returns to Mercy after most recently leading Proactive MD, an advanced primary care network and value-based care organization covering 22 states.
“With Rhett’s strong track record of leading quality health care systems and driving meaningful transformation, he brings exactly the kind of visionary leadership Mercy Northwest Arkansas needs in this time of remarkable growth and opportunity,” said David Argueta, Mercy’s senior vice president and president of community operations. “His leadership aligns seamlessly with our commitment to excellence and service in the community.”
Stover will lead operations and strategy for Mercy’s hospitals and clinics across the Northwest Arkansas region. He will work closely with community leaders to ensure Mercy continues its tradition of high-quality, compassionate care while building upon its legacy and plans for the future, which include a 30-year collaboration with the Alice L. Walton Foundation and Heartland Whole Health Institute.
Stover has served in many leadership roles throughout his career, including chief executive officer of Oklahoma State University Medicine, where he was responsible for integrated growth and operational strategies as the statewide network expanded access across Oklahoma.
Prior to that role, he was the chief administrative officer at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City and CEO of Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa while it was managed by Mercy.
“Serving alongside such an exceptional team of physicians and caregivers, I am honored to partner with our talented team at every level to carry forward the great progress underway in Northwest Arkansas,” Stover said. “Having always been inspired by Mercy’s vision for health and healing, I’m humbled and eager to advance critical transformation initiatives that will create lasting impact for our patients across the Northwest Arkansas community and greater region for generations to come.”
Active in professional and community organizations, Stover serves on the board of directors for the Cherokee Nation Home Health Services. Stover earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration marketing at the University of Oklahoma and his master’s in health care administration at Oklahoma State University.
“It’s exciting to welcome Rhett back to Mercy,” Argueta said. “His understanding of our mission, combined with his years of proven leadership across diverse health care settings, brings both familiarity and fresh perspective to this new chapter of growth and collaboration.”
With the dynamic growth of both Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith, Ryan Gehrig, who recently served as president for all Mercy Arkansas Communities, will now focus full time on Mercy Fort Smith, including the recent $186 million expansion of its emergency room and intensive care unit as well as a $41 million cancer center addition currently under construction.
“We are deeply grateful for Ryan’s dedicated leadership guiding all the Mercy Arkansas Communities through this time of growth. He carried that responsibility with remarkable grace,” Argueta said. “His steadfast commitment and vision have advanced our mission, supported our caregivers and ensured exceptional care for our patients. We are thankful to have his continued leadership focused on Mercy Fort Smith.”
