No. 7: Changes at the top emerge in health care systems

The faces of leadership in the Ozarks’ health care scene saw transitions announced this year that will extend into 2022.

Most recently, Steve Edwards, president and CEO of CoxHealth, announced in November his intent to retire in May. The 56-year-old, who was diagnosed with cancer in the past year, has led the health system since 2012 and been a CoxHealth employee since 1992.

CoxHealth’s Board of Directors convened a search committee with the goal of having a new CEO before Edwards’ exit. The replacement will serve as the leader of Springfield’s largest employer with a workforce of over 12,200.

It wasn’t the only executive change at CoxHealth this year as Amanda Hedgpeth was promoted in October to president of its Springfield hospitals. Hedgpeth, a 16-year employee who currently serves as vice president of hospital operations, is set to succeed the retiring Karen Kramer in February. Kramer’s additional roles as senior vice president and chief hospital officer also will pass to Hedgpeth.

In Bolivar, Michael Calhoun is set to assume the CEO role Jan. 1 at Citizens Memorial Hospital. As the health care system’s current chief operating officer, Calhoun will take over for Gary Fulbright, who is retiring after nearly 40 years of employment at CMH.

Calhoun also will lead the CMH Foundation as executive director. He’s set to become only the third leader at CMH in its 40-year history.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department already underwent a leadership change this year, as Katie Towns was selected in July as director of health. She had served as acting director since February, when former Health Department Director Clay Goddard left to take a job with St. Louis-based Missouri Foundation for Health.

Towns had worked as assistant director of the Health Department since 2015.