(Oct. 23, 2026) – The Kansas Hospital Association Leadership Institute graduated its 24th class of 29 students on Sept. 11, 2026, at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Overland Park, Kansas. Students were nominated by their hospital's CEO to be part of this select group. They represent the future leaders of Kansas hospitals. Helping to build future health care leaders is important to the Kansas Hospital Association. “We are committed to strengthening and promoting the leadership capacity of hospital employees in Kansas,” said Chad Austin, president and CEO, Kansas Hospital Association. The KHA Leadership Institute was established to help hospitals provide professional development opportunities that accentuate the personal skills and abilities needed to facilitate positive change and innovation in Kansas hospitals.
The 2026 Leadership Institute class was diverse. They represented a wide geographic distribution of hospitals from St. Francis to Elkhart and parsons to Holton – there was representation from all parts of the state. It is important to note that the students nominated to participate in this program were not selected because they needed to learn "management skills." They were nominated because their CEO recognized their potential to be future leaders and wanted to help cultivate that development. Each one of these students made a personal and professional commitment to expanding their skills by attending all six courses of the Leadership Institute.
Congratulations to this year’s class!
- Braden Anderson, Morton County Health System, Elkhart
- Gordon Beightel, Community HealthCare System, Onaga
- Amanda Bernbeck, Logan County Health Services, Oakley
- Kelsey Brin, Rooks County Health Center, Plainville
- Emilee Brown, SCK Health, Arkansas City
- Jennifer Carmichael, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson
- Leasha Couchman, Lane County Hospital, Dighton
- Kiel Emerson, HaysMed, Hays
- Catrina Fickel, Labette Health, Parsons
- Henrique Gebara, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital, Fort Scott
- Julie Goetz, Salina Regional Health Center, Salina
- Amy Huerter, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca
- Rana Ingram, Clara Barton Medical Center, Hoisington
- Stacey Knowles, Meade District Hospital/Artesian Valley Health System, Meade
- Sam Lane, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned
- Lacy Lawrence, Greeley County Health Services, Tribune
- Jordan McKittrick, Decatur Health, Oberlin
- Taylor Mead, Greenwood County Hospital, Eureka
- Shelly Moss, Coffey County Hospital, Burlington
- Agatha Nickelson, Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt
- Shane Olson, Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems, Beloit
- Heather Rankin, Kiowa District Healthcare, Kiowa
- Carla Renyer, Sabetha Community Hospital, Sabetha
- Penny Showalter, Rice Community Health, Lyons
- Bridget Tillitson, Grisell Memorial Hospital District #1, Ransom
- Caley VanLoenen, Graham County Hospital, Hill City
- April Walker, NMC Health, Newton
- Lori Williams, Holton Community Hospital, Holton
- Aubrey Winegarner, Cheyenne County Hospital, Saint Francis
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Jennifer Findley