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Memorial Hospital of Converse County Board Names Interim CEO and Begins Search

Hospital news | Thursday, May 23, 2019

Contact: Karl Hertz

The Board of Trustees of Memorial Hospital of Converse County met Wednesday evening and named Karl Hertz interim CEO at their regular board meeting on May 22, 2019. The appointment of Hertz follows CEO Ryan Smith’s announcement that he would be leaving to serve as the CEO at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, AK.

Hertz moved to Douglas in May of 2011 to serve as the Marketing and Recruitment Manager for the hospital. In 2012, Hertz was named Assistant Administrator and began managing operations at the Hospital alongside Smith. As Interim CEO, Hertz will continue to work in coordination with Senior Leadership and the Board to help guide the hospital through the transition to a permanent CEO.

In a statement, the board announced it would begin a search for a permanent CEO, and that search may include internal, regional or national candidates. According to Board Chairman Bob Kayser, the search for a permanent CEO may take some time. “The Board is committed to searching for a permanent CEO who will be committed to maintaining the current culture and values that distinguish our hospital from others,” said Kayser. “The candidate must have a firm commitment to maintaining MHCC as an independent, nonaffiliated, community-owned hospital.”

Further details about the position, the search for a new CEO, and updates will be made available in the coming weeks via the Hospital website or social media.