Our Leadership - Capella Health

At Capella Healthcare, our senior leaders possess an in-depth knowledge of the health care industry. They are nationally recognized leaders with proven track records in operating highly successful hospitals of all sizes and market types – from large tertiary teaching hospitals in metropolitan markets to small community hospitals in rural markets. In fact, the Senior Leadership Team collectively has more than 150 years of hospital operations experience in more than 200 hospitals in 30 states. Our leaders are intimately familiar with every aspect of hospital operations.

National Advisory Board of Directors

The National Advisory Board of Directors for Capella Healthcare was announced in January 2016. With company Founder Dan Slipkovich serving as Chair, the Board includes representatives from communities served by Capella, including hospital board chairs, physicians and hospital leaders as well as other prominent industry leaders.

“We are honored that these distinguished individuals have agreed to accept appointments to Capella’s new National Advisory Board of Directors,” said Capella’s President and CEO Michael Wiechart. “Their knowledge, experience and leadership skills will contribute significantly to making us a better company and, by extension, help us achieve our mission of making healthcare better for all of the communities we serve. Since the Board includes key stakeholders from those communities, this ensures that our patients, employees, physicians and community leaders are represented as the Board provides direction for how we operate.”

In addition to Wiechart and Slipkovich, eight other individuals are serving on the inaugural National Advisory Board. Learn more by reading the news release: National Advisory Board of Directors named for Capella Healthcare

Executive Management

Michael A. “Mike” Wiechart
President and Chief Executive Officer

Mike was appointed to the role of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2014, after having served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) from 2009-2013. As COO, Mike had responsibility for hospital operations, quality improvement, supply chain, revenue cycle, managed care operations, and labor productivity initiatives as well as having significant involvement in merger and acquisition activities.

Gary D. Willis, CPA
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Gary D. Willis joined Capella in 2015 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He came to Capella from Martin Ventures where he has been CFO. As CFO, he oversaw all financial aspects of the investment firm which focuses on equity and debt investments in young, high growth businesses, primarily in healthcare and technology.

Andrew “Andy” Slusser
Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer

A founding member of the executive team, Andy serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer. He has more than 30 years of hospital operations, corporate finance and development experience. Andy leads the Company’s efforts to partner with local communities to improve healthcare services by delivering more capital to expand services and recruit physicians while providing a new tax base to the local governments.

Mark Medley
Executive Vice President, President – Hospital Operations

As President of Hospital Operations for Capella, Mark works with affiliated hospitals’ leadership teams in setting strategy and achieving goals in the five key pillars. He is also currently serving as Chair of the Tennessee Hospital Association.

Donald J. Bivacca
Executive Vice President, President – Operations Support

Donald J. “Don” Bivacca joined Capella in 2015 as Executive Vice President and President of Operations Support for Capella Healthcare. The new position was created because of the significant growth Capella is experiencing. A key part of Don’s role includes leading our teams in the due diligence process as Capella evaluates potential additions, and helping to determine how the company can best invest capital to improve quality, expand services, manage costs, and recruit needed providers.

Neil W. Kunkel
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer

Neil joined Capella in October of 2011 as General Counsel and Secretary of the Board. He was promoted to his current position in January 2014. He has more than 20 years of experience in the practice of law, fifteen of those in health care.

Senior Leadership

Vishal Bhatia, MD, MBA
Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO)

Richard “Rick” Charbonneau
Senior Vice President – Development

To read more about Rick, click here>>

Rita Croom
Senior Vice President, Chief Experience Officer

To read more about Rita, click here>>

Dana Rice, RN, MHA, CCM
Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer

To read more about Dana, click here>>

Ben Ross
Senior Vice President, President of Physician Services

To read more about Ben, click here>>

Carolyn Schneider
Senior Vice President – Human Resources

Alan Smith
Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer

To read more about Alan, click here>>

Robert B. Wampler, CPA
Senior Vice President – Hospital Operations

Lori Wooten
Senior Vice President, CFO of Hospital Operations

To read more about Lori, click here>>

Beth Wright
Senior Vice President – Corporate Communications & Strategic Marketing

To read more about Beth, click here>>

Leadership Team

Richard Brasher
Vice President – Risk Management

Holly Clark, RN, FACHE
Vice President, Hospital Support Services

Ray Coffey
Vice President – Reimbursement

Beverly Craig, RN
Vice President – Regulatory Compliance and Clinical Risk Management

Libba Estep
Vice President, CFO/COO of Physician Operations

Shawn Green, RN, MSN, ACNS-BC
Vice President – Care Management and Appeals

Stephanie Hall, CPA
Vice President – Financial Reporting

Brian K. Hitchcock
Vice President – Material Resource Operations

Gay Huff
Assistant Vice President, Controller – Hospital Operations

Brent Jean, CPA, FHFMA
Assistant Vice President – Reimbursement

Jane Motes
Vice President – Revenue Cycle Operations

Angie Mulder, CHC
Vice President, Corporate Compliance Officer

Christina Patterson
Vice President – Finance and Investor Relations

Andretta Reed, MHA, RHIA
Vice President – HIM Operations and Coding

Scott Rester, MBA, CHCIO, PMP, CPHIMS
Vice President – Information Systems and Project Management

Warren Smith
Assistant Vice President – Corporate Accounting

Davis Turner
Vice President, Associate General Counsel

Jim Wiseman
Vice President – Tax

Lee W. Yuill, CPA, CFE, CIA, CRMA, CGMA
Vice President – Internal Audit

Corporate Leadership Team

At the VP-level, with an average of 25 years experience, our leaders are respected nationally, serving on boards and in other roles of influence, mentoring young leaders and helping to improve health care throughout the country. Our corporate staff exists to partner with and provide resources for our experienced hospital operators in the field. To read bios on our entire leadership team, Click Here.