3 finalists named for hospital CEO

East Phillips County Hospital District is one step closer to finding a new chief executive officer for Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke.

In January, the board of directors had four special meetings, all with executive sessions, to interview seven candidates. After their final meeting Tuesday, Jan. 21, three finalists were named.

All three will be in Holyoke for interviews in February, and the public is invited to meet them at community luncheons at the Lions Den, 125 N. Campbell Ave., from noon-1 p.m. on the following days:

— Bryan Hargis, Thursday, Feb. 6.

— Donald Weidemann, Thursday, Feb. 13.

— Cathy Harshbarger, Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Bryan Hargis

Bryan J. Hargis, CPA, CGMA, FACHE, currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona. Hargis has 25 years of health care administration experience, including over 10 years in the role of chief executive officer.  His health care leadership experience spans multiple states, including Alabama, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Missouri and Arizona.

His most recent leadership role was at Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital in Sacaton, Arizona, where he “was hired to resuscitate an under-performing rural hospital and prepare the facility to achieve Level IV trauma designation.” Prior to this role, he also served as CEO for small hospitals in Gilbert, Arizona, and Florence, Arizona. Hargis’ background includes a variety of not-for-profit and for-profit hospital organizations. He formed his own independent consulting practice in 2017.

Early in his career, he worked for “Big 8” and “Big 4” accounting firms as a CPA. Hargis believes his dual background as hospital executive and CPA equates to “having keen financial instincts” regarding operational and service line improvements. After years of executing many successful organizational turnarounds — both financial and operational — he is “looking to find a place he can call home” and “plant deep roots in a community.”

Hargis grew up in Aurora, Illinois, and he holds a master’s in business administration with an emphasis in health care administration from Auburn University and bachelor’s degrees in both accounting and marketing from Arizona State University. Hargis will interview at MMH on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Cathy Harshbarger

Catherine Harshbarger, MHA, BSN, resides in Holyoke with her husband, Bob, and is currently serving as the interim chief executive officer at Melissa Memorial Hospital. She moved to the Holyoke community in 2019 and served as a clinical consultant for six months prior to assuming the newly created role of chief clinical officer. She began serving as the interim CEO in December.

Prior to joining MMH, Harshbarger served as the chief executive officer at Banner Lassen Medical Center in Susanville, California. She worked at BLMC for seven years, the first two serving as the chief nursing officer before being promoted to the CEO role. During her tenure, BLMC was recognized as a Top 20 critical access hospital and achieved Level IV trauma designation.

Harshbarger’s health care career includes roles in Wyoming, Kansas, California and Colorado. In addition to deep experience in critical access hospitals, she has also served in home and hospice health, and nursing home settings. In total, she has over 30 years of health care experience, including nearly 20 years in senior leadership roles.

Harshbarger said, “I knew as a 5-year-old that I wanted to be a nurse.” She was born in Wheatland, Wyoming, and spent her formative years in Wheatland and Laramie, Wyoming. Harshbarger holds a master’s in health administration from the University of Phoenix, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix, and an associate degree in nursing from Western Wyoming Community College. Harshbarger will formally interview for the permanent CEO role on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Donald Weidemann

Donald L. Weidemann, MHS, MA, currently resides in Gordon, Nebraska, with his wife, Marion. Weidemann has over 30 years of experience in health care, with over 20 years in senior leadership positions. In his most recent position, he served as the interim executive director of operations for Regional West Physicians Clinic in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Prior to this role, he served as CEO at critical access hospitals in Gordon and Tucumcari, New Mexico. His career journey has taken him to Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Nevada, New Mexico, Missouri and Nebraska. Earlier in his career, Weidemann worked 10 years internationally in Guam and the Philippines.

He has also led a number of organizational turnarounds and believes his “cross-cultural experience underscores his adaptable work style and ability to excel in any environment.” In New Mexico, his hospital had the top scores in the state for patient satisfaction and was recognized for quality by the National Rural Health Association.

Weidemann started his professional career as a science teacher.

Weidemann was born in Michigan and grew up in San Jose, California. He holds a master’s degree in health science, public health finance and administration from Johns Hopkins University, plus a master’s degree in biology education and a bachelor’s degree in biology and physical science from Pacific Union College in Angwin, California. Weidemann will interview at MMH on Thursday, Feb. 13.