Cejka Places CEO at Meeker Memorial Hospital & Clinics
June 27, 2018 – Cejka Executive Search, a specialist recruiter serving the healthcare space, recruited current Swift County Benson Health Services leader Kurt Waldbillig as the new CEO for Meeker Memorial Hospital & Clinics (MMHC) in Litchfield, MN. He succeeds Kyle Rasmussen who retired in May. Executive vice president and managing principal Mark Madden led the assignment. Mr. Waldbillig is expected to begin his new job in September.
“After an exhaustive search process, the board is pleased to have found the best individual to lead this strong, independent and financially successful organization into the future,” said Beth Oberg, chair of MMHC’s board of directors and Meeker County commissioner. “Kurt’s vision, leadership and experience in growing local access to high quality services will serve our community well.”
With 54 initial prospects, the field was narrowed to a group that ultimately interviewed with the board’s search committee and then to a final round with other key stakeholders.
“Kurt emerged as the best choice in a pool of interested and well qualified candidates,” said John Spreiter, MMHC’s board vice chair and chair of the search committee. “He’s a successful healthcare executive and brings with him proven experience in leading rural, critical-access facilities. He’s demonstrated a commitment to growth, innovation and financial performance all while ensuring that patient care remains at the heart of every decision.”
Prior to his role as CEO of Swift County Benson Health Services, Mr. Waldbillig served as CEO of Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin, ND as well as Sakakawea Medical Center in Hazen, ND. Before that, he was vice president of physician services at St. Alexis Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.
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Meeker Memorial Hospital & Clinics is a county-owned, not-for-profit healthcare facility. A community hospital, it is at the forefront of medical technology, service and care and offers sophisticated diagnostic, surgical, rehabilitation, behavioral health and specialty services with the personal attention and respect that patients deserve.
Healthcare Recruiters
Cejka Executive Search has provided recruiting services exclusively to the healthcare industry for more than 35 years. Its client roster includes Georgetown University Hospital, Northwestern Memorial, Levine Cancer Institute, St. John Providence Health System, Tenet, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, Centene Corp., Cape Fear Valley Health and Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.
The firm has conducted searches for an array of roles, including chief medical information officer, chief compliance officer, chief of oncology, chief medical officer, chief of pediatrics, chief of neurology, chief nursing officer, CEO, CFO, COO, department chair, chief clinical officer, medical director and chief strategy officer.
Mr. Madden, who joined the firm from B.E. Smith this past April, has extensive experience leading board search committees in executive recruitment, leveraging his expertise in leadership assessment and evaluation as well as his thorough understanding of the complex issues facing healthcare leaders. With more than 25 years of experience, he provides expertise in healthcare recruitment for C-suite executives, physician executives, medical group practices and senior services administrators.
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Cejka placed Scott Gudger as CEO of the Oregon Clinic, the state’s largest private specialty provider. The search was led and by executive vice presidents and managing principals, Joyce Tucker and MaryBeth Nicholas Cruz.
He has worked closely with boards, search committees, senior-level executives and physicians. His search engagements have included C-suite positions for large multi-site, integrated and tertiary health systems, as well as smaller community hospitals and medical group practices.
Recent Expansion
Cejka ended last year with the addition of Alan D. Johns as executive vice president, managing principal, to lead the firm’s academic medicine and health sciences search practice. Mr. Johns has three decades of experience in higher education/academic health sciences administration, finance, operations, strategic planning, research administration, risk assessment and accountability. Most recently, Mr. Johns served as a senior vice president at Tyler & Company.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
