Four Mon Health Employees Graduate from WVHA Leadership Academy

WVHA Leadership Academy graduates are pictured above with other Mon Health leaders, including (L-R): Mark Gilliam, Mon Health Medical Center CAO; Rick Scherich, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital VP of Finance; Katie Davison, Mon Health System Chief Human Resources Officer; Romeo Tan, Mon Health Medical Center Director of Operations and Mon Health System Director of Growth and Community Outreach; Nate James, Mon Health System Director of Employee and Volunteer Engagement; Angela Cedeno, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Director of Clinical Operations; Jennifer Barnes, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Chief Quality Officer; and Carole Norton, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Chief Nursing Officer.

Four Mon Health System employees have graduated from the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA) 2022 Leadership Academy. Angela Cedeno, Nate James, Rick Scherich, and Romeo Tan were honored at a ceremony on April 22 at Stonewall Resort, near Weston. 

“Through the WVHA Leadership Academy, I had the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with leaders from the across the state,” said Romeo Tan, Mon Health Medical Center Director of Operations and Mon Health System Director of Growth and Community Outreach. “I will be utilizing the methods of communication and leadership that I learned from industry experts and conversations with colleagues throughout my career.”

According to the WVHA, hospitals need leaders that demonstrate innovation and strong decision-making abilities to contribute to organizational success and improve the health in WV communities as the national and state healthcare landscape continues to shift. The WVHA Hospital Leadership Academy was created to assist member hospitals in advancing their workforce capabilities and position themselves for success.

“We were able to have meaningful learning experiences but also creating a vast network of colleagues from across the state in various disciplines,” said Angela Cedeño, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Director of Clinical Operations. “We were in a group with leaders in finance, operations, nursing, ambulatory, quality, and more. It was a well-rounded program that is certainly pertinent and valuable for healthcare leaders.”

Through the academy, hospital professionals gain insight on the healthcare environment and business leadership strategies. The program utilizes a variety of techniques to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively lead their organizations. 

“The WVHA Leadership Academy has been one of the best professional experiences I have been a part of,” said Nate James, Mon Health System Director of Employee and Volunteer Engagement. “The Academy has inspired me to think about the concept of true leadership and the opportunities to be an amazing leader.” 

The WVHA developed the Hospital Leadership Academy to provide training in executive leadership development and to provide the opportunity to learn from a broad range of experts from across the country. Individuals engaged in this nine-month program gained the experiences, insights, networking, competencies, and skill enhancements necessary to effectively lead teams in the workplace and community. 

“The Academy provided an excellent opportunity to learn from great hospital leaders in the State of West Virginia and to create friendships with developing hospital leaders from a wide variety of disciplines,” said Rick Scherich, Vice President of Finance at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital. “The experience enabled me to broaden my knowledge of healthcare and prepared me to be a better hospital leader.”

To learn more about the West Virginia Hospital Association Leadership Academy, visit WVHA.org.