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For the sixth time, Springfield Memorial Hospital has been awarded the Comprehensive Stroke Center designation by The Joint Commission. This is the highest stroke care certification in the country and SMH has maintained that designation since 2015! This speaks to the sustained investment Memorial Health has made in training, technology and specialized expertise across our region. What does that designation mean in practice? Highly qualified physicians available 24/7; a dedicated neurointensive care unit; advanced imaging for diagnosis and treatment; and a multidisciplinary stroke team that includes specialists from SIU School of Medicine, Springfield Clinic and Mid-America Emergency Physicians. SMH is one of only 17 hospitals in Illinois to hold this designation — and one of the few outside the Chicago metro. "Our goal is to make sure everyone in our communities has access to that care whenever they need it," said Jennifer Rebbe, director of neurosciences at Memorial Health. Every Memorial Health hospital in central Illinois holds a stroke care designation. That's commitment that starts from the top.
Our regional healthcare partners have known this for a long time, but it is nice to be recognized nationally, too. The Edgar J. Curtis Memorial Learning Center (MLC) has been named to Becker's Healthcare's list of hospitals and health systems with the most exceptional simulation and education programs in the country. “Becker’s Healthcare is proud to honor 93 hospitals and health systems with exceptional simulation and education programs. These innovative initiatives give students and healthcare professionals the opportunity to sharpen their skills in realistic, controlled environments that closely replicate real-world clinical scenarios. Using advanced technologies and highly immersive simulations, these programs help improve patient outcomes, enhance safety and reduce healthcare costs. By providing a secure space for hands-on learning and practice, they equip providers with the confidence and expertise needed to deliver the highest standard of care.” We appreciate the accolades, but our true satisfaction comes from knowing what the MLC does every day for the communities we serve.
Congratulations to our senior vice president and chief human resources officer Elisabeth Klar, PhD, CPC, SPHR, on making Becker’s Hospital Review’s “140 list of CHROs and Chief People Officers to Know” in 2026. This list, from a leading healthcare publication, honors leaders driving workforce strategies, retention and culture. This comes as no surprise to Memorial Health. For the past four years, Dr. Klar has helped transform our organization in key areas including talent acquisition, workforce development and cost efficiency. We are grateful for her continued leadership, innovative thinking and persistence as Memorial Health continues to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health.
Aaron Puchbauer, MBA, MHA, has been named president and CEO of Taylorville Memorial Hospital, effective March 30. He has extensive leadership experience at rural critical access hospitals, including as president and CEO of HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in agribusiness management and business administration, finance and banking, as well as master’s degrees in health administration and business administration. “Aaron has a strong commitment to rural health and a wide range of experience helping critical access hospitals grow and better serve their communities,” said Dolan Dalpoas, senior vice president and chief community impact and philanthropy officer at Memorial Health. “His leadership will help TMH continue its tradition of excellent care and explore new ways to meet the needs of our patients.” “TMH has a strong reputation as one of the top rural hospitals in our region,” Puchbauer said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of that team.”
Congratulations to our president and CEO, Mandy Eaton, PhD, who has been elected to a three-year-term on the Board of Trustees for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA). Dr. Eaton joins the policymaking body that guides IHA's work representing more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems across Illinois. IHA's advocacy on behalf of hospitals and healthcare organizations throughout our state helps ensure Illinois communities have access to high-quality, patient-centered care. We're excited that Dr. Eaton will contribute her leadership and expertise to this important work, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with IHA to better the healthcare environment for all.
Sarah Matlin has been named senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Memorial Health. Before joining Memorial, she was the Founder and CEO of OKTO Strategic Advisory, which works to transform healthcare organizations through innovation. She previously served as chief strategy officer at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, an independent health system based in northern Kentucky. She has a bachelor’s degree in international business, economics and German from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and a master’s degree in business administration from Solvay Business School in Brussels, Belgium. “Sarah has a wealth of experience in forging strategic direction for healthcare organizations while making sure they stay focused on what’s truly important: the well-being of our patients and communities,” said Mandy Eaton, Memorial Health president and CEO. “She will bring us the expertise and vision we need to transform how we serve our region.” “I’m excited to join Memorial at a time when there is so much opportunity for growth and change,” Matlin said. “I look forward to getting to know our communities and exploring new ways to meet the needs of the people we serve.”
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Family Maternity Suites recently earned redesignation as a Baby-Friendly Hospital. This is the second consecutive designation for JMH FMS. To be designated as Baby-Friendly, hospitals must give new mothers the information, education and resources they need to start their breastfeeding journey during their hospital stay, as well as ensure access to ongoing support after discharge. This initiative was founded in the early 1990s by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support and encourage breastfeeding. In the U.S., the designation is awarded by Baby-Friendly USA.
That’s a wrap, 2025! We appreciate the trust you placed in us this year to care for you and your loved ones. We'll see you in 2026!
Memorial Health has officially launched our Epic implementation project! In late October, more than 900 colleagues and medical staff from across Memorial and our community partners came together for an energizing kick-off event that gave everyone a sneak peek at the platform’s capabilities. This is more than just a technology upgrade – it’s an opportunity to bring all Memorial Health locations together on a single electronic health record, simplifying and streamlining access for our colleagues, patients and physicians. There’s a lot of work to be done before go-live, which is tentatively set for 2027. But we’ve assembled a great team and we’re ready and excited for what lies ahead.
Brandon Koser, DO, who currently serves as medical director of the DMH Emergency Department, has been named chief medical officer at Decatur Memorial Hospital. In addition to his role at Memorial, Dr. Koser is executive officer of the U.S. Army Reserve 804th Medical Brigade. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia and master’s degrees in public health and business administration from Benedictine University. He graduated from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine with a medical degree before completing a residency in emergency medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Congratulations, Dr. Koser!
