St. John's recently announced appointment of the following new board members.

St. John's Health System

Phillip Carr, MD. A long-time cardiologist, Carr was instrumental in developing St. Johns' heart program. He is credited with opening the area's first cardiac catheterization lab and for many years served as medical director at St. John's Hammons Heart Institute and St. John's Director of Outreach Services. Carr completed his medical degree, internship, residency and fellowship at St. Louis University School of Medicine.


Sister Rebecca Hendricks, RSM, serves as a primary ministry board member at Sisters of Mercy Health System locations in St. Louis, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. She was previously a patient/family/co-worker advocate and director of pastoral services at St. Edward Mercy Health Network in Fort Smith, Ark. She has also served as a nurse and vice president at St. Edward and an administrator at Mercy hospitals in New Orleans, Vicksburg, Miss. She joined Sisters of Mercy in 1982 after graduating from St. Edward's School of Nursing and completing a Bachelor and Masters degrees at Oklahoma City University.


Fred McQueary, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at St. John's Clinic - Orthopedics in Springfield. McQueary completed his medical degree at University of Missouri, Columbia in 1980, a residency at University of Iowa, Des Moines in 1981 and a fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston in 1986. He has a clinical emphasis in arthritis and spine surgery.

John Twitty is general manager and chief executive officer of City Utilities of Springfield. He began his utility career in 1983 at Rolla Municipal Utilities, serving as general manager from 1988 to 1991. A 15-year veteran of CU, Twitty assumed his current role in 2002. His community and industry activities include: Board of Directors of American Public Power Administration; The Energy Authority; Springfield Business and Development Corporation; Partnership Industrial Center West, United Way of the Ozarks; Boys and Girls town of Missouri and Empire Bank.


Sister Maria Luisa Vera, RSM, is the president and CEO of Mercy Ministries of Laredo. She has served as a member of the Mercy Ministries of Laredo board since its establishment and previously served as a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Leadership Team and St. Louis Regional Community leadership team. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1962 and has done volunteer work with various boards and committees including the Catholic Health Association; Mexican American Cultural Center; and Religious Task Force for Central America & Mexico.


Mike Williamson is CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Empire Bank. Williamson has served with nearly 50 civic organizations, including being past president and a board member of the following: Ozark Council Boy Scouts; Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce; Springfield Business Development Corporation; Burrell Community Mental Health Association; Junior Achievement and Springfield Southeast Rotary Club. He has bachelor of science degrees in industrial engineering and business administration from University of Missouri - Columbia; a Master of Business Administration from Harvard and has completed Doctoral post-graduate studies at Saint Louis University.


Returning St. John's Health System board members include: Sister Judith Ann Carron, RSM; Charlotte Hardin; Dominic Meldi, MD, Chair; Neil Schwartzman, MD; Helen Selig; Kelvin Van Osdol, MD; and Jay Wasson.

St. John's Hospital

Larry O'Reilly was named chair of the St. John's Hospital Board of Directors. O'Reilly is co-chairman of O'Reilly Auto Parts. The family-owned business has more than 1500 stores in 25 states. He is active in the Springfield Catholic community and attends Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He is a prominent civic leader through his involvement on many board in addition to St. John's, including: Drury University (Board of Directors/Trustee), Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (Chairman of the Board), and The Lance Armstrong Foundation (Endowment Board of Trustees).
He has previously served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Co-Chariman of the Victims Center Capital Campaign, Springfield Catholic Schools Development Board, The Community Foundation Board, Springfield Sports Commission Board, and Springfield Hall of Fame Board.


John Griesemer is vice president of and chief operating officer of Springfield Underground. He previously served as production manager of Springfield Underground's Kansas City underground mine and later assumed responsibility for quarries in Joplin, Springfield and St. Louis. Griesemer's community service includes: being past president and founding member of the OTC Foundation Board; president of Catholic Campus Ministries Advisory Committee; Springfield Contractors Association board and the Springfield Business Development Corporation board. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial management and civil engineering from Purdue University.


Sister Rebecca Hendricks, RSM, serves as a primary ministry board member at Sisters of Mercy Health System locations in St. Louis, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. She was previously a patient/family/co-worker advocate and director of pastoral services at St. Edward Mercy Health Network in Fort Smith, Ark. She has also served as a nurse and vice president at St. Edward and an administrator at Mercy hospitals in New Orleans, Vicksburg, Miss. She joined Sisters of Mercy in 1982 after graduating from St. Edward's School of Nursing and completing a Bachelor and Masters degrees at Oklahoma City University.


Patti Penny is founder and CEO of Penmac Personnel Services, overseeing the firm's expansion from one office in 1988 to 45 offices in seven states today. Prior to starting Penmac, Patti gained extensive career experience in human resources, working 17 years at Lily Tulip Cup Corporation and 10 years at St. John's Regional Health Center. Penny has been active in the following community and civic projects: 2005 recipient of the Missourian Award; Missouri State Unemployment Council; Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce past board member; Safety Council of the Ozarks; member and past president of Springfield R-12 Board of Education and Region 10 Missouri School Boards Association and member of Associated Industries of Missouri.


Norman Ridder is Springfield Public Schools superintendent. He previously served as superintendent at School District 11 in Colorado Springs, where he developed a districtwide leadership training focus and built community support for schools by serving on the Colorado Springs Economic Development Council; US Bank advisory board; YMCA Board of Directors; the Homeward Pikes Peak Homeless Board and Colorado Springs Executives Association. He was honored as educator and community member of the year by the Economic Development Corporation of Colorado Springs in 2001; educator of the year by both the NAACP in 2002 and by Notre Dame Club of Omaha in 1988.


Returning St. John's Hospital board members include: Mary Kay Meek; Larry O'Reilly, Chair; and Peggy Taylor.


St. John's Clinic

Brian Mahaffey, MD, is St. John's Clinic board chairman. Mahaffey is a family practice physician specializing in sports medicine at St. John's Clinic - Orthopedics in Springfield. He completed his medical degree, residency and fellowship at University of Missouri - Columbia. He is a member of American Medical Association (AMA); American College of Sports Medicine; American Medical Society of Sports Medicine; American Academy of Family Physicians and Missouri State University Alumni Association.


Christopher Edwards, MD, is a general surgeon at St. John's Clinic - General & Specialty Surgery - Fremont in Springfield. Edwards received his medical degree from Indiana University of School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind. in 1995 and completed a residency University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2000. He is a member of American College of Surgeons and American Medical Association (AMA).


John Hopkins, MD, is a pediatrician at St. John's Clinic - Lebanon - Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. He received his medical degree from University of Missouri - Columbia in 1993 and completed an internship and Residency- Arkansas Children's Hospital in 1994 and 1996 respectively.



Teresa Olsen, MD, is an internist with St. John's Clinic - Internal Medicine - Smith-Glynn-Callaway Clinic in Springfield. Olsen completed her medical degree at University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE in 1987 and her residency at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City in 1990. She is a member of the Greene County Medical Society; American Medical Association (AMA); American College of Physicians and Missouri State Medical Association.


Michael Sullivan, DPM, is a podiatrist at St. John's Clinic - Rolla - Podiatry. He received his DPM at University of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines in 2000 and surgery residency at Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University in 2004. He is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, American Board of Podiatric Surgery eligible, American Podiatric Medical Association, Michigan Podiatric Medical Association.


Darin Talley, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon at St. John's Clinic - Branson - Orthopedics. He received his medical education from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
 

Returning St. John's Clinic board members include: James Felts, MD; Thomas Froehlich, MD; Brian Mahaffey, MD, Chair; Sean McEnaney, MD; William Sistrunk, MD and Rick Williams, MD.
 

FOR MEDIA INFORMATION, CONTACT ST. JOHN’S MEDIA RELATIONS AT 417-820-2426 OR CSCOTT@SPRG.MERCY.NET.