photo by: Contributed

Shelly Kortkamp, president and CEO of LMH Health

LMH Health has appointed Shelly Kortkamp as the new president and chief executive officer, the organization announced in a release on Monday.

Kortkamp will succeed Russ Johnson, who retired in August after nine years with the organization. She is the first woman and physician to hold the role as president and CEO in LMH Health’s 104-year history, the release said.

Kortkamp previously held the roles of president and chief medical officer at St. Peter’s Health in Helena, Montana, where she oversaw a 123-bed acute care hospital and a behavioral health facility. Her executive leadership experience also includes positions with Beacon Health System in Indiana and Hospital Sisters Health System in Illinois. Earlier in her career, she served as a physician leader in the U.S. Air Force, where she was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

“As a community-owned, independent hospital and healthcare system, LMH Health cares for more than 90,000 patients and delivers on a century-old charitable care mission,” Board of Trustees Chair Beth Llewellyn said in the release. “This is a special place, and it requires special leadership. Dr. Kortkamp brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, operational discipline, and people-first leadership that has consistently delivered results for patients, providers, and communities. She is uniquely prepared to lead LMH Health into the future.”

Kortkamp said in the release that she was drawn to LMH Health’s rich history and unwavering purpose of serving the community with excellence and compassion.

“I know I am standing on the shoulders of many dedicated leaders who have come before me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to build on their legacy,” Kortkamp said in the release. “With great excitement, I look forward to partnering with the board, our physicians, our staff, and the community to shape a vibrant future for LMH Health.”

Kortkamp is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has received numerous honors, including the American Hospital Association’s Grassroots Champion Award for Montana and recognition as one of Becker’s “Top 100 CMOs to Know.” She holds a doctor of medicine degree from East Carolina University and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from St. Louis University. Kortkamp is board certified in family medicine and licensed as both a physician and surgeon.

“One element that excites me about LMH Health is the determination to remain a strong, independent hospital,” Kortkamp said in the release. “The well-being of the organization and the well-being of Lawrence are inseparable. I am eager to hear from our teams and learn directly from those caring for patients, so together we can strengthen LMH as an employer of choice and a trusted partner in lifelong health. Guided by the cultural value of Better Together, I look forward to shaping the next chapter with this community.”