MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Five members of the Mon Health System recently graduated from the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA) 2020 Leadership Academy. Jill Wirth, Mary Lynne Withrow, Shaun Kessler, Jennifer Barnes, and Carole Norton were honored at a ceremony on July 16 at Stonewall Resort.

Withrow, who is the Senior Director of the Mon Health Heart and Vascular Line, gave the graduate speech for the class. Withrow spoke of the tremendous and varied learning opportunities provided by the Academy and was very grateful.

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

“The leadership academy has been such a great experience. It has helped me grow as a professional and gain a tremendous amount of knowledge,” said Shaun Kessler, Emergency Department Manager at Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital. “When you surround yourself with great leaders, you grow exponentially in your leadership skills, but you also learn to identify and conquer your weaknesses.”

 “The leadership academy has expanded my knowledge for the business side of healthcare,” Jennifer Barnes, Director of Quality at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital said. “Being able to network with other leaders across the state is a great benefit to any growing leader. I am very grateful for the support of the executive team of Mon Health System for seeing value in supporting leadership growth opportunities.”

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 classes arranged by the WVHA allowed us to learn about many different aspects of healthcare in WV, as well as some behind the scenes political, financial, and historical influences that have shaped our current system,” Jill Wirth, Care Coordinator at Mon Health Medical Center said. “I have gained a whole new network of friends and resources.”

Participants benefited from the opportunity to exchange ideas and network with their colleagues from across the state. The Academy’s valuable combination of experienced, knowledgeable speakers, conferences, hospital site visits, and interactive learning was designed to develop and inspire the most promising employees in continued achievement and excellence.

“The leadership academy has been an amazing opportunity to network with leaders from hospitals across the state, to meet and have Q&A sessions with CEOs of hospitals and healthcare facilities, and to learn the many services that WVHA has to offer,” said Carole Norton, RN, BSN, MBA, Chief Nursing Officer at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.

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