Editor’s Note: My Buckhannon freelance writer Lily Hicks writes each month about her experience participating in the 2025-2026 class of Leadership Upshur, a professional development program designed for individuals who live or work in and around Upshur County.
Our December Leadership Upshur session offered a close look at the people, systems and teamwork that keep our community safe and healthy. Community Care of West Virginia and WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital opened their doors to us for a full day of learning, and it quickly became one of our most eye-opening sessions so far.
We began the morning with Kristi Walker, chief operating officer at Community Care of West Virginia. She spoke about leadership as a continual learning process and encouraged us to view large goals as something we can chip away at through steady, intentional steps. Hearing how she supports staff and guides long-term projects helped us understand what leadership looks like behind the scenes in community healthcare.
Next, we met with Skip Gjolberg, president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph’s Hospital. He shared his perspective on leading a healthcare organization and talked about how leaders help shape the culture around them. His message centered on purpose, responsibility and the way effective leadership can influence an entire workplace.
From there, we shifted to public safety with a tour of the Buckhannon Public Safety Complex. Captain Linn Baxa of the Buckhannon Fire Department, Police Chief Matt Gregory and Lieutenant Doug Loudin walked us through the building and offered insight into the teamwork required in emergency services. They discussed the importance of adapting leadership styles to different situations and emphasized how much a strong culture matters when people rely on each other in high-pressure environments. Captain Baxa also shared how the close-knit nature of their work creates a sense of family within their teams.
We ended the day at St. Joseph’s Hospital with a behind-the-scenes look inside the operating rooms. Seeing the level of coordination and preparation involved in surgical care gave us a deeper appreciation for the professionals who work there every day.
By the time our session wrapped up, it was clear that leadership in healthcare and public safety requires patience, clarity and a commitment to supporting others. I left with a better understanding of how many people contribute to the safety and wellbeing of Upshur County, and how much thoughtful leadership matters in environments where every decision counts.
