After nearly 10 years leading WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, Skip Gjolberg will step away from his role as president and CEO later this spring. His last day at the hospital will be in mid-March.
“Serving St. Joseph’s Hospital and this community has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career,” Gjolberg said. “I’m incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished together and grateful for the opportunity to be part of a hospital that plays such an important role in the lives of so many families.”
Gjolberg took the helm in April 2016, shortly after the hospital joined the WVU Medicine system. When he arrived, St. Joseph’s was still finding its footing within the larger health network. Over the following decade, he guided the hospital through a period of growth and financial stabilization, transforming it into a top-performing rural hospital.
“Skip leaves St. Joseph’s Hospital in a very strong position,” said Dr. Dave Hess, president and CEO of WVU Medicine United Hospital Center and Central Region president. “His leadership, vision and advocacy have had a lasting impact on this hospital and the community it serves.”
Following Gjolberg’s departure, John Forester, vice president of provider network services for WVU Medicine’s central market, will serve as interim president while a national search is conducted for the hospital’s next leader.
St. Joseph’s Hospital has deep roots in Buckhannon. The hospital was founded on March 28, 1921, by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, who purchased the Barlow estate and opened an eight-bed facility. Over the next century, the hospital grew from that modest beginning into a medical community serving residents across central West Virginia.
A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Gjolberg came to Buckhannon with extensive experience in rural hospital administration. Before joining St. Joseph’s Hospital, he served as president and CEO of Cuero Community Hospital in Texas and held leadership roles at hospitals in Wisconsin, according to a WVU Medicine announcement at the time of his hiring. He holds degrees from Texas A&M and Texas State University and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Under his leadership, St. Joseph’s earned recognition as one of the nation’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and received the Gold Honors Achievement Award from the West Virginia Hospital Association’s Commitment to Excellence program.
Gjolberg often spoke of the hospital’s reputation for cleanliness, and he took particular pride in the number of babies born there each year. The hospital’s labor and delivery unit set a record in 2025, welcoming 373 babies — the highest number of births in its history, according to a press release. U.S. News & World Report has also recognized St. Joseph’s Hospital for excellence in maternity care.
One of the recent challenges the hospital faced was a legal battle that could have affected its Critical Access status, a federal designation that allows cost-based reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid and is a key factor in keeping the hospital financially stable. In November 2025, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled in favor of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Gjolberg was also a strong advocate for rural healthcare and hospitals across the state. In 2024, he served as chair of the West Virginia Hospital Association Board of Directors, helping shape healthcare policy for hospitals statewide. In 2019, he was named Businessman of the Year by the Buckhannon-Upshur Chamber of Commerce and received the American Hospital Association’s Grassroots Champion Award for his advocacy.
His community involvement in Buckhannon included leadership with the Upshur County Development Authority and numerous civic groups.
