Whiteside is one of 160 community hospital CEOs nationwide and three from Wyoming to be included in the annual listing.
Fremont County, Wyo. (June 27, 2024) – John Whiteside, CEO of SageWest Health Care in Riverton and Lander, was recently recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of its “Community Hospital CEOs to Know” for 2024. This list recognizes CEOs of community hospitals for their efforts in providing coordinated and affordable care, encompassing acute care, primary care, rehabilitation, public health services, and more. Nationwide, 160 CEOs were featured in the listing, including three from Wyoming.
“This is a nice recognition that truly reflects the hard work of the entire team at SageWest to provide high-quality, specialized care tailored to the diverse needs of the communities we serve,” said Whiteside, who oversees SageWest’s hospital campuses in Lander and Riverton. “As community hospitals in rural areas, we embrace unique challenges with unwavering determination. Every day, our team excels in supporting the health and well-being of those who entrust us with their hope and healing.”
In its brief CEO summaries as part of the listing, Becker’s noted that Whiteside leads more than 500 associates and medical staff for the two acute-care campuses and their combined total of 172 beds. It credited Whiteside for having “successfully recruited and retained providers and caregivers while also improving the standing and services of the hospital system” during his short tenure as CEO.
Whiteside, who joined SageWest in 2021, immediately focused on recruiting and retaining skilled healthcare professionals, a challenge for many community health systems due to their remoteness. He and his team have successfully recruited care providers across several service lines to better meet the needs of the surrounding communities.
Per Becker’s, “These leaders are honored for their dedication to improving community health, shaping workforce culture, planning for the future, expanding hospital services, and maintaining financial stability. Becker’s Healthcare is thrilled to feature the accomplishments of these leaders, who are critical to the successes of their respective organizations.”
Along with Whiteside from SageWest, two other CEOs from community hospitals owned by parent company ScionHealth were featured in Becker’s 2024 listing: Bill Little, CEO of Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center (Hartsville, South Carolina) and Melody Trimble, CEO of St. Francis – Emory Healthcare (Columbus, Georgia). This marks the second consecutive year that each of these leaders has been included in Becker’s “Community CEOs to Know” listing.
The Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team accepted nominations to compile this list. The full list features individual profiles of all CEOs and can be read here.
