Following a four month nationwide search, Hocking Valley Community Hospital’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer to lead Hocking County’s 25-bed critical access hospital.
Stacey Gabriel, MBA/MHA, BSN, RN, EMT-B, CEN, current Chief Nursing Officer, will take the helm on June 1 as the hospital’s new CEO and President.
“We are excited for Stacey’s leadership as we begin a new era at HVCH,” Ruth Ann Spatar, Board Chairperson, said. “We had an overwhelming number of more than 140 applicants for this position, and we reviewed an excellent slate of candidates, including several from out of state, narrowing it down to three superior candidates. Following Spark and Skype interviews with each of the finalists, we found the exceptional leader in Stacey. While the defining reasons for her choice are of a colossal number, most importantly she is a hometown girl with more than 20 years of service to our hospital. She demonstrates professionalism and good character, is direct and on point, cooperative and friendly, and is willing to learn and progress.”
“As a board, we acknowledged her academics and how she has advanced in her career. We are very appreciative of her nursing background,” Spatar shared. A national CEO search began in January following the announcement of the retirement of current CEO and President Julie Stuck. The search committee included HVCH board members Mike Walsh and Amy Black, General Surgeon Dr. Michael Tornwall, Chief Financial Officer Julie Grow and Ruth Ann Spatar, Board Chairperson.
Gabriel, a native of Logan, earned her Associates Degree in Nursing at Hocking College in 1995, a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Ohio University in 2007, and her Masters Healthcare Administration and Masters Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2016.
Gabriel has most recently served as Chief Nursing Officer at HVCH. Prior to that promotion in 2015, she has served as Director of Emergency Department, House Supervisor, Operating Room Nurse, Resource Nurse Med-Surg/SCU/SNF/ED and staff nurse. During her service at the hospital, she has played a key role in the following accomplishments: Implementation of new electronic healthcare reporting system, Epic; unit consolidation; restructured and strengthened the Hospitalist Program; implementation of Emergency Department Tele-Stroke; implementation of eICU partnership with Ohio Health; online policy platform and creation of hospital computer lab.
In addition to healthcare leadership at Hocking Valley Community Hospital, Gabriel also has been involved in community and professional associations. Previously, she worked as an experienced flight nurse with Air Evac Lifeteam and currently serves as EMT-Basic with Hocking County EMS. Additionally, she has served on the following committees: Community Health Improvement Project; School Health Council; Project Lead the Way; Hocking College EMS Advisory Board; and Chairperson of Hocking County Local Emergency Planning Committee.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected as the next CEO for HVCH,” Gabriel said. “When I started my career here as a LPN in our Skilled Facility 23 years ago, I would have told someone they were crazy if they said I’d be in this role today! This organization has always had a place in my heart and I am proud of the things we do. Being part of the community is something I hold near and dear, and I look forward to the opportunities to continue building those relationships.”
“I could not ask for a better group of people with whom to begin this journey. I am blessed to work alongside more than 340 excellent employees,” Gabriel stated.
Current CEO Julie Stuck shared, “Stacey is an excellent choice for leading Hocking Valley Community Hospital into the future. Having grown up in Logan and choosing HVCH for her healthcare career, both will serve her well in her new position as CEO. She has a vested interest in the success and sustainability of this hospital, both on a professional and personal level.”
Ms. Gabriel will be the seventh CEO of HVCH since it opened approximately 52 years ago.
Hocking Valley is a community non-profit hospital with an emergency department, urgent care and a wide variety of clinical, specialty and outpatient services. For more information, contact the Community Relations office at (740) 380-8336.