Valley Health President and CEO Mark H. Merrill and Brad Close, Chairman
of the Board of Hampshire Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital,
announced Thursday that Thomas S. Kluge has accepted the position of president
of Hampshire Memorial Hospital and War Memorial Hospital. He will begin May 9.
Kluge has served since 1989 as chief operating officer of Sentara Halifax
Regional Hospital (SHRH), which includes a 192-bed hospital and two skilled
nursing facilities, in South Boston, Virginia. During his tenure he has
provided strategic and day-to-day leadership for the organization, working
closely with the board and medical staff on strategic planning, service
line development and growth initiatives, quality assurance and patient
satisfaction, construction, information technology and capital projects.
He has held leadership positions on the Halifax Regional Foundation and
led SHRH’s Community Needs Assessment.
Board Chairman Brad Close looks forward to Kluge’s arrival next
month. “I’m excited about what he brings to the position,”
said Close. “He can relate to the unique challenges of a rural setting
and he seems to have the leadership skills required to bring our two hospitals
to the next level.”
Kluge earned a Master of Science in Health Administration from the Medical
College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he also
earned his Bachelor of Science degree. He has been active in numerous
local and state organizations, serving in leadership roles with the Virginia
Hospital and Healthcare Association, Halifax County Economic Development
Committee, Halifax County United Way, Halifax County Chamber of Commerce
and Alumni Executive Committee for VCU’s Department of Health Administration.
Kluge’s responsibilities will include strategic leadership and oversight
of the operations of both facilities, in addition to serving on Valley
Health’s senior management team. Working with the Board and leadership
of Hampshire and War Memorial Hospitals, he will be responsible for growth,
development, financial performance, talent management and employee engagement,
physician recruitment and relations, development of clinical and service
programs, and patient safety, quality and process improvement.
“I am excited about this new opportunity to serve the Valley Health
community,” Kluge said during a recent meeting. “I am honored
to have been selected to lead the exceptional teams at both Hampshire
and War Memorial Hospitals, and I look forward to collaborating with the
trustees, physicians, staff, and the community to provide safe, quality
care for West Virginia’s citizens.”
During the six-month search process, two clinical leaders who served as
interim administrators were recently promoted to Vice President. Hampshire
Memorial Hospital’s Director of Clinical Services, Mary Sas, RN,
MSN, MBA, BCEN, has more than 30 years of nursing and teaching experience.
War Memorial Hospital Director of Clinical Services Heather Sigel, RN,
BSN, MBA, has over 17 years of healthcare experience, most in leadership
positions. “I want to thank Mary Sas, Heather Sigel, Dr. Bechamps,
Katie Morales and Christy Lowman for their strong and dedicated leadership
during this transition,” said Merrill.