WHH New Elected Officers of the Board

Winter Haven, Fla., (September 22, 2015) –Effective September 1, Winter Haven Hospital is being led by a newly elected chairman and other officer positions on the board of volunteer trustees. Though there is no change to the board roll call, Mark Bostick is stepping down after a five-year service as chairman.

“Mark has been a courageous leader for Winter Haven Hospital,” states Winter Haven Hospital President Steve Nierman. “He has steered us through our venture with BayCare and strengthened our position to face the changes of the health care industry. We are grateful for his service.”

Richard Straughn, attorney for Straughn & Turner P.A. in Winter Haven, FL, has been elected as the succeeding chairman.

“Richard is just as dedicated as Mark to our mission of providing quality and compassionate health care to the community,” adds Nierman. “I look forward to working with him to continue advancing Winter Haven Hospital.”

Other elected officers include Don Ingram, first vice chairman; Eileen Holden, secretary; Tommy Oakley, assistant secretary; William “Bill” Burns, treasurer; and Charles McPherson, assistant treasurer.

Continuing to serve on the board are Mark Bostick; Robert “Bob” Carter; Al Cassidy; Todd Dantzler; Edward Lubin, M.D.; William “Bill” Murrell; Cindy Price; and Chip Tucker.

Ex-officio members are Steve Nierman, WHH president; Don Gale, M.D., WHH vice-president of medical affairs; Carol Koeppel-Olsen, WHH vice-president of patient services; Joel Thomas, WHH Foundation president; and Ashish Shah, M.D., WHH president of medical staff.

About Winter Haven Hospital

Established in 1926, Winter Haven Hospital is a 529-bed facility accredited by the Joint Commission. On Aug. 30, 2013, Winter Haven Hospital joined the Tampa Bay area-based BayCare Health System. More than 300 board-certified physicians comprise the medical staff, covering specialties such as stroke, open heart, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency services. In addition, the hospital is recognized as a Magnet Nursing Center of Excellence, a prestigious designation held by less than seven percent of hospitals nationwide. Winter Haven Hospital has more than 2,500 employees, making it east Polk County’s largest private employer, and has been recognized by Polk Works Workforce 2020 as one of the county’s best places to work. Winter Haven Hospital is located at 200 Avenue F NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881. For more information, visit WinterHavenHospital.org.

About BayCare

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 13 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. For more information, visit www.baycare.org

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