Leadership Team
Salina Regional Health Center's leadership team guides the implementation of the hospital's strategy while overseeing and conducting SRHC activities.
Joel Phelps
President/Chief Executive Officer
Joel Phelps is President/Chief Executive Officer for the hospital. He started at Salina Regional in 2007 and is responsible for ensuring the hospital's growth and success and developing a culture of excellence in regards to quality, patient satisfaction, and patient access.
Joe Tallon
Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
Joe Tallon is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and began his career at Salina Regional Health Center in 2008. His direct responsibilities include oversight of all financial accounting and reporting, patient scheduling, registration, billing and collections, procurement and distributions of supplies, capital planning and budgeting.
Brenda Cox
Vice President/Chief Human Resource Officer
Brenda Cox is Vice President of Human Resources and is responsible for oversight of human resource strategies focused on the integration of market-leading practices that align the organization's human capital with the vision and direction of the organization. Brenda also oversees Volunteer Services, Chaplaincy Services, and Wellness/Population Health Services. She joined Salina Regional in 2015 bringing with her an extensive background in healthcare human resources.
John Berghuis
Vice President/Chief Information Officer
John Berghuis is the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. He provides leadership for an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment throughout the health system. John joined Salina Regional Health Center in 2019 bringing with him 25+ years of healthcare IT experience and a focus on quality and customer service. Prior to healthcare, he worked for NASA at Kennedy Space Center and served as a nuclear engineer in the US Navy.
Bethanie McDowell
Vice President of Patient Care/Chief Nursing Officer
Bethanie McDowell, Vice President of Patient Care/Chief Nursing Officer, joined Salina Regional in 2009. Elevating through leadership roles, she joined the executive team in 2023. She oversees patient care areas as well as employee health and infection prevention.
Robert Freelove, M.D.
Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Robert Freelove is Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer of Salina Regional Health Center. He joined the executive team in 2019. His responsibilities are directly over the Salina Regional Medical Group, clinical integration of its system, and clinical expansion in the region.
James Barker
VP of System Quality and Integration
James Barker is the Vice President of System Quality and Integration. He accomplishes goals and objectives toward quality and integration improvement that includes – risk management, quality, case management, infection control/accreditation, lean academy, service line accreditations, quality expansion, and integration with Salina Regional Health Center and our affiliated hospitals. James has experience as a System CEO, with three decades of hospital leadership.
Terry Hauschel
Vice President of Operations
Terry Hauschel is the Vice President of Operations and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Salina Regional Health Center. Terry has a strong clinical background and began his career at Salina Regional in Diagnostic Imaging in 1992. Terry is a native of north central Kansas and has a long-term vested interest in this organization and the people of this region.