In a meeting Friday morning, the Hendricks Regional Health Board of Trustees met to formally approve and execute a contract to fill the CEO position at the hospital.
The board announced that Kevin Speer has accepted the position of the next president/chief executive officer of Hendricks Regional Health. Speer will take the helm Nov. 19, succeeding Dennis Dawes, who retired as president and CEO in May after 38 years as the hospital's chief executive.
Speer was identified from a group of about 160 applicants. The interview process has been underway since early May of this year. B.E. Smith, a nationally recognized healthcare executive search firm, was enlisted to assist the board with the search.
The board of trustees is made up of Terry Dillon, Kathleen Corbin, Mike Edmondson, and Charles Nelson, DDS. This group has worked to evaluate candidates and determine the best one to lead the organization.
Despite a large field of qualified candidates, the search committee agreed that Speer offers HRH "unique strengths in strategy that will help the hospital position itself well and navigate the uncertainties of healthcare reform in upcoming years," said Charles Nelson, DDS, search committee chairman.
Nelson added, "His wealth of knowledge and experience will be a welcome addition to our executive team who is focused on continuing our tradition to care for our community and Treat People Better."
Speer said he's looking forward to beginning his new position.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to work alongside Hendricks Regional Health's employees and physicians in the shared goal of providing the best care, with a personal touch," he said. "Hendricks Regional Health is a hospital with a great reputation and I am certainly looking forward to being a part of not only the hospital, but the Hendricks County community, for many years to come."
John Sparzo, M.D., has been serving as interim CEO since June. Sparzo will return to his position as vice president of medical affairs.
Speer is a graduate of Purdue University and Valparaiso University School of Law. In 1996, he became a partner at Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, a law firm specializing in health care law. In that role, he became the general counsel and chief legal officer for St. Vincent Health and in 2006 assumed the role of system vice president and chief strategy officer for St. Vincent Health. In that capacity, he was responsible for strategic direction of business development; mergers and acquisitions; marketing; communications; physician relations; corporate sponsorships; employer health and wellness; real estate; and facility design and construction.
Speer is executive vice president of the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians where he oversees that organization and acts as the principal spokesperson for the academy and its 1800 members. He will continue in that role.
He and his wife, Kim, have two sons, Eric and Cole. He is an Eagle Scout and is involved in coaching and managing lacrosse and hockey. Recently, Speer was appointed co-chairman of the committee that will oversee the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Speer family lives in Hamilton County but plans to relocate to Hendricks County.
Since 1962, Hendricks Regional Health has served as the area's leading healthcare provider by delivering innovative care with a personal touch. Licensed by the Indiana State Department of Health and accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, Hendricks Regional Health staffs a full complement of physicians in 56 specialties at locations in Danville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Lizton, and Bainbridge.
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