GREENSBURG — After six years, Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) President and CEO Linda Simmons will move on to future endeavors.
Simmons final day will be on April 3, according to DCMH Governing Board Chairperson John Corya.
Simmons first day on the job took place on April 4, 2011, meaning her tenure will come to an end just a day shy of the exact day she started.
By way of Wyoming, Simmons arrived in Decatur following her departure from Memorial Hospital Sweetwater County.
Following Thursday’s governing board meeting, Simmons took the time to reflect on her years at DCMH.
“I’ve enjoyed my time here,” Simmons said. “We’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve done a lot of things – just the whole atmosphere at the hospital as you walk in, from the redecorating to the new Med/Surg to the outpatient pharmacy and many of those projects.”
Simmons also said that she has accomplished the goals she’d set out to when she started at DCMH.
Members of the hospital board thanked Simmons for her contributions to the hospital and the community. She indicated that it was bittersweet, but it was also an assurance that she had succeeded. Simmons mentioned that she said her goodbyes to the staff earlier this month.
“If you can walk away knowing that I made an impact and I made a difference in people’s lives, because I know the people here made an impact in my life and made a difference, if I’ve made that same impact and changes in their lives then I’ve done good and I can walk away feeling good,” Simmons said.
Corya, chairperson of the hospital board, extended his appreciation and lauded Simmons’ accomplishments.
“Linda has been a great asset to the hospital,” Corya said. “She came to the hospital when there was some stress in a couple of areas, and she’s been able to fix those and continue to improve the operations of the hospital. She’s assembled a good staff around her to help make the hospital a place to be.”
DCMH will be celebrating Simmons contributions from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 31 in conference room “D” at DCMH. Corya says the public is welcome to attend.
Interviews have been conducted for Simmons’ replacement, but the individual has not been chosen yet. The Daily News will provide more information as it becomes available.
But for now, it is known that a familiar face will be saying goodbye, and from the heart, Simmons extended a farewell to the southeastern Indiana community she has grown accustomed to over the years.
“I will miss the people here,” said Simmons. “You guys have a real diamond here in a hospital.”
Contact: Joshua Heath, 812-663-3111 x7401; joshua.heath@greensburgdailynews.com