The Montana Hospital Association, Ventures, Inc., and Montana Health Research and Education Foundation welcome new board members, trustee

Montana Hospital Association (MHA) has welcomed new board members and trustees to the boards for MHA, MHA Ventures, Inc., and Montana Health Research and Education Foundation (MHREF). New trustee and board members are:

• MHA Board of Trustees: John Bishop, Chief Executive Officer of Bitterroot Health
• MHA Ventures, Inc. Board of Directors: Ron Wiens, Chief Executive Officer of Big Sandy Medical Center
• MHREF Board of Directors: Jody Haines, BS, MHA, FACHE and Jessica Winge-Petersen, BSN, RN

Terms for new members began on Jan. 1 after elections were held in late 2024. Learn more about each member below.

Bitterroot Health CEO John Bishop joins MHA Board of Trustees

 John Bishop, Chief Executive Officer of Bitterroot Health, has been elected to the MHA Board of Trustees. Bishop will serve a two-year term as Trustee for Region 1, covering Northwestern Montana and including Ravalli County.

A Montana native, Bishop joined Bitterroot Health as CEO in 2018. Previously, he served in leadership roles in several hospitals in Oregon, and as CEO of Madison Valley Medical Center in Ennis. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Montana State University.

During his tenure at Bitterroot Health, Bishop has led several transformative projects that have significantly expanded access to both primary and specialized care in the Bitterroot Valley. Notable achievements under his leadership include the opening of a state-of-the-art Dialysis Center, a new primary care facility in Darby offering urgent care, rehabilitation, and pharmacy services, and a comprehensive clinic in Stevensville featuring primary care, urgent care, imaging, laboratory services, a rehabilitation center with a therapy pool, and specialty services. Additionally, Bishop spearheaded the development of the new Oncology, Infusion, and Wound Care Center in Hamilton and introduced new specialties such as Midwifery, Nephrology, Neurology, ENT, and more.

The MHA Board Trustees serve as the primary decision-making body of the association. As an MHA Board Region Trustee elected by fellow members, Bishop joins a group of dedicated healthcare leaders from across that state that guide MHA to meet its mission to advocate for the interests of members in their efforts to improve the health status of the communities they serve.

“I am honored to serve on the Montana Hospital Association Board of Trustees and represent the Bitterroot Valley on a statewide level,” said Bishop. “This opportunity allows me to collaborate with healthcare leaders across Montana to ensure our communities have access to the highest quality care. At Bitterroot Health, we’ve made great strides in improving and adding new services, expanding access to care for the people of the Bitterroot Valley, and I’m excited to bring that same commitment to advancing healthcare for all Montanans through my work with the MHA.”

Click here to learn more information about MHA Boards and Councils.

Big Sandy Medical CEO Ron Weins joins Ventures, Inc. Board of Directors

MHA Ventures, Inc. Board of Directors has elected Ron Wiens, Chief Executive Officer of Big Sandy Medical Center in Big Sandy, to its board.

Wiens has worked in a Montana hospital setting for most of his career, joining Big Sandy Medical as its CEO in 2022. Previously, he worked as a chief financial officer at several Montana hospitals, including at a critical access hospital for 17 years. Wiens and his wife, Kim, have two children. They enjoy spending time with their grandchildren, as well as exploring outdoors.

“Ron’s decades of work as a Montana healthcare professional brings an important breadth of experience and vision to Ventures,” said Sean Becker, Vice President of Shared Services at MHA Ventures. “Welcome and thanks to Ron for his willingness to join in our work to meet the diverse needs of members and the communities they serve across Montana.”

The 8-person MHA Ventures Board of Directors is currently chaired by Jennifer Doty, CEO of Sidney Health Center.

Click here to learn more about MHA Ventures, Inc.

Jody Haines and Jessica Winge-Petersen join MHREF Board of Directors

The MHREF Board of Directors has elected Jody Haines, BS, MHA, FACHE and Jessica Winge-Petersen, BSN, RN to its board.

“Both Jody and Jessica have extensive and varied experience working on the ground in rural healthcare. They bring exciting and innovative perspectives to MHREF,” said Shani Rich, MHREF Executive Director. “I am so pleased to welcome them to our board, and want thank them for their service to furthering our mission.”

Jody is the Director of the Telehealth and Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network at Billings Clinic, which spans over 30 rural healthcare facilities across Montana and Wyoming. She has dedicated her 18-year career to rural healthcare and has a passion for designing and delivering innovative yet effective healthcare delivery to all corners of the state and beyond. Her current role has seen her blaze a trail leading, designing, and implementing cutting edge digital health initiatives that enhance access and equity to quality care.

Jody is a fifth-generation Montanan and the youngest Montanan to achieve the prestigious Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) board-certification, officially earning her credential in 2013. In her rare free time, she enjoys spending it outdoors with her treasured family.

Jessica is the Director of Nursing at Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center in Scobey, where she oversees staffing, drives quality initiatives, works collaboratively with human resources to enhance staff recruitment, and coordinates a range of healthcare services, including healthcare informatics and telemedicine. Her professional healthcare journey began at Daniels Memorial when she worked in housekeeping. She has since worked in numerous roles there and continues to maintain a regular floor shift schedule. Her vast experience and current leadership position have equipped her with a diverse understanding of healthcare operations.

Jessica is a native of Northeastern Montana, where she and her husband farm with their two children.

The 9-person MHREF Board of Directors is currently chaired by Kristi Gatrell, CEO of Big Horn Hospital.

Click here to learn more about MHREF.