Sarah is an award-winning executive leader with more than 20 years of healthcare experience. Having spent most of her professional career dedicated to PeaceHealth, Sarah has a deep understanding of the Mission and has proven herself to be a strategic, collaborative, pragmatic problem-solver who delivers results with humility and transparency. Sarah is responsible for Human Resources, Recruitment, Engagement, Total Rewards, Caregiver Safety and Compliance, Mission Integration, Culture Fulfillment, Organizational Integrity, Patient Experience and Marketing and Communications divisions as well as governance. Sarah holds an MBA from City University of Seattle and a dual bachelor’s degree in business administration and humanities from Seattle University.

With more than 35 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Mike has a proven track record of leading large-scale initiatives that enhance patient access, improve care quality and deliver financial durability. Mike oversees Strategy, Deals, Partnerships, Finance, Information Technology/Digital Innovation and Philanthropy for the organization. Mike joined PeaceHealth in 2016. His prior experience includes leadership positions in health system operations and 18 years management consulting experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mike holds an MBA from the McLaren School of Business, University of San Francisco in California and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical ethics from the University of Rochester, New York.

Richard has more than 30 years of progressive, non-profit, mission-based healthcare leadership experience in hospital and clinic operations and strategic development. He brings a deep understanding of healthcare operations, clinical excellence and community health and wellness to PeaceHealth. Richard has robust experience in senior administrative roles as well as clinical experience. Most recently, he served as COO of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, San Francisco and Oakland, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Richard obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing from California State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Michelle is an experienced nurse executive, well respected across disciplines as a collaborative partner and a steadfast advocate for quality, safety and compassion in delivering the very best healthcare. With more than 35 years of experience in healthcare, Michelle is focused on accelerating nursing excellence. Her nursing journey includes a diverse portfolio of clinical roles – from nursing homes to critical care units, from critical access hospitals to quaternary care referral centers. Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Washington Governors University and her master’s degrees in Management and Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. 

Tom brings an abundance of strategic experience, wisdom and judgment to PeaceHealth. He began serving the organization in March 2020 as a member of the Legal team, supporting strategic relationships and affiliations, as well as governance. Prior to joining PeaceHealth, Tom served at Buchalter Ater Wynne LPP in Portland, Oregon, advising healthcare clients, including PeaceHealth. After earning his bachelor’s degree in economics from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, he earned his Juris Doctor from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.

Mark brings more than 25 years of leadership experience driving transformation and integration across major health systems. He oversees PeaceHealth’s systemwide integration of business functions, systems and processes in support of clinical care delivery and enterprise standardization. Before joining PeaceHealth, Mark was a partner at Guidehouse, advising health systems on operating model design and enterprise-wide performance transformation. He also held senior leadership roles at Intermountain Health, SCL Health, Dignity Health and Tenet Healthcare. Mark earned his MHA and MBA degrees from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

With more than 40 years of healthcare finance experience, Ric oversees PeaceHealth’s long-term financial strategies. Ric began his healthcare career as a bedside nursing assistant before pivoting toward finance. Most recently, Ric served as the CFO for Allina Health in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota where he had 25 cumulative years of service. Ric earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A former hospitalist and experienced physician leader, Dr. McGovern has an eye on high-quality care and helped guide PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend to its first ever CMS 5-star rating while securing multiple Leapfrog A ratings. Dr. McGovern came to PeaceHealth from Wisconsin-based ThedaCare, where he served in several leadership roles including system vice president of medical affairs. He was recognized as a US News and World Report Top Doc while working in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. McGovern graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin and did his internal medicine residency at St. Vincent Hospital in Indiana.

Cherelle first joined PeaceHealth as the chief administrative officer of PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in 2017. Her unwavering strategic vision and leadership contributed to notable accomplishments including consecutive achievement of Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade A, a decrease in serious safety events, and a strengthening of the hospital’s overall finances. Prior to PeaceHealth, Cherelle served as the regional vice president of Mercy Medical Center and the chief executive officer of Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa. Cherelle holds a master’s in social work which is where her extensive healthcare background began, later becoming a marriage and family therapist.

Charles brings nearly 30 years of healthcare experience to PeaceHealth, holding roles of increasing management and executive-level responsibility in healthcare settings ranging from small community hospitals to large, tertiary care facilities. A service-oriented leader who advocates for innovation, Charles is highly skilled in building and maintaining relationships with caregivers, physicians, clinicians and the community. While dedicated to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, Charles also provides regional oversight for PeaceHealth United General and Peace Island Medical Centers. Prior to joining PeaceHealth, Charles served as chief executive officer of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland, California, a multi-campus hospital enterprise, part of Sutter Health, based in Sacramento.

Kendall began his leadership journey as an RN on the front line of patient care, serving a 15-year tenure at PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. He returned to PeaceHealth after amassing more than 25 years of experience and innovation in executive healthcare leadership. Leading in multiple care environments, he is a skilled relationship-builder recognized for his thoughtful communication, presence and teamwork. Prior to rejoining PeaceHealth, Kendall served as chief operating officer for Providence Portland Medical Center. During his tenure, Providence gained top-quartile patient experience scores for inpatient and the Emergency Department as well as Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade A. Kendall holds a master’s in healthcare administration from the University of Phoenix.