Penn Highlands Healthcare Announces Strategic Leadership Changes

Penn Highlands Healthcare has made several key leadership changes to further its regional approach to the delivery of healthcare services in Northwestern and Central Pennsylvania. Rhonda Halstead, MSM, President of Penn Highlands Clearfield, has been named Regional Market President – Central Region, which includes Huntingdon, Blair and Centre counties. In this newly created position, Mrs. Halstead will oversee operations at Penn Highlands Huntingdon and Penn Highlands Tyrone. In addition, she will manage the construction and launch of Penn Highlands Healthcare’s new hospital in State College. Her regional team will include Joe Myers, MBA, President of Penn Highlands Huntingdon, and Anna M. Anna, RN, BSN, MHA, President of Penn Highlands Tyrone.

Mrs. Halstead’s current responsibilities at Penn Highlands Clearfield will be assumed by Bradley J. Chapman, MBA, FACHE, the current president of Penn Highlands Elk in St. Marys. Mr. Chapman will serve in the dual role of president at both Penn Highlands Elk and Penn Highlands Clearfield.

“These executives have shown exceptional leadership skills in their current roles and will complement the health system’s overall regionalization strategy as it continues to evolve,” said Steven M. Fontaine, CEO of Penn Highlands Healthcare. “Over the last several years, strategic efforts have been made to regionalize fiscal services, human resources, recruitment, supply chain, fund development and marketing/communications along with the addition of system service line managers.”

Penn Highlands Healthcare’s growth strategies include investment in additional clinical staff, state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technologies to ensure the health system is positioned to provide quality healthcare services in the communities it serves without adding unnecessary overhead in the system.

Mrs. Halstead, who is a 31-year veteran of the healthcare industry, brings extensive health administration management experience to her new role. Prior to joining Penn Highlands Clearfield in 2018 as the Hospital’s President, she held senior leadership positions at Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas; Rideout Regional Medical Center in Marysville, Calif.; and HCA Gulf Coast Medical Center in Panama City, Fla. Mrs. Halstead received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a Master of Science Degree in Management, Health Administration from Troy University.

Bradley J. Chapman brings more than 10 years of health industry experience to his new role. Mr. Chapman joined Penn Highlands Elk in 2017. He previously held leadership positions at Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, N.Y. and Oswego Hospital in Oswego, N.Y. Mr. Chapman received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Management from Niagara University. In addition, he earned a certificate in Healthcare Leadership from Le Moyne College.

Penn Highlands Healthcare was officially formed on September 30, 2011, and is comprised of eight hospitals – Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands Connellsville, Penn Highlands DuBois, Penn Highlands Elk, Penn Highlands Huntingdon, Penn Highlands Mon Valley and Penn Highlands Tyrone that have served area communities for the past 100+ years. Its business continuum also includes home care agencies, long-term care facilities and residential senior living communities, as well as durable medical equipment companies and retail pharmacies.

Penn Highlands Healthcare has evolved into an organization with approximately 6,097 workers in 150+ locations throughout 39 counties in Northwestern/Central and Southwestern Pennsylvania that include community medical buildings, outpatient facilities, surgery centers and physician practices. Providing exceptional quality care to the region, it has 827 physicians and 405 advanced practice providers on staff. The facilities have a total of 1,513 inpatient, skilled nursing and personal care beds. The system offers a wide range of care and treatments with specialty units that care for cancer, cardiovascular/thoracic, neurosurgery, pulmonology, neonatal and high-risk pregnancy patients. Being focused on what is important – patients and families – makes Penn Highlands Healthcare the best choice in the region.