News Around the State

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville names new CEO

Baptist Memorial Health Care announced recently that Walter J. Grace, an assistant administrator at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto since 2003, has been promoted to CEO and administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville.

Before becoming an assistant administrator, Grace was the controller for Baptist DeSoto. Before going to Baptist DeSoto, he served as chief financial officer for Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women.

Grace joined Baptist Memorial Health Care in 1997 as manager of capital planning. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi and is an ordained deacon at First Baptist Church in New Albany.

Larkin Kennedy, the former CEO and administrator at Baptist Booneville, is joining Rush Health Systems in Meridian as director of critical access hospitals.

These leadership transitions will officially take place Oct. 22.

[ via Mississippi Business Journal ]

Larkin Kennedy Receives ACHE Regent’s Award

Larkin Kennedy, chief executive officer for Baptist Memorial Hospital in Booneville, MS, received the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Early Career Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award on Friday, June 29, during the ACHE Breakfast held at the Mississippi Hospital Association’s 76th Annual Leadership Conference in Point Clear, AL.

The award was bestowed on Kennedy by Mississippi Healthcare Executives, an independent chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. The Early Career Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award recognizes ACHE affiliates who have significantly contributed toward the advancement of health care management excellence and the achievement of the goals of ACHE.

Affiliates are evaluated on leadership ability, innovative and creative management, executive capability in developing their own organization and promoting its growth and stature in the community, participation in local, state, or provincial hospital and health association activities, participation in civic/community activities and projects, participation in ACHE activities, and interest in assisting ACHE in achieving its objectives.

Jim Ainsworth, vice president of regional operations for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, described Kennedy as “a diamond being polished.” Kennedy has served as chief executive officer for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville since 2006. Prior to this, he has also served as assistant administrator for Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi from 2004-2006 and Groner Administrative Fellow for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation in Memphis, TN, from 2003-2004.

Kennedy holds affiliate status in the ACHE, demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence. He has been very active in the community, holding membership with the United Way Fund Distribution Committee of Oxford, Rotary Club International of Booneville and Lion’s Club International of Oxford. He is also a member of North Mississippi Chrysalis/Crossroads Board of Directors and a counselor for Baptist Trinity Camp Good Grief.

Kennedy received his BBA in May of 2001 from Mississippi State University and his MBA (2003) and MHA (2004) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Larkin Kennedy and his wife, Jenny Ruth Green Kennedy, reside in Booneville, MS.

Hospital volunteers honored

Volunteers at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Booneville were honored for their community service during a Volunteers Appreciation Luncheon recently.

The 22 volunteers honored have given 3,564 hours during the past year and a total of 60,015 lifetime hours (the total hours each volunteer has accumulated at the hospital).

Officers for 2005 were installed and are as follows: Jean Trantham, president; Ann Green, vice president; Mildred Kendall, secretary; and Joyce Keeton, treasurer.

Jean Trantham was honored for volunteering the most hours during the past  year (229), while Zera Duggar was recognized as the volunteer having the most lifetime hours (6,130).