30 Jan 2017 Civic leader, minister named Conway Regional board chair
Rev. Cornell Maltbia, pastor and founder of True Holiness Saints Center in Conway, is the new chairman of the Conway Regional Health System Board of Directors.
He succeeds Barbara Williams, PhD, RN, who recently retired as chairman of the UCA Department of Nursing. She completed a two-year term as chairman of the Conway Regional Board in December.
The Conway Regional Board of Directors is made up of 10 volunteers from the community who serve staggered, six-year terms. The board approves the budget and strategic direction of the not-for-profit health system based on the recommendations of Conway Regional’s executive leadership team, which includes President and CEO Matt Troup.
Troup, who has worked with Williams for 18 months, expressed his appreciation of her service as board chairman, in particular the role she played in Conway Regional’s management agreement with CHI-St. Vincent. “Barbara was the leader in discussions with CHI-St. Vincent and did a stellar job in ensuring that the management agreement positioned Conway Regional to thrive in a competitive and dynamic environment,” said Troup. “She has a passion for health care and that made a very meaningful difference with the management agreement. She took a lot of personal ownership in making sure that it was successful.”
In addition to the management agreement, Williams led the board in taking a number of strategic actions over the past two years to improve how Conway Regional provides care to the community including:
• $5.8 million in improvements to the medical center that included a facelift for the patient care floors, lobbies and the ER waiting area.
• More than $4 million in capital improvements including a new CT Scanner, a new cardiac catheterization laboratory, renovation of the gastroenterology lab and the addition of 3 D mammography.
• Addition of two primary care clinics in Conway and Pottsville as well as establishing the Conway Regional Cardiovascular Clinic
Troup said he is looking forward to what the board will be able to accomplish under the leadership of Maltbia. “Cornell is very adept in the board room setting; when he comes to the meetings, he is always knowledgeable, focused and efficient,” said Troup. “Cornell is good in that role without being an expert in the field that we are discussing. He hones in on the key issues.”
In addition to his duties at True Holiness Saints Center and at Conway Regional, Maltbia was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees. Troup added, “Cornell can bridge a lot of relationships because he is so well-known and well respected by so many people, not just in Conway but throughout the state.”
Maltbia joined the Conway Regional board in 2010 after serving on the health system’s Community Advisory Board for several years. He has spent many hours at the hospital with church members and families and has observed how the staff’s attitude and professionalism has made a difference in the healing process.
“I am humbled by the vote of confidence given by the board of directors to serve in this leadership capacity,” said Maltbia. “ I look forward to continuing to work with the employees, medical staff and fellow directors to provide quality and compassionate care from our flagship healthcare system.”
Also, joining the board:
• Thad Hardin, MD, a family practice physician with Banister-Lieblong Clinic and a physician on the medical staff at Conway Regional Medical Center.
• Jeff D. Standridge, recently retired vice president of audience solutions with Acxiom and the founder of Cadron Creek Capital and team leader of the Conductor initiative.
Greg Kendrick, MD, is the new chief of staff for the Conway Regional medical staff, which numbers more than 200 physicians. Kendrick, an internal medicine specialist, is the medical director of the Hospitalist program at Conway Regional. He succeeds James France, MD, a urologist with Conway Urology.
Williams will remain on the board and is joined by Andrea Woods, JD, vice chairman; Andrew Cole, MD; Tom Poe, Wayne Cox and Jim Rankin Jr.
Two members have departed from the board:
• Jack Engelkes, a CPA and managing partner in the accounting firm of Engelkes, Conner and Davis, Ltd., completed two six-year terms in December. He joined the board in 2005.
• Bart Throneberry, MD, a family practice physician in Conway, served eight years and remains an active member of the Conway Regional Medical Staff.
“We are very thankful to Jack and Bart for the leadership and support that they have provided Conway Regional for the past 12 years,” said Troup. “The community has been blessed to have had their expertise and unwavering commitment to health care.”
