Hospital Headlines

Mary Beck Joins the Boone Health Board of Directors

Mary Beck, DNP, RN, FAONL, has joined the Boone Health Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is comprised of the Boone Hospital Board of Trustees and six community members. Dr. Beck is replacing Judy Starr who transitioned to the Boone Health Board of Trustees when Greg Steinhoff stepped down.

Dr. Beck began her career as a staff nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. She has held positions as Director of Patient Care and the Vice President of Patient Care Services at Boone Hospital Center, and Chief Nursing Office at University of Missouri Health Care. Dr. Beck has served as adjunct faculty at the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College and the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing and is a Fellow with the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. Dr. Beck is also a member of the Columbia College Board of Trustees and the UMC-Sinclair School of Nursing Alumni Organization Board.

“It’s wonderful to have Dr. Beck back at Boone Health,” says Jerry Kennett, MD, Chair of the Boone Health Board of Trustees. “Not only does Dr. Beck bring a familiarity and historical knowledge of Boone, but an incredible amount of experience in nursing leadership and hospital administration from other organizations.”

“I’m very excited to be a part of the Boone Health Board of Directors,” says Dr. Beck. “I will be joining some remarkable individuals, and I look forward to working with them to help Boone Health continue in its mission to improve the health of mid-Missouri.”

Rhonda Parton To Retire From Boone Health

After nearly 42 years of service, Rhonda Parton has announced her retirement from Boone Health.

Rhonda started her career at Boone in 1982 as a Senior Accounting Clerk. She has held Director positions in many departments including Revenue Cycle, Imaging Services, Ancillary Services, Laboratory, GI Lab and Cardiac Diagnostic Services. She was the Executive Director of Operations for 13 years and currently serves as the Executive Director of Provider and Ambulatory Services.

Throughout her tenure, Rhonda had the opportunity to work on many highlevel initiatives in different areas of the hospital – none more impactful than what she was challenged with in the last four years. Rhonda served in a lead role for Boone’s transition from BJC Health Care to independence. This move impacted every operation and process of the health system and a successful transition leader required intimate knowledge of all aspects of Boone, making this a perfect role for Rhonda.

“I never saw myself staying at one place for my entire career,” says Rhonda. “But there is something magical about Boone Health and the people that work here. They become your family. I have so much gratitude for everyone that has believed in me, trusted me, shown me such kindness, patience, support, encouragement and inspiration. Thank you for making me a better person and inspiring me to be my best. There is no place like Boone!”

In retirement, Rhonda looks forward to spending more time with family and friends, traveling and checking some items off her diverse bucket list.

The Boone family thanks Rhonda for her many years of service and leadership and wishes her a happy and healthy retirement.

Forbes Names Boone Hospital Center in List of America’s Best Midsize Employers

Forbes has recognized Boone Hospital Center among America’s Best Midsize Employers in its latest ranking.

This annual assessment, conducted in collaboration with market research firm Statista, involved gathering feedback from over 170,000 workers across the United States. Companies with 1,000 to 5,000 employees were categorized as midsize employers, while those with over 5,000 employees were classified as large. Respondents were asked to evaluate their employers and indicate whether they would recommend them to others.

Feedback was collected from current employees, former employees who had left within the past two years, as well as individuals acquainted with the company through their network. Emphasizing recent experiences, the methodology also incorporated data from the previous three years, with more weight given to newer responses to ensure consistency over time.

Scores were calculated based on the aggregated responses, ultimately leading to the selection of the top 600 organizations as America’s Best Employers for 2024. Boone Hospital Center was ranked 46th.

Boone Health Food & Nutrition Services Recognized for Culinary Excellence

Congratulations to the Boone Health Food & Nutrition Services department for receiving Morrison Healthcare’s Region Culinary Excellence Aware for 2023.

This award reflects and recognizes this team’s dedication and hard work in providing excellent quality food for retail and patient services. Boone Health was chosen among 89 other hospitals within Morrison Healthcare. The Food & Nutrition Services team received an award, banner and $250 for a team celebration.

Julie Winters, Director of Food & Nutrition Services says, “Our new menu items, menu concept stations and special limited-time offers in the cafeteria and café, plus the introduction of new patient desserts, breakfast specials and a summer salad series in patient services are the outcome of our teams commitment to innovation and enhancing food quality and service. Receiving this award is a well-deserved acknowledgment of the team’s efforts.”

Surgical Milestone

Congratulations to Steven Dresner, MD, with Urology Associates for completing his 750th successful robotic prostatectomy at Boone Hospital Center on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Boone Health Surgical Services celebrated this monumental achievement following the procedure.

Dr. Dresner was instrumental in Boone’s adoption of the da Vinci robotic system in 2008, offering greater surgical precision with faster recovery time for prostate cancer patients across mid-Missouri. His skill and dedication have resulted in optimal outcomes for his patients. Treating an average of 50 patients a year (above the national average), Dr. Dresner had completed his 500th surgery in 2019.