Ray Williams

Chief Executive Officer

As the organization's CEO, Williams reports directly to the Clinic's Board of Directors. He is accountable for all aspects of the organization's human, financial and physical resources, with the ultimate goals to provide the highest quality health care possible to the community, help partners and employees find satisfaction in their work and achieve sensible financial success. Williams joined Springfield Clinic in January 2017.

Williams most recently served as the Senior VP - Physician Mergers & Integration at International Council for Quality Care, Inc., a national consulting firm specializing in physician practice success. His leadership achievements include improving operational efficiency, redesigning primary care models, deploying information technology to drive quality and performance, and elevating the patient experience. For more than 25 years of his career in health care, Williams worked at Sentara Health in Norfolk, Virginia. At Sentara, a fully-integrated health care system, he served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Sentara Medical Group and held that position for more than 12 years prior to his exit in 2009.

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Williams attended Old Dominion University, also in Norfolk, where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree.

Jen Boyer, RN, MBA

Vice-President of Operations

As Vice-President of Operations, Boyer is responsible for numerous Springfield Clinic operational divisions, including the Ambulatory Surgery & Endoscopy Center, TeleNurse & TeleCommunications, two primary care regions, including offices in Springfield and satellites to the north and west, as well more than 10 medical specialty groups located at Springfield Clinic 1st – 800 Building.

Boyer brings more than 20 years practical nursing experience to her role, having launched her career as a staff nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, through serving as Emergency Medical Services Director at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield more than 15 years later. She joined Springfield Clinic in 2012 as the Clinical Nurse Navigator for The Orthopedic Group and advanced to Service Line Director in 2014, where she served until her appointment to Springfield Clinic’s executive team in February 2017.

She has earned both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health and a Master of Business Administration / Health Care Administration from Benedictine University in Springfield. Her professional affiliations include American College of Healthcare Executives, American Organization of Nurse Executives, American Association of Orthopedic Executives and Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing.

Chris Cousins

Vice-President of Managed Care & Ancillary Services

Cousins joined Springfield Clinic in August of 2017 as the organization’s Vice President of Managed Care and Ancillary Services. In that capacity, his responsibilities include oversight of the Clinic’s Imaging, Laboratory and Rehabilitation Services Departments, as well as the group’s Managed Care & Population Health services.  

Just before joining Springfield Clinic, Cousins served as the Vice President of Client Success for CareCloud, a leading provider of cloud-based revenue cycle management (RCM), practice management (PM), electronic health record (EHR), and patient engagement solutions for medical groups. Having more than 20 prior years of experience in the health care industry, primarily with Athenahealth based in Massachusetts and Sentara Healthcare in Virginia, he offers a proven track record of success in operational efficiency, strategy, service and customer satisfaction.

Cousins earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He served as a member of the US Army Reserve at Fort Lee and Fort Eustis, both in Virginia, for 11 years, and achieved the distinguished rank of Captain prior to completing his service in 1998. 

Jack O'Hara

Vice-President and Chief Information Officer

As Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Jack O’Hara is responsible for overseeing the HIM, IT, MSO, Privacy and Project Management Office Departments.

Jack served most recently as an IT site director for the Manhattan downtown campus of the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Previously, he held leadership positions at Allscripts Healthcare, NYU-Winthrop University Hospital and Siemens Healthcare.

Jack received his Master of Business Administration from Cornell SC Johnson School of Management and a Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership from the Weill Cornell School of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate degree at Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY.

Benjamin McLain

Vice-President of Operations

In his operations role, McLain collaborates with hospital leadership, expands the market for hospital-based services and helps make Springfield Clinic the preeminent community of caring. He works closely with regional hospital leadership in the development and placement of clinical operational divisions, including Critical Care, Hospitalist Medicine, Laborists, Clinical Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Radiation Oncology.  

McLain has more than 20 years of health care leadership experience in both hospital and private practice organizations. He joined Springfield Clinic in 2014 as the director of rehabilitation services and transitioned to director of operations in 2018. In his time at Springfield Clinic he has provided leadership in the areas of Rehabilitation Services, Sports Medicine, Family Practice, General Surgery and Occupational Medicine.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Athletic Training, and a Master of Business Administration from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL.  His professional affiliations include the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Medical Group Management Association.

McLain lives in Chatham with his wife Dawn, and they have three sons Tristan, Aiden and Landon.  He is heavily involved with the Boy Scouts of America as an Assistant Scout Master and serves as a Financial Peace University Coordinator as a way to help others get control of their debt.

Katie Rutledge

Vice-President & Chief Human Resources Officer

As Chief Human Resources Officer, Rutledge is responsible for all aspects of Springfield Clinic's human resources management, encompassing Benefits, Compensation & HRIS, Employee Relations, and Talent Management.

Having achieved success in human resources management at several organizations in the Chicagoland area, including United States Gypsum Corporation, Brunswick Corporation, and BP Corporation, Rutledge returned to her native Springfield in 2014 and served as a Human Resources Manager for Memorial Health System. She joined Springfield Clinic in June of 2015 as Director of Human Resources and was named CHRO in January 2017.

Rutledge earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication and a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She maintains certification as a Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

Kenneth Sagins, MD – Internal Medicine/Pediatrics

Vice-President & Chief Medical Officer

Kenneth Sagins, MD was born in Detroit, Michigan and attended medical school at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, where he also completed his residency in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics.

Dr. Sagins is board certified in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. He is a member of the American Board of Physician Executives, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians and the Illinois State Medical Society.

Dr. Sagins joined Springfield Clinic in 1997 and served as Chairman of Springfield Clinic's Board of Directors (2010-2011). He was named Chief Medical Officer in January 2017, with the primary responsibility to ensure the quality of care at Springfield Clinic. Dr. Sagins will also serve as the clinical liaison with other medical entities, help develop Springfield Clinic's strategic clinical needs, interact with the organizations leadership, including the Board of Directors and CEO and support care coordination. Additionally, he leads the administrative Quality Management committee.

Sarah Skeeters

Vice-President of Operations

With more than 20 years of health care operations and practice management experience to her credit, Skeeters joined Springfield Clinic in October 2016 as Service Line Director for Chronic Diseases and was named Vice-President of Operations in February 2017. In her current capacity, she oversees operational divisions that include primary care offices in Springfield and the Clinic’s southern region, and nearly 20 medical specialty groups located at Springfield Clinic 1st – 900 Building and Main Campus. Her purview also includes hospital-based medical specialists and call center operations.

A native of the Springfield area, Skeeters earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Med & Psychology from Benedictine University, prior to the completion of her MBA in Health Care Administration, also at Benedictine. Skeeters is a member of the American Society for Quality and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Cal Thomas

Vice-President, Business Development & Marketing

As Vice President of Business Development and Marketing, Thomas is responsible for provider recruitment, provider credentialing/onboarding, marketing/communications and business development. He joined Springfield Clinic in 2009 as an operations manager then moved into a new role as director of outreach in 2010. As a director, Thomas helped expand Springfield Clinic’s specialties and patient access by increasing the number of outreach providers from 50 to 140 throughout 18 counties. In 2012, Thomas was promoted to director of outreach and business development and became responsible for refocusing the two departments on business development relationships, data and strategy. Thomas was promoted to his vice president role in 2018.

Thomas brings 15 years of health care experience from both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Springfield Clinic, Thomas oversaw pediatric operations, dental program expansion and multispecialty acquisitions for Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, a federally qualified health center. In his role with the foundation, he worked with 150 providers throughout the East St. Louis/Metro East markets.

Thomas grew up in Rochester, Ill., and now lives in Sherman with his wife, Carly, and two children, Carson & Callie. He attended Indiana University and Southern Illinois University and received degrees in business administration and marketing. Thomas was a student athlete at both universities, where he played soccer and was voted as team captain, an honor he still feels today.

Chase Hammon

Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer
Chase brings 15 years of financial operations management experience to our administrative team, the past ten spent in health care. As Chief Financial Officer, Chase oversees all financial operations, capital outlay, revenue cycle, treasury services and supply chain.
Chase recently moved from Virginia, serving as chief financial officer at Bon Secours Mercy Health Richmond Medical Group for the past two years. As CFO at Mercy Health, he led their growth partnerships, created new legal entities to improve efficiencies and led an EHR and EPR conversion. He previously spent eight years in academic medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. While there, he built the Shared Services organization that supported the 2,500 faculty in the Medical Group and designed the financial infrastructure for Southwestern Health Resources ACO. Chase also served in the United States Army for nine years. He received his MBA in Health Care Management from the University of Texas at Dallas and is a certified medical practice executive (CMPE) through MGMA. He received his bachelor’s in finance from George Mason University. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf and basketball but spends most of his free time going to his kids’ activities.

Lynne D. Barkmeier, MD – Vascular Surgery

Medical Director - Associate Advancement

Dr. Lynne Barkmeier, a native of Columbus, Nebraska, earned her medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. At Creighton, she completed a General Surgery residency then relocated to Springfield, Illinois for a fellowship in Vascular Surgery at SIU School of Medicine. Upon completion, Dr. Barkmeier joined the staff of SIU, practicing there for nine years, before entering private practice for three. She joined Springfield Clinic in 2000.

She maintains certification in Vascular Surgery and is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Barkmeier is a member of the Sangamon County Medical Society and Illinois State Medical Society.

As Medical Director for Associate Advancement, Dr. Barkemeier is responsible for recruiting, integrating, mentoring and developing new associates, as well as helping define their professional expectations.

Joseph D. Conlon, MD – Pediatric Dermatology

Medical Director - Physician Stewardship

Dr. Conlon joined Springfield Clinic’s Dermatology Department. One of only a few hundred board certified Pediatric Dermatologists in the entire country, Dr. Conlon received his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. He then completed two residencies—one in Pediatrics at the Childrens’ Hospital of Wisconsin and one in Dermatology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, both in Milwaukee. He was then awarded a fellowship in Pediatric Dermatology from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Board certified in both Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology from the American Board of Dermatology, Dr. Conlon is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Board of Dermatology, the American Medical Association, the Society of Pediatric Dermatology and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Dr. Conlon, as Medical Director for Physician Stewardship, serves as a liaison to all Springfield Clinic's clinical departments, physicians and operations teams to support positive physician relations. Additionally, he will support the CMIO in the implementation and integration of population health models and variance reduction efforts.

Krishna P. Aparanji, MD

Medical Director - Systems

Systems Medical Director Dr. Krishna Aparanji joined the Critical Care team at Springfield Clinic as an intensivist in 2012 after completing his fellowship training in critical care medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He served as a Fundamental Critical Care Specialist (FCCS) consultant with the Society of Critical Care Medicine and as a clinical associate professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He is board certified in critical-care medicine, neurocritical care, geriatric medicine and internal medicine with a focus on hospital medicine. He is also Lean Six Sigma certified and a certified-physician executive.

Dr. Aparanji is liaison for all Springfield Clinic departments to facilitate in-hospital workflow efficiency and reduce burnout risk for Springfield Clinic physicians through systems management.

Board Chairman

Amit Gupta, MD

Medical Oncology and Hematology

Dr. Amit Gupta has practiced medicine in the central Illinois region for more than 15 years. He joined Springfield Clinic’s Hematology & Oncology Department in February of 2010 and was instrumental in the development of The Cancer Center at Springfield Clinic. He maintains board certification in Medical Oncology and Hematology.

Dr. Gupta earned his medical degree at Christian Medical College, prior to completing his residency at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. He attended Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota where he completed fellowship training and earned a Master of Science Degree in Biomedical Sciences Clinical Research. His medical training also included completion of a Hematology & Oncology fellowship program in Cincinnati, Ohio at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

He is a member in the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Medical Association, Illinois State Medical Society and Sangamon County Medical Society.

Board Member

Ramanath Bhandari, MD

Ophthalmology

Ramanath Bhandari, MD, joined Springfield Clinic’s Eye Institute in 2013. Board certified in ophthalmology, Dr. Bhandari received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. He was appointed chief resident while completing his residency in ophthalmology at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. Dr. Bhandari completed fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery & diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In addition to his role on the Board of Directors, Dr. Bhandari serves on the Ancillary and Finance Committees for Springfield Clinic. In the past, he has also served as chairman for the Department of Ophthalmology at HSHS St. John’s Hospital. He is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.

Board Member
Melissa Cox, MD

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics

Dr. Melissa Cox joined Springfield Clinic in 2001, immediately following the completion of her residency in Internal Medicine / Pediatrics at Michigan State University Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She is a graduate of SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. She practices as a member of the primary care team at Springfield Clinic Lincoln and maintains board certification in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

She is a member of the American College of Physicians and a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society and Logan County Medical Society.

Dr. Cox provides leadership to the Lincoln-based team as its department chairperson and serves as a member of Springfield Clinic’s Information Technology committee. She also serves in leaderships roles at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital where she is on staff.

Board Member
Philip Garcia, MD

Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat)

Dr. Philip Garcia joined Springfield Clinic in 1993, after completing his otolaryngology residency at Washington University School of Medicine, where he was chief resident. He received his medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine and also completed an internship in general surgery at Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. 

Dr. Garcia is a very active member of the medical provider community. This is Dr. Garcia’s fifth term on the Board of Directors. In addition to the Board, he serves on the Finance, Information Technology and Benefits & Payer Relations Committees and is chair of the Otolaryngology Department. He also chairs the Otolaryngology Department at Memorial Medical Committee and serves on their OR Committee. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Board of Otolaryngology, the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. He is a clinical associate professor with SIU School of Medicine as well. 

Dr. Garcia is board certified in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery and was the 2018 recipient of the A. Raymond Eveloff Award for Clinical Excellence.

Board Member
James Fullerton, MD

General Surgery

James Fullerton, MD, has been with Springfield Clinic General Surgery since 2004. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his general surgery residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and his endoscopy and interventional ERCP fellowship at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Dr. Fullerton is board certified in surgery and serves on the Finance Committee and ASC Committee, where he is also chair, in addition to the Board of Directors. He is also the department chair for the Springfield Clinic General Surgery Department and the chair of General Surgery at Springfield Memorial Hospital. He is a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Hernia Society, Illinois Surgical Society, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

Board Member
Bryan Kellenberger, MD

Family Medicine

Bryan Kellenberger, MD, has been practicing family medicine since 2010 and has been with Springfield Clinic since 2015.

Dr. Kellenberger completed his medical degree and his family medicine residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Information Technology Committee in addition to serving on the Board of Directors.

Board Member
Rajan Kochar, MD, MPH

Gastroenterology

Rajan Kochar, MD, MPH, joined Springfield Clinic’s gastroenterology team in 2013.

Dr. Kochar is board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Delhi-Maulana Azad Medical College. He first obtained a master’s degree in public health from the University of Massachusetts, then went on to complete his residency at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in internal medicine. He pursued fellowship training in gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and in advanced therapeutic endoscopy at Stanford University.

While at Stanford University, Dr. Kochar held a faculty position in the Gastrointestinal (GI) Department. He practiced briefly at the University of Texas Health Science Center before joining Springfield Clinic.

Among his many professional affiliations, Dr. Kochar is a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease and the American Gastroenterological Association.

Dr. Kochar is the director of the Center for Advanced Endoscopy at Springfield Clinic and director of endoscopy at Memorial Medical Center. Prior to his election to the Board of Directors, he served on Springfield Clinic’s Ambulatory Surgery and Compensation Committees.

Board Member
William Putman, MD

Center for Women's Health

William D. Putman, MD, is a board-certified specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with Springfield Clinic’s Center for Women’s Health. Born in Peoria, he graduated cum laude with his medical degree from Creighton University before completing his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He joined Springfield Clinic right out of residency in 1989.

In 2009, Dr. Putman was awarded the A. Raymond Eveloff Award for Clinical Excellence. The award recognizes the recipient for going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the health and well-being of patients and to continually strive for excellence in the delivery of health care.

Dr. Putman is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, Illinois State Medical Society, Sangamon County Medical Society, American Urogynecologic Society and American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. He is a clinical professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and has won five “Teacher of the Year” awards.

Board Member
Larry Sapetti, MD

Family Medicine

Larry Sapetti, MD is a board-certified Family Medicine doctor with more than 20 years of practice experience. Dr. Sapetti, a native of Kincaid, Illinois, earned his medical degree from University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria and completed his Family Practice residency at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana. He joined the primary care team at Springfield Clinic in December of 2006.

Dr. Sapetti most recently served on Springfield Clinic’s Operations & Building Committee prior to his election to the board.

He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, Illinois State Medical Society and Sangamon County Medical Society.

Board Member
Brett Wolters, MD

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

A native of Quincy, Ill., Brett Wolters, MD, celebrated his 10-year anniversary with Springfield Clinic in 2017. In addition to the Board of Directors, Dr. Wolters serves on the Operations & Building and Marketing Committees.

Board certified in both orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, Dr. Wolters first obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana before receiving his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the same institution, achieving the role of chief resident of orthopedic surgery. He then completed a fellowship at the TRIA Orthopedic Center.

Dr. Wolters is a member of The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine as well as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Board Member
Paul Pacheco, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Colon and Rectal Surgery

Paul Pacheco, MD, FACS, FASCRS, has been with the Colon & Rectal Surgery team at Springfield Clinic since 2012.

Dr. Pacheco received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Ill. He then completed his general surgery residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, Ill., and his colorectal surgery residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Dr. Pacheco is director of the Outpatient Surgical Center and is chairman of the Department of General Surgery, both at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Each year, one physician is chosen from among the many well-trained and talented doctors at Springfield Clinic to receive the prestigious A. Raymond Eveloff Award for Clinical Excellence. The award was established in 1997 in honor of A. Raymond Eveloff, a local pediatrician and one of Springfield Clinic’s founding partners.

The annual award recognizes the recipient for going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the health and well-being of patients and to continually strive for excellence in the delivery of health care. Candidates for the award have also demonstrated leadership in the community, the organization and their medical specialties.

Eveloff Honoree of the Year

Dushyantkumar Patel, MD — 2021

The A. Raymond Eveloff Award for 2021 was presented to Dushyantkumar Patel, MD, Hospital Medicine. Over the past year, Dr. Patel has provided exceptional care to his patients that has been noticed and celebrated by his peers. Springfield Clinic is overjoyed to be honoring him with this award.

Past Honorees