Ray Williams

Chief Executive Officer

As CEO, Ray reports directly to Springfield Clinic’s Board of Directors. He is accountable for Springfield Clinic’s primary goals of creating a differential patient experience and building a high reliability organization for physicians and employees.

My Leadership Why: “Aggressive self-rescue and strategic speed”

Ray often shares the account of a pre-trip briefing from a family white water rafting excursion, where the guide explained if someone fell out of the raft, they should not expect him to jump in and save them. Instead, they should practice “aggressive self-rescue” to get to a safe place on their own. This principle of personal responsibility and quick decision-making has shaped Ray’s leadership approach throughout his career.

“You can’t expect that someone is going to come in and save you. You have to be able to save yourself. And, along with that, you always have to make your decisions based on doing the right thing, even when the right thing isn’t easy.”

Ray pairs “aggressive self-rescue” with the principle of “strategic speed.” In a large and often slow-to-shift health care industry, Ray encourages his team to be agile, reducing the “time to value” proposition. This allows his team to take advantage of opportunities quickly when they present themselves.

These principles are often on display, most notably perhaps during COVID-19. When many other health care organizations paused care, Springfield Clinic never closed its doors, as Ray led efforts to design safe pathways for employees and patients to continue to receive treatment.

Vital Stats:

• Has spent 40 years in health care leadership, beginning in finance, a career that has taken him from Virginia to Seattle, then San Francisco before settling in Springfield, Illinois.

• Ray married his wife, Faith, in 1979. Together they have two children and five grandchildren.

• A native of Norfolk, Virginia, attended Old Dominion University where he graduated with a Masters of Business Administration degree. 

• An avid sportsman and enjoys hunting and fishing.

Jen Boyer, RN, MBA

Senior Vice President, Operations

Jennifer “Jen” Boyer oversees all specialty care across all locations as well as the Ambulatory Surgery service line.

My Leadership Why: “Be the best you every day. Find your passion and calling and live by the golden rule. Have perseverance, resilience and courage—and stay true to yourself. And we’re all in this together. When we focus on each other, everything else falls into place.”

Jen found her love for patients and health care during grade school when she volunteered at a local hospital. This passion has continued to grow with each step of her career, from nursing school to today. Here, she lives and breathes the “we are our own community, charged with caring for the community” mantra every day. By being spread out across the region, Springfield Clinic encompasses many separate, distinct communities all striving toward the same goal of providing patients with exceptional care.

“It’s the team’s commitment to both their patients and each other that inspires me. The team at Springfield Clinic strives to adapt and be nimble as health care evolves. These quick pivots enable us to provide patients with the best care possible.”

Jen considers herself to be a participative and decisive leader, always encouraging her team to voice their opinions so they can come to the best decision together. Driven by the unknown of each day but guided by her health care calling, Jen’s focus will always be helping the patient navigate the health care system—removing barriers so they get the care they need—and helping physicians feel empowered to give the best care possible.

Vital Stats:

• Has 27 years in health care: 15 years of nursing in critical care and emergency medicine as well as four in the public health arena; has spent 20 years serving in health care leadership.

• Earned her Bachelor of Science 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. Professional affiliations include the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), Group Practice Improvement Network (GPIN), American College of Healthcare Executives, American Organization of Nurse Executives, American Association of Orthopedic Executives and Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing.

• Active in the agriculture world, raising and showing livestock with husband Mason and three sons as a family business.

• Southern Illinois native, avid high school football mom and loves spending time at her parents’ lake with family.

Rolando Cabral

Chief Information & Transformation Officer

In his role, Rolando oversees the adoption and implementation of digital technologies across Springfield Clinic and the transformation of business strategy using technology and data, focusing on how people, processes and technology can enable the best patient care.

My Leadership Why: “The best thing you can do for yourself is to do something for others.”

Rolando is a veteran clinician and experienced technologist, developing cutting-edge, customized solutions for health care organizations to serve their patients better. His goal is to make the most use of technology without disrupting existing clinical practices or introducing unnecessary complexity to his fellow clinicians. He designs functionalities and processes for clinicians as a clinician, because he knows that happy clinicians provide the best patient care.

“I started in nursing because I always knew I wanted to help other people. Then, I moved into the IT world because I wanted to help other clinicians with technology. Everything we do in the IT Department serves our providers and clinical offices, so that they can best serve patients.”

Believing that technology should accurately support the needs of its users and not the other way around, Rolando is a firm proponent of user-centered design thinking, the power of data, process improvement and customer satisfaction.

Vital Stats:

• Received a master’s degree in health informatics from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minn., and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Universidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga, Philippines.

• Received certification in health care information and management systems (CPHIMS) in 2019.

• Lives in Springfield with his wife Myrna, four children, Shaina, Shaira, John and Gabriel, dog Bruno and cat Sushi.

• In his free time, restores vintage audio equipment, cooks and bikes.

Michelle Clatfelter

Chief Legal Officer

Michelle Clatfelter oversees contract review and management, claims management and compliance support.

My Leadership Why: “If you put the patient at the center of the decision-making, the rest will fall into place.”

Growing up in a predominantly clinical family, Michelle gained insight early in her life regarding the many complex and often evolving challenges providers are forced to navigate day to day. This led her to pursue a legal career with a focus in health care law; her goal, to provide meaningful support to those ultimately responsible for rendering care at the bedside (or chairside).

“What motivates me is this greater objective of enabling our caregivers to do what they do best, by eliminating unnecessary distractions so that they can focus on the patient. We all have a role to play in optimizing the patient experience, no matter how many steps removed from the bedside. I take pride in the work that we do to support that effort, and I enjoy working alongside team members who share that philosophy.”

Vital Stats:

• Has 15 years of health care law experience, ten of which have been spent serving health care organizations “in house,” including at the executive level.

• Received her juris doctorate and certificate in health law from Saint Louis University School of Law, Center for Health Law Studies.

• While in law school, was lead editor on the Journal of Health Law & Policy and a teaching assistant.

• Born and raised in Peoria and lives in Sherman with husband Trevor and three children, Harrison, Adeline and Theodore.

• Has served on the Board of Directors for Sparc and actively participates in the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys, American Health Lawyers Association and St. John’s Society for Service and Leadership.

  Enjoys attending her children’s activities and sporting events, listening to live music and being outdoors, especially snow skiing, swimming, hiking, biking and tennis.

Chris Cousins

Vice President, Operations

Chris Cousins oversees all primary care (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics) and Urgent Care.

My Leadership Why: “We have the opportunity every day to make health care work better, to positively and meaningfully impact how patients, which we all are, experience health care.”

For Chris, a company may have great products or services, but what makes the difference are a purposed mission and culture, the people and leaders behind them and the relationships cultivated together. Creating and fostering deep and lasting relationships built upon trust and credibility is a center piece for Chris and something he instills in his leaders and team. Also at the center is a focus on how we make a patient’s experience exceptional and one that feels very personalized, from the moment they check in to the moment they leave the building. 

“I encourage and challenge my team to apply this mantra developed by Julie Yoo (partner at a 16z and serial entrepreneur) to their thinking and our daily work: How do we access health care, pay for health care and experience health care?”  

An important aspect of Chris’s work is what he calls “Connect Say with Do,” which is an adage he learned from Jonathan Bush while at a leading health care technology company. This is something he sees embodied by the best leaders and tries to emulate for his own team: To be that “trusted advisor”, to show value and drive results, you must deliver on what you say you’re going to do. This, Chris believes, comes down to an individual’s character, authenticity, credibility and pursuit of excellence, which are things he sees around him every day at Springfield Clinic, both from within his team and everywhere around the organization.

Vital Stats:

• Nearly 30 years of executive and operational experience in health care, 10 of those years with multi-billion dollar revenue health technology companies building and leading client success teams through rapid growth and expansion.

• Proven track record of success in operational and revenue cycle efficiency, strategy, and customer service.

• Received a Master of Business Administration from College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.

• Former competitive swimmer who enjoys many outdoor activities, especially if they take place around water, including swimming, cycling and triathlons

Tom Fitch

Vice President, Facilities, Real Estate and Construction

Tom Fitch, S.E., leads a team that oversees the day-to-day operations of facilities and supporting growth through the development of new real estate and construction projects.

My Leadership Why: “If we’re not failing, that means we’re not doing anything.”

In his role, Tom leads his team in providing direction and guidance throughout projects and fostering an environment that both empowers and nurtures creative solutions by holding to the mentality that each project is an opportunity for innovation—the foundation of which being the collaboration between a multidisciplinary team.

“What has been most gratifying to me has been to see the tremendous amount of growth my team has gone through, both in the style of their work, and the confidence in their leadership.”

Vital Stats:

• Earned a Master of Science in structural engineering and Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

• Licensed structural engineer with eight years of practical engineering experience designing buildings and bridges.

• 15 years of previous facilities executive leadership experience for a large commercial construction company and 14 years of small business ownership co-owning a local daycare center.

• Has sat on several Boards, including the YMCA, Heartland Credit Union, 2014 Board of the Chair to the Greater Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Business Education Partnership, Springfield Quantum Growth Partnership and is currently a national advisory board member of Ready Nation, Council for a Strong America, an advocacy group focused on just, equitable and quality early childhood education.

• Received the 2015 McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Corporate Champion for Change Award.

• Born and raised in Springfield, Ill.; Tom and his wife Trish have six children.

• In his free time, enjoys long bike rides or runs, relaxing with a good book, spending time with his family attending concerts, catching a Cubs game or cooking up a family dinner at home.

Chase Hammon

Chief Financial Officer
Chase Hammon oversees the Accounting, Finance, Payer Strategy & Contracting, Physician Compensation and Supply Chain teams.

My Leadership Why: “The people on our teams are more valuable than the work they produce, and we should treat them that way.”

Chase strongly believes that only a well-cared for and empowered team can take care of patients well. That’s why he considers leadership of the financial division of Springfield Clinic to be less about the numbers and more about his people.

“I value treating my leaders and their employees with respect. If you’re on the team, we’ll push and challenge you and encourage you to do the same to us. But above all else, you will be treated with dignity and respect.”

Chase admires genuine humility, willingness to listen and the ability to be wrong and change directions in others. He strives to work in the same way with his own team. Only in that way, he believes, will he achieve his ultimate goal for his division: that his team sets the industry standard, to be the group that other teams look at and want to emulate for work ethic, teamwork and exceptional customer service.

Vital Stats:

• Chase brings 16 years of financial operations management experience to our administrative team, the past ten spent in health care.

• Served in the United States Army for nine years.

• Son of an Army veteran, Chase has called many states “home,” and has moved most recently from Virginia.

• Received a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management from the University of Texas at Dallas and is a certified medical practice executive (CMPE) through the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). Received his bachelor’s in finance from George Mason University.

• Family includes wife Elizabeth and seven children.

• Enjoys playing golf and basketball, but spends most of his free time going to his children’s activities.

Sunny Hampsey

Vice President, Nursing

Sunny Hampsey oversees Nursing Regulatory Compliance, Quality Incentive Programs, Quality Management, Rural Health and Telenurse.

My Leadership Why: “Making a difference through service, growth through embracing the grey.”

If there is one thing Sunny has learned while leading the Quality Management Department is that, while growth can at times be uncomfortable, pushing boundaries, thinking outside of the box and pivoting are the best—and sometimes the only—way to make lasting improvements to how things are done. The COVID-19 pandemic, during which Sunny managed all aspects of employee health in addition to setting best practices for safely operating facilities, is a perfect example of that to her.

“Leadership is about inspiring the team to not only work together to meet the common goal of the department or organization, but also inspiring them to push themselves past boundaries they might think they have and encouraging them to grow.”

Sunny is inspired by her team’s willingness to jump in and tackle projects that better serve patients and enhance service delivery for employees and providers every day. Her goal is to continuously build a data-driven quality improvement program that supports the organization through sound recommendations based on the present, even if it’s not always been done that way.

Vital Stats:

• With 15 years of nursing experience, Sunny joined Springfield Clinic in 2012 as the Oncology Nurse Navigator for the Cancer Center. She became Director of Quality Management in 2017 and Senior Director of Quality Management in 2020.

• Received her Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration from Benedictine University.

• Originally from southern Illinois, Sunny and her spouse have one son and two “four-legged children”, Gus the Golden Retriever and Maddie the Lab.

• Loves being outdoors—walking in Washington Park, hiking or Jeeping—as well as all things music.

Zach Kerker

Vice President, Brand, Experience and Advocacy

Zach Kerker leads the development and reputation of the Springfield Clinic brand, efforts to improve the patient experience and community and legislative advocacy efforts.

My Leadership Why: “Death to it’s always been done this way.”

Zach has spent much of his career riding a wave of market disruption. After starting in broadcast television, Zach left to create Channel1450.com, a digital platform for local sports content that would change the way fans in central Illinois would consume sports media. In 2018 he joined Springfield Clinic, despite having no experience in health care, with a mission to modernize patient communication and the patient experience.

“Springfield Clinic was looking for someone who didn’t bring a traditional health care mindset to the team, and I thought it was a tremendous opportunity. Health care has been one of the last industries to adopt a modern consumer approach for the patient. It’s frustrated me personally as a patient, and I saw a chance to have a positive impact on that for our community. I’m comfortable in the often uncomfortable space of change, and that’s been a necessary mindset for what we’ve set out to do at Springfield Clinic.”

Vital Stats:

• Grew up in Mendon, Illinois and now lives in Chatham with his wife, Lori and their two daughters, Harper and Dagny.

• Graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2006 with a degree in Mass Communications.

• Winner of 2018 Illinois Capital Innovation Awards “Innovator of the Year.”

• Fan of Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Cardinals.

Benjamin McLain

Vice-President, Operations

Benjamin McLain leads Springfield Clinic’s hospital-based and ancillary services programs which include the areas of Hospital Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Laborist Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Radiological Medicine, Laboratory, Radiology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy.

My Leadership Why: “See a need; fill a need.”

Benjamin considers his leadership style to be founded on building up and nurturing other emerging leaders. He believes being a good mentor makes him a better leader himself because, together, he and his leadership team can actively engage in driving the direction of their departments, instead of him solely dictating the direction.

Opportunities to build a bigger and better hospital program in the area abound, and Benjamin works every day to create and execute that strategic vision with his team. He sees the tremendous need in the region for expanded hospital services and believes wholeheartedly his job is to both help fill that need and meet the expectations and needs of those hospital teams.

“When we partner with our local hospital administrators to help meet their needs, and they’re satisfied with what we implement to make the quality of life for their patients better, that’s my favorite part of a day.”

Vital Stats:

• 25 years of experience in the health care field focused on operational leadership, including small critical access hospitals and large health systems, providing oversight to multi-hospital service line leadership.

• Native of upstate New York; now lives in Chatham, Ill., with his wife, Dawn and three sons, Tristan, Aiden and Landon.

• Received a bachelor’s degree in biology and athletic training and a Master of Business Administration from Olivet Nazarene University.

• Enjoys spending time with family, playing competitive sports, camping, participating in Boy Scouts of America and teaching Financial Peace University.

Kenneth R. Sagins, MD, FAAP

Chief Medical Officer

Kenneth Sagins, MD, FAAP, is Chief Medical Officer, ensuring the quality of care for all departments and locations. He is also the clinical liaison for other medical entities, develops strategic clinical needs with the Board and CEO and supports care coordination to deliver positive patient outcomes along with the four physicians that serve as medical directors.

My Leadership Why: “Whether in the exam room or the Board room, it’s never one person who achieves goals; it’s always a team approach.”

Dr. Sagins is uniquely situated to walk in both of Springfield Clinic’s “worlds”: the clinical and the business. But what he values most about his two jobs and the people he works with is how, as he puts it, everyone pulls on the same rope to get the patient what they need. Not only does he feel that he can call on any of his physician colleagues to help take care of his patients directly, Dr. Sagins watches how decisions all the way up to the admin level are made to the end of excellent patient care.

“You’ve got to be on your toes here. I work with some really dedicated, sharp people, and you can’t ever slack, honestly.”

To Dr. Sagins, the most important aspect of his role leading the Clinical Research and Quality Management teams is remaining a full-time clinician. That way, he retains the perspective of his physician colleagues and understands their challenges and needs. He also relishes the opportunity to continue learning every day, whether about a new therapy for a patient’s diagnosis or about what goes into the business side of running a medical organization.

Vital Stats:

• Joined Springfield Clinic as an associate physician in 1997 and served as chairman of the board and a medical director before taking the chief medical officer role.

• Completed his residency in internal medicine/pediatrics as well as medical degree at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

• Born in Detroit, Michigan, and now lives in Springfield with his wife Anne and three children.

• In his free time between being a full-time clinician and executive, he plays ice hockey and the guitar.

Katie Rutledge

Chief Human Resources Officer

Katie Rutledge, SPHR, oversees all areas of Human Resources, including Benefits, Compensation, Employee Relations, Training & Organizational Development and Talent Acquisition.

My Leadership Why: “Making Springfield Clinic a great place to work; empowering our workforce to provide an exceptional patient experience.”

Katie considers one of her top priorities to be championing her team to be as successful as possible in their roles. This is what Human Resources is all about, she believes: supporting the rest of the organization to carry out Springfield Clinic’s mission every day, because a positive environment for employees helps them create a community of caring for patients. This vision is simple, but the work is not always, and that’s what makes each day exciting.

“What motivates me is always being able to move things forward. If we sat stagnant, I’d go crazy. Health care is always evolving; there’s always an ongoing challenge in the industry. That means there’s always something out there that we can move toward and improve upon—and that’s where I thrive.”

Vital Stats:

• 17 years in human resources leadership that includes all areas of HR, including leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies in the Chicago area.

• Earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

• Sits on the Board and Executive Committee for Sparc.

• Maintains certification as a senior professional of human resources (SPHR) and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

• Born and raised in Springfield and has three children, Ryan, Jake and Emily.

• Favorite hobby/other full-time job is being a mom and jumping from one kid activity to the next.

Sheila Streb

Vice President, Revenue Cycle and Internal Audit

Sheila Streb leads Springfield Clinic’s end-to-end revenue cycle performance and the overall preparation and execution of a risk-based internal audit plan.

My Leadership Why: “Transforming health care impacts and improves all patient experiences, including my family’s.”

Motivated by the prospect of a new challenge around every corner and getting to be a part of the next big thing, Sheila leads Clinic-wide coordination and transformation of the revenue cycle, introducing improvements at all levels of the organization, in order to achieve performance excellence, drive down costs and achieve financial goals.

“I’m committed to a seamless financial experience for our patients. That requires continued assessment and optimization at both the strategic and operation levels in order to achieve performance excellence. ‘The only ceiling created is the one I create,’ is what I tell my team. It’s exciting to be a part of that kind of transformation, to be a part of ensuring the success of Springfield Clinic for generations to come.”

Sheila’s guiding focus is her roots in the community. While not originally from Springfield, she has raised her family, who have had Springfield Clinic doctors their whole lives, here. It’s how she can see the direct impact her team’s work has on patients’ health care journeys, and she uses it to help drive toward that exceptional patient experience every day.

Vital Stats:

• Began her career in public accounting with a local firm focusing on compliance and financial auditing and tax preparation.

• Sheila joined Springfield Clinic more than 20 years ago; in that time, she built the Internal Audit program from the ground up, developed the contracts management function and led the successful transition of the billing system and optimization of related processes.

• Attended Eastern Illinois University and University of Illinois – Springfield and received her degree in business/accounting.

• Grew up in Gillespie, Ill., and now lives in Springfield with her husband Eric. Together they have three children, Logan, Kasten and Lizzy.

• Enjoys spending time at the lake, boating and water sports.

Cal Thomas

Chief Development Officer

Cal Thomas leads Springfield Clinic’s strategic planning in the areas of Market Intelligence, Regional Strategy & Planning, Provider Recruitment & Integration, Medical Staff Services and Brand, Experience & Advocacy.

My Leadership Why: “Seeing the collective effort of the team coming together to secure opportunities and tackle challenges, celebrating those wins together and jumping right back in to figure out what can be improved upon next time.”

Cal’s focus is creating an exceptional provider and patient experience through business development. His team touches all aspects of those experiences, including the onboarding and credentialing of new providers, the careful analysis of markets and their areas of need, making providers and patients alike aware of the services available and collecting and responding to patients’ experiences after they leave the office.

Cal’s background as a multi-sport athlete is what taught him early-on that teamwork achieves success and makes the hard work more enjoyable:

“By leveraging valuable perspectives from all areas—peers, providers and patients—only then can we discover, develop and deliver a truly differential experience. When people put aside their own interests and come together to work together, that’s when the magic happens.”

Vital Stats:

• 20 years in the health care field for both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

• Oversaw program development, operations and mergers for a multispecialty federally qualified health center in the St. Louis and Metro East areas.

• Program development, marketing and operational initiatives in the Phoenix, Aspen and Chicago markets gave him various cultural and regional perspectives that lend themselves well to working with the health care diversity of the Midwest.

• Born in Rochester, Ill.; lives in Sherman with his wife, Carly, two children, Carson and Callie, and their lab, Cocoa.

• Attended Indiana University and Southern Illinois University and received degrees in business administration and marketing.

• Collegiate First Team All-American in soccer and played professionally.

• Enjoys spending time with family, exercising, coaching, hunting and fishing.

Stanley Allen, MD, FAAP

Medical Director, Greater Peoria Area

Dr. Stanley Allen is Medical Director for the greater Peoria area, working with Springfield Clinic’s physicians in many of our satellite areas, primarily Peoria, Macomb, Bloomington and Taylorville.

My Leadership Why: “Ensuring access to quality care for all the communities of central Illinois.”

As an Urgent Care physician with a background in primary care private practice, Dr. Stanley Allen enjoys making connections with people, both his patients and his colleagues. Having grown up in a rural community and completed his medical school and residency in central Illinois, Dr. Allen’s focus is physician stewardship in Springfield Clinic’s satellites, working with physicians outside of Springfield to grow and develop in their medical practice and careers with Springfield Clinic.

“My whole family lives around here, and my intent was always to provide care to the local community. Our communities outside of Springfield, especially, are close to my heart because of this, and I’m looking forward to connecting with the physicians in these areas.”

Vital Stats:

• Has been department chair for Urgent Care for six non-consecutive years and a member of the Finance Committee; sits on the Quality Management Committee now.

• Received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Ill., and completed his internal medicine/pediatrics residency at Southern Illinois School of Medicine.

• Is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and maintains membership with the Sangamon County Medical Society.

• Grew up in Ashland, Ill., and lives in Sherman with his wife, two children and Hazel the dog.

• Enjoys traveling, cooking, attending his children’s sporting events and spending time with his extended family, which includes five siblings and 17 nieces and nephews.

Lynne Barkmeier, MD, FACS

Medical Director, Associate Advancement

Dr. Lynne Barkmeier is Medical Director of Associate Advancement, working with Springfield Clinic’s physicians and with residents and students as they look to join Springfield Clinic.

My Leadership Why: “Working to make small changes that effect big impacts in patient care.”

A full-time vascular surgeon, Dr. Lynne Barkmeier sees her role as medical director as complimentary to being a doctor, as helping other physicians develop is also caring for a broader range of patients than just her own. Dr. Barkmeier helps Springfield Clinic colleagues, as well as residents and students looking to join Springfield Clinic down the road, get accommodated with the Springfield Clinic environment and team, as well as answers questions, concerns and issues.

“We’re a community, and everyone is here to help new physicians be successful. We want them to be find their place at Springfield Clinic and be happy at their jobs so they can then turn around and create a community of caring for their teams and their patients.”

Vital Stats:

• Has been medical director for nearly 20 years and sits on the QM Committee; has been a past member of the Building & Operations and Finance Committees.

• Received her medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and completed her general surgery residency at Creighton University and vascular surgery fellowship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

• Is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Sangamon County Medical Society and Illinois State Medical Society.

• Has lived in Springfield since 1989 with her husband, who is a financial planner, two children and, now, one grandchild.

• Has loved water skiing and is a stand-up paddle boarding enthusiast; loves to cook, knit and crochet in her free time.

Joseph Conlon, MD

Medical Director, Physician Stewardship

Dr. Joseph Conlon is Medical Director of Physician Stewardship, working with Springfield Clinic’s physicians to grow and develop throughout their career.

My Leadership Why: “Setting physicians up for success at Springfield Clinic by helping them provide the highest quality patient care possible.”

Dr. Conlon’s role as a medical director is rooted in the belief of doing the right thing and that happy people make the best doctors. A full-time practicing pediatric dermatologist himself, he knows it’s hard to be on your game and have your best day every day as a physician. He works one-on-one with Springfield Clinic physicians as needed to help them develop in their lives and career; to be and do their best.

“I want every physician to know I’m approachable, I’m here to help, and I want them to succeed in both life and at Springfield Clinic. All of us, we’re a team. Using all of our strengths and resources together as doctors, that helps us build and grow stronger, which allows us to better provide for our patients and our community.”

Vital Stats:

• Has been a medical director for a decade and sits on the Quality Management and Building, Operations and Marketing Committees.

• Received his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; completed his pediatric residency and pediatric dermatology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and his dermatology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

• Active member of the Society of Pediatric Dermatology

• Clinical assistant professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

• Born and raised in the area; now lives in Springfield with his wife and four children.

• Enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially outdoors, and trying new foods and craft beers.

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, joined Springfield Clinic in 2007. 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