Courtesy Photos 
The finalists to be the new chief executive officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital are Emily Dilley (left), CEO of Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kan., Matthew Heyn (center), president and CEO of Delta Health in Delta, Colo., and Jeffery Hudson-Covolo, vice president for patient care services and chief nurse executive of Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville, Calif. All three will be in Juneau for interviews with hospital officers and public meet-and-greets starting next Friday.

Courtesy Photos The finalists to be the new chief executive officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital are Emily Dilley (left), CEO of Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kan., Matthew Heyn (center), president and CEO of Delta Health in Delta, Colo., and Jeffery Hudson-Covolo, vice president for patient care services and chief nurse executive of Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville, Calif. All three will be in Juneau for interviews with hospital officers and public meet-and-greets starting next Friday.

3 finalists for top job at Bartlett

Candidates will meet Bartlett officials and public beginning next Friday

Three finalists seeking to be the new chief executive officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital will visit Juneau starting next Friday, with public meet-and-greets scheduled for each as the hospital seeks to move on from numerous recent leadership controversies.

Two of the three finalists are applying after short stints as CEOs at their respective hospitals, although the specifics of why are unknown since they could not be reached Friday and their preliminary interviews with BRH’s board of directors were in closed executive sessions. Erin Hardin, a hospital spokesperson, stated in an email interview Juneau’s location was among the prime motivating factors for at least one of the finalists.

“I know for at least one of those candidates, they were not looking for a new position, but applied as Alaska is a dream destination for their family,” Hardin wrote. “This was referenced in their resume materials.”

Visits by individual finalists will include meet-and-greets from 5-6 p.m. June 3, 6 and 7, Hardin stated. The rest of the candidates’ agendas during their visits are still being finalized, with times and locations scheduled to be announced next week, but the hospital’s board has scheduled meetings the mornings after each of meet-and-greet that will available online via Zoom.

The board’s next announced meeting following the interviews is 5:30 p.m. June 28.

The three finalists selected from six candidates interviewed by the BRH board are:

Emily Dilley, CEO of Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kan., since September of 2021. In a “letter to the community” posted at that hospital’s website when her appointment was announced she wrote “there were many factors that drew me here, perhaps most of all the community and organization’s strongly rooted values and forward-thinking culture…The richness and diversity of the community was also part of the draw for me. Diverse perspectives drive innovative thinking.” Before that she held various leadership positions with Prairie Ridge Health (formerly Columbus Community Hospital) in Columbus, Wisc. from 2012 to 2021.

Matthew Heyn, president and CEO of Delta Health in Delta, Colo., since April of 2020. When appointed to that job he stated in a hospital press release “What I can say is that there will be a pretty significant cultural transformation with employees to where they feel empowered and at liberty to discuss ideas on how to better care for patients. These will be aligned against organizational goals that will be developed in conjunction with the Board’s strategic plan.” Before that job he served in senior leadership positions at four other hospitals in Colorado and Kansas for 13 years.

Jeffery Hudson-Covolo, vice president for patient care services and chief nurse executive of Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville, Calif., since January of 2014. In March of this year he was named one of 66 Becker’s Healthcare CNOs to Know nationally (of 37,475 registered). “Being a servant leader is about establishing relationships to be able to build mutual trust and respect,” he told The Sun Gazette newspaper after winning the award. “This framework leads to teams being able to be resilient and masterful during a crisis or providing healthcare on an everyday basis.” Previously he has worked as the chief operating officer or CNO for four hospitals in Illinois, Florida and California during a 10-year period.

BRH is seeking a new permanent CEO after going through multiple CEOs during a 20-month period ending last October.

The retirement of Chuck Bill in early 2021 after six years in the position resulted in Chief Financial Officer Kevin Benson serving as interim CEO until Rose Lawhorne was named the permanent replacement in the spring of 2021. However, she resigned and then was fired by the board six months later after an inappropriate personal relationship with a subordinate staff member, and Kathy Callahan briefly came out of retirement to fill the position until Jerel Humphrey was named interim CEO, which he will remain until a permanent CEO begins.

Other leadership turmoil has occurred recently, including the departure of Vlad Tocaas, COO, the resignation of Kevin Benson as CFO and the resignation of Bradley Grigg as chief behavioral health officer.

In January the hospital announced a new hospital leadership structure that, according to Hardin at the time, resulted as Humphrey “came in and has done an evaluation and determined it made sense to go back to the prior, streamlined organization.”

• Juneau Empire reporter Mark Sabbatini can be reached at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com

More in News

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of June 15

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule.… Continue reading

In this still image from a video provided to the Alaska Beacon, the cruise ship Celebrity Edge (at right) is seen drifting toward the Carnival Luminosa (at left). Three other cruise ships are seen moored to the Juneau docks. (Video screenshot)
Coast Guard investigates storm-caused near-collision between two cruise ships in Juneau

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a near-collision between two cruise ships… Continue reading

A ferry worker ties up the Hubbard on Sunday, April 21, 2024, as it docks in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney / Chilkat Valley News)
Weekend ferry cancellation complicates travel for bike relay, solstice

A ferry cancellation will affect travel plans for some participants of the… Continue reading

Chris Storey shows where he found an incapacitated man in an embankment along Glacier Highway in Lemon Creek during the early morning hours of Monday, June 16, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Man who collapses near roadside rescued in early morning hours by passerby

Chris Storey, a former adult care worker who was homeless until April, assists man in distress.

Families write messages in chalk outside the governor's mansion on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Chalking up education funding outrage on the sidewalk at the governor’s mansion

Families protest Dunleavy’s vetoes to education funding with colorful pictures and words.

Boats at Douglas Harbor under mostly clear skies on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
80°F in Juneau will trigger first-ever National Weather Service heat advisories

Officials say sun’s angle in Alaska makes temperatures feel higher compared to other states.

Christina Love leads the audience in raising their fist, symbolizing telling the truth despite fear on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Juneau joins nation in ‘No Kings’ protest

More than 1,000 protestors join millions nationwide opposing Trump as he presides over military parade.

A row of tents on Teal Street across the street from the Glory Hall on the morning of Saturday, May 14, 2025. Occupants of the tents received a 48-hour vacate notice from the Juneau Police Department on Friday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Large homeless encampment on Teal Street gets JPD vacate notice; where will occupants go next?

People who keep moving from place to place under “dispersed camping” policy unsure where they’ll go.

Volunteers look for trash on the Jordan Avenue sidewalk at JAMHI’s Community Litter Pickup event on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
JAMHI hosts community cleanup to kick off 40th anniversary celebration

Local addiction and mental health treatment organization plans summer of events and give-back days.

Most Read