CoxHealth is pleased to announce that Andrea McKay, a senior health care executive with more than 26 years of leadership experience, has accepted the role as President of Cox Monett Hospital. She will officially begin her new duties in June 2022.

McKay, who grew up in Indiana, currently serves as the Chief Ambulatory Officer at Cody Regional Health, a large rural health system in Cody, Wyo. The health system consists of a 25-bed critical access hospital, a 94-bed skilled/intermediate care facility, medical clinics, a hospice house, and a 16-bed chemical dependency center.

In her current role at Cody Health, McKay leads strategy, operations and business development. She has impacted revenue growth by 30 percent, improved patient satisfaction, implemented quality and safety initiatives, and introduced new service lines, including orthopedics, to the organization. She also served as Incident Commander for a time, guiding the organization’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

McKay’s wealth of knowledge in a rural health setting, outstanding communication skills, and leadership excellence are a few of the key factors in her selection.

“There is phenomenal energy around Cox Monett with a high-performing team and a new facility. I am excited to see Andrea build on that success,” says Max Buetow, CoxHealth’s incoming president and CEO. “Rural health is a vital part of our strategy and the way we serve our communities. We are at a pivotal point for our organization, and Andrea’s expertise and dedication to rural health will help us continue to advance the ways we serve Monett and the region.”

McKay succeeds Interim Cox Monett President Genny Maroc, who is retiring. Maroc had previously served as president of Cox Monett from 2011 to 2015 before being promoted to a vice president role in Springfield. Following Maroc’s promotion, Darren Bass served as Cox Monett’s president from 2015-2021. In January 2022, Bass was promoted to vice president of Clinical Services. Maroc returned to Cox Monett to serve as interim president while the search was underway.

The five-month search, led by a national search firm, was composed of committee members throughout the CoxHealth organization and Monett community. Employees, managers, physicians, members of the Cox Monett Community Advisory Board, and CoxHealth leaders unanimously selected McKay as the new leader.

“Throughout the search, Andrea rose to the top of the list quickly,” says William Mahoney, senior vice president of the CoxHealth Community Hospital Group. “Her ability to engage with physicians and employees impressed the committee, along with her excitement to continue building on the culture established at Cox Monett, which includes many patient experience awards.”

McKay says she is eager to return to the Midwest to lead one of the top performing rural hospitals in the nation. She added that the culture and reputation of CoxHealth helped solidify her decision.

“When I walked in the front door of the beautifully designed hospital, it instantly felt like home,” McKay says. “Everyone was so welcoming and kind, and I knew it was a place where I could make a positive difference while pursuing a lifelong dream of leading a rural hospital in a community with overwhelming support of local health care.”

McKay earned her MBA at Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Ind., where she graduated cum laude and served as class representative. She went on to earn a second master’s degree in organizational management from Bluffton University, Bluffton, Ohio.

In September 2021, McKay obtained her National Rural Health CEO certification through the National Rural Health Association.

McKay will reside in Monett with her husband, John, who is a retired police officer. They both enjoy outdoor activities, especially fishing.

Andrea McKay named President of Cox Monett Hospital