OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital Board Transitions to Board of Advisors

KENTON, Ohio – In an effort to align with the OhioHealth system, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital is shifting its fiduciary board of directors to a board of advisors. The board will focus on advancing community partnerships, patient experience, and clinical excellence.

“At OhioHealth, we are committed to improving the lives we serve in Hardin County for years to come,” said Chris Clinton, president of OhioHealth’s regional market. “This transition keeps us connected to the communities we serve while ensuring we are part of a unified system approach.”

“The transition from a board of directors to a board of advisors was designed to provide more local input to OhioHealth on operations within the community, with an emphasis on guiding fundraising activities and local charity donations, maintaining community relations, providing local leadership support, and making recommendations for capital requests and other expenditures within the community,” said John Schwemer, attorney, who will continue to serve as chair of the board. “The functional governance and operations of Hardin Memorial Hospital will remain largely unchanged moving forward.”

Hardin Memorial Hospital is proud to be a vital part of the Hardin County community, with a dedicated team of more than one hundred associates and providers.

Investments in recent years reflect a continued commitment to advancing healthcare and supporting surrounding communities. Examples include replacing the hospital windows and roof for energy efficiency and upgrading technologies like its CT scanner, portable x-ray machine, telemetry monitors, along with lab and surgical equipment.

Two major advancements are on the horizon. Earlier this month, OhioHealth announced an $8.5 million dollar renovation to upgrade Hardin Memorial’s surgical suite. Construction will get underway in March and wrap up by early 2027. By the end of this year, the hospital will also have a new permanent state-of-the art MRI available for patients.

OhioHealth’s investment in Hardin County extends beyond the walls of the hospital.

For example, in April 2024 OhioHealth acquired the Hardin County YMCA building located at 918 West Franklin Street in Kenton. The acquisition marked a significant milestone in OhioHealth’s ongoing efforts to invest in the health and wellness of local communities. As part of the agreement, OhioHealth is now investing $150,000 annually in the operations of the Hardin County YMCA, totaling $1.5 million over the next decade.

“We believe this change will allow our local healthcare needs to be heard and addressed at the highest level,” said Jim Parobek, president of Hardin Memorial Hospital. “I look forward to the investments we will continue to make in our hospital and our community to provide high-level care close to home.”

OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital Board of Advisors:

John Schwemer (Chair)

Judy Hruschka, MD

Alyssa Johnston

Abhishake Kaapuraala, MD

Todd Oates, OD

Beryl Rogers Dudek

Chip Root

Teresa Styer

Jordan Temple

Paige Wallace

Steve McCullough