2025 Health Care Champions

Champions driven by innovation, responsibility to patients

Health care is big business in our community. The region’s two largest employers are health systems, and the industry employs tens of thousands of people across southwest Missouri.

Big business, yes, but it’s also a sector filled with big hearts driven by innovation and a deep sense of responsibility to patients.

This year’s class of Health Care Champions honorees helps us understand the professional and personal whys behind the work that our region – and each of us personally – benefit from. Health care is an industry that touches us all. These are the professionals that guide us through some of the most joyous and heartbreaking moments in life – and so many moments in between.

In the pages that follow, you’ll read about a doctor and organization helping to significantly expand autism care and services to area residents, several professionals who have dedicated their careers to providing dignity and support as people reach the end of their lives, an entrepreneur who opened her own practice, pharmacy clinicians and nurse educators teaching the next generation, a public health leader guiding regional systems, a professional focused on patient experience and another focused on ethical guidance, as well as organizations that provide free and low-cost treatments to residents who may otherwise go without care. Their impressive stories show the variety of disciplines and expertise that make up our local health care industry.

Springfield Business Journal calls these honorees champions not only because they have reached top marks in their field but because along the way they have advocated for others, whether that be co-workers, students or patients.

We hope you enjoy reading this special publication. I imagine as you read these stories, it will cause you to think of the health care champions that have helped your or your family and friends over the years – perhaps drop them a note to say thanks. Healers need our support, too.

Congratulations to the individuals and organizations in the 2025 class of Health Care Champions for giving themselves and their talent to the community. And many thanks to our judges for their time in selecting this year’s class.

—Christine Temple, Executive Editor