President, CEO & Founder of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership
Regional Director in the UAMS Officer of Strategy, Management, & Administration

Executive Director, Rural Health Association of Arkansas

Ms. Mellie Boagni currently serves as the CEO, President, & Founder of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership and as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Regional Director of Strategy, Management, and Administration with over 23 years of experience in community and organizational networking, grant writing, program development, and implementation. Mellie founded the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership organization in 2008. It began with five critical access hospitals and has grown its membership to 19 rural hospitals, two FQHCs, 92 owned and affiliated clinics, and three medical schools serving rural Arkansas residents. Mellie has obtained over $52 million in grant funds for Arkansas Rural Health Partnership to implement federal and state grants to provide healthcare provider training opportunities, healthcare workforce initiatives, telehealth expansion, SDOH initiatives, chronic disease programs, behavioral and mental health services, and improved access to care throughout rural Arkansas.

Ms. Boagni has served on the National Rural Health Association Congress and graduated in 2019 from the NRHA Rural Fellows program. She currently serves on the board of the Arkansas Department of Health Board of Directors, Delta Region Community Health Systems Development Advisory Committee, NRHA Rural Community Health Initiatives workgroup, and one of three individuals to serve as a mentor in the National Rural Health Association’s new Community Capacity Academy.  In 2016, Ms. Boagni was acknowledged as a Federal Office of Rural Health’s Rural Health Champion. In 2020 she was awarded the Healthcare Heroes Innovation award by Arkansas Business magazine and one of Arkansas’ Most Powerful Women of 2020 by Arkansas Business and Politics.  Ms. Boagni has been recognized as one of 250 of Arkansas’ Most Influential People in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

Under Mellie’s leadership, ARHP has been recognized nationally as a Rural Health Community Champion for Collaborative Partnerships by the Federal Office of Rural Health and as Outstanding Network of the Year by the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association.  In 2023, she was named one of 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and Little Rock Soiree magazine.

Mellie Boagni – Contact
Email: Mellie@arruralhealth.org; MBBridewell@uams.edu
Ph: 870-265-6553

Ms. Lynn Hawkins currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer and is responsible for assisting ARHP project directors and administrative staff with partner and project recruitment and communications, organizational development, planning projects, external partner relations, community and stakeholder participation and involvement, and all communications decisions as they impact the goals and outcomes of ARHP initiatives and projects. Prior to this position, Ms. Hawkins served the ARHP in various roles, including project management.

Mrs. Hawkins has more than 20 years’ experience working with non-profit organizations focusing on community and network development, program implementation, grants management, and advocacy efforts to build and strengthen existing programs and/or develop programs to improve the quality of life in rural Arkansas. She has served as an AR Delta Technical Assistance Provider, covering 42 east Arkansas counties; was instrumental in the implementation of and compliance with the Community Health Centers of Arkansas (CHCA) insurance enrollment program under the Affordable Care Act and provided oversight of the CHCA statewide Outreach and Enrollment Network. Mrs. Hawkins has served as a Government Relations Manager assisting with securing funding for community health centers. Ms. Hawkins currently serves on state and regional boards and commissions, including the Arkansas Division of Rural Services Commission, Congressman Rick Crawford’s Delta Regional Economic Advancement Council, the UAMS East Advisory Council representing the Arkansas Delta region, the Arkansas Community Health Worker Commission, and most recently elected the President-Elect of the Arkansas Public Health Association.

Mr. Brandon Gorman is a certified public accountant with a bachelor’s of business administration in accounting. He has a long history serving rural healthcare organizations within the realm of finance. He has served as the Chief Financial Officer of ARHP since August 2019. In his current role, he is responsible for managing cash flows, preparing and analyzing budgets, reviewing and approving expenditures in collaboration with the CEO, submitting financial reports to the Board of Directors, and performing financial close-out procedures for grants. Prior to his work with ARHP, Mr. Gorman served as a controller, interim CFO, and ultimately, CFO at Bradley County Medical Center (Warren, Arkansas) over a period of ten years (2009-2019). 

Brian Thomas first joined Jefferson Regional in 1998 as the Director of Physician Practices and Operations Support. He went on to serve as Chief Executive Officer at Howard Memorial Hospital in Nashville, Arkansas, Chief Operating Officer at J.F.K. Memorial Hospital in Indio, California and later at Crestwood Medical Center in Huntsville, Alabama before returning to JRMC in 2010 as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He was named President and Chief Executive Officer in February of 2017. Thomas holds a master¹s degree in both Health Administration and Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Education

• Master’s of Health Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Master’s of Business Administration, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Brian has over 30 years of experience in the field of healthcare including mental health, acute care and long term care. The knowledge he gained covers the spectrum from admissions to the Board room. For the past 5 years he has been the Executive Director at Davis Life Care in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he overlooked two skilled nursing homes and three assisted living facilities. Brian and his wife of 28 years, Youlonda, raised two children – Dillon (26) and Blair (22). During the past 10 years, Brian has also been a certified assistant high school baseball coach at Woodlawn High School. This relationship has produced 5 state championships, including 3 in a row. This brief history is a testament that Brian excels in challenging situations and looks for those opportunities.

With the kids grown, he is ready for the next thought provoking situation. Armed with the years of knowledge and experience coupled with his unique communication and organizational skills, Brian is excited about his new position as the CEO ofDewitt Hospital and Nursing Home.

CEO – Drew Memorial Health System May 2014 – Present. Came to us from Madison Parish Hospital where he was the administrator. He has 17 years hospital administrative experience and is a native of Thibodaux, LA.

Education

• Master of Health Administration, Health/Health Care
• dministration/Management, Tulane University

Brett Kinman is the current CEO / Administrator of Magnolia Regional Medical Center. He brings more than 25 years of hospital administration to Magnolia, including previous appointments in Arkansas hospitals.

Brett began his Administrative career with Community Health Systems, serving in multiple facilities over a 14-year span. He most recently served as Administrator in the CHRISTUS Health System, Administrator at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center in Marshall, Texas, and CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital in Atlanta, Texas.

A graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Brett received his Masters in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Brett and his wife, Leslie, are the parents of one daughter. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, spending time with his family, and assisting his wife with DIY projects.

Education

• Masters in Healthcare Administration, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
• Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Danna Wagnon Taylor, MHA, serves as the president of SARH, leading the hospital with its mission to improve the health and healing of the people of South Arkansas. She strongly believes in SARH’s vision to be the regional healthcare provider of choice through the values of “WE CARE,” which stands for, Welcoming, Excellence, Compassion, Adaptability, Respect, and Equality.

Taylor is a graduate of West Side Christian School in El Dorado. Taylor’s journey in healthcare began at Melvin’s pharmacy. Upon graduation from Ouachita Baptist University, Taylor joined the local hospital and served in various leadership roles. Taylor also worked at UAMS and the Arkansas Department of Health in administrative roles. Upon completion of her Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University, she has showcased skills in managing specialty clinic operations, staffing, and strategic initiatives.

With over a decade of healthcare experience, Taylor continues to provide visionary leadership and dedication to drive positive change, transforming our hospital into a beacon of excellence.

Kevin is the President for Baptist Health Medical Center – Stuttgart & Baptist Health Medical Center – Heber Springs. He has 34 years of hospital experience, most in smaller, rural hospitals in AR and TX. While Kevin was born in Anchorage, AK, he was raised in Arkansas. He graduated high school from Mountain View, received his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State, and his MBA in Healthcare Management from the University of Phoenix. Kevin started his healthcare career in Newport, before working in both Little Rock and Clarksville, AR. He worked his way up through the ranks until he became President. His passion is smaller community hospitals and understands how important hospitals like ours are important to the public.

Kevin has been married to his wife Sandra for the past 28 years and together they have two children, a daughter, Kaylee, who is 22, and a son, Kalynn, age 18, who just graduated from Stuttgart High School.

Education

• Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management, University of Phoenix
• Bachelor’s Degree, Arkansas State University

Originally from Mississippi, Phillip Gilmore now resides in Crossett and has called Arkansas home for almost 40 years. Gilmore graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor of science degree in biology and minor in chemistry. Gilmore also received a master of science degree with a major in microbiology and minor in biochemistry. Gilmore went on to graduate from Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis, Missouri, with a master of health administration degree, also receiving the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award. Gilmore also received a doctor of philosophy from Louisiana Baptist University in Shreveport, Louisiana. Gilmore served as the Assistant Chief of clinical microbiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. during the Vietnam War, after the war,

Gilmore continued to serve in the United States Army Reserve where he held the rank of Captain. Gilmore has been a hospital administrator at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, Warner Brown Medical Center in El Dorado, Arkansas, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, serving there for 17 years. Gilmore also served as CEO at Hot Spring County Medical Center in Malvern, Arkansas, and currently serves as CEO of Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett, Arkansas. Gilmore is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served numerous years as Regent for Arkansas in the College.

Gilmore served on the Board of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace, currently serves as President-Elect of the Arkansas State Board of Health, the Arkansas Hospital Association Worker’s Compensation Self-Insured Trust Program, as President of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, and the Arkansas Hospital Association Board of Directors. Gilmore takes an active role in the Crossett community by serving on the board of the Crossett Economic Development Foundation, Crossett Public Library, and is a member of the Crossett Rotary Club. He is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Crossett where he teaches Sunday school and serves as Chairman of the Deacon Board. To date, Gilmore has served as a hospital administrator for over 40 years.

Education

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, Louisiana Baptist University
• Master of Science in Microbiology, University of Southern Mississippi
• Master of Business in Health Administration, Washington University School of Medicine
• Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Southern Mississippi

Terry Amstutz is CEO at McGehee Hospital representing the management company, NewLight Healthcare, LLC. Terry is a health care executive leader in for-profit & not-for-profit settings with 35+ years senior level experience improving financial stewardship, quality performance, patient satisfaction, employee engagement and community value. Twenty-nine of those years as a CEO at rural hospitals in Arkansas, including Calico Rock, Magnolia, Hope, Stuttgart and McGehee. He pursues excellence with passion, focus, encouragement, accountability, urgency and a sense of humor.

Mr. Amstutz is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a recipient of that organization’s Early Career Executive Award as well as the C.E. Melville Young Administrator of the Year Award from the Arkansas Hospital Association. He was also named Administrator of the Year by the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association. Terry has served as a member of the Arkansas Hospital Association board of directors and received a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University.

Mr. Amstutz has served on statewide boards for Arkansas Rural Scholarship Commission, Pinnacle Business Solutions, the Arkansas Center for Telehealth as well as local service groups: Rotary, Club, Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. Amstutz and his wife, Julie, an education administrator, are empty nesters with three grown children and one grandson.

Education

• Master’s in Healthcare Administration, Central Michigan University
• Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration, Illinois Wesleyan University

Allan Nichols, CEO of Mainline Health Systems Inc., graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello with a bachelor’s degree in science.

Allan joined Mainline in September of 2008. Before joining the Mainline team, he was the owner of a multi-line insurance agency in Northwest Arkansas.

Prior to owning his business, Allan worked in the marketing field, spending eight years as the marketing director for a large financial services corporation. He also served as the sales and marketing manager for a multinational industrial chemical corporation.

Education

• Bachelor of Science, University of Arkansas at Monticello