07/30/2026
Congratulations to the following WHA members for being named on Becker’s list of 240 community hospital CEOs to know: Soniya Fidler, President of UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, Jeff Mengenhausen, CEO of Montrose Regional Health, Brian Murphy, MD, CEO of Valley View, Chris Thomas, President & CEO of Community Hospital, Grand Junction, Colorado, and Kay Whitley, CEO of Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center.
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/240-community-hospital-ceos-to-know-2026/
Soniya Fidler. President of UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center (Steamboat Springs, Colo.). As president of UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, Ms. Fidler is responsible for the long and short-term strategic planning of the hospital, leading strategic, growth and operational objectives on a broad basis across hospital operations. She leverages her expertise and administrative knowledge to facilitate, measure, evaluate and interpret the needs of patients and performance of staff while directing activities accordingly. She has led several major projects for the hospital, including a partnership with Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute to create Steamboat Surgery Center, an ambulatory surgery center, and Steamboat Resort to open urgent care at the base of the ski mountain. More recently, Ms. Fidler led YVMC to become the first UCHealth location to offer long-term employee housing through Creek’s End, a 42-unit residential development.
Jeff Mengenhausen. CEO of Montrose (Colo.) Regional Health. Mr. Mengenhausen joined Montrose Regional Health as CEO in 2021. Within the first three years of his leadership, the system completed a four-story ambulatory care center, separated its governance from Montrose County, added more than 45 new providers, expanded numerous service lines and extended care into surrounding communities. Under his leadership, the system has earned multiple organizational honors. Mr. Mengenhausen has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare leadership. Before coming to Montrose Regional Health, he served as CEO of Madelia (Minn.) Health.
Brian Murphy, MD. CEO of Valley View Hospital (Glenwood Springs, Colo.). For 25 years Dr. Murphy was a clinician serving his patients as a board-certified urologist. Now, he leads Valley View’s 78-bed hospital, having taken on the CEO role in 2019. He has served in a variety of roles at Valley View, including chief of staff and chief medical officer. He has been published in multiple medical journals, and has been a featured speaker and presenter at various healthcare conferences.
Chris Thomas. President and CEO of Colorado West Healthcare System (Grand Junction). Mr. Thomas has served as president and CEO of Colorado West Healthcare System since 2008, leading a remarkable transformation that brought the organization out of federal sanctions and into a position of regional leadership. With over 30 years of experience in healthcare administration, he has overseen dramatic revenue growth and the recruitment of more than 150 providers over the past decade. Under his leadership, the system opened a new 142,000-square-foot facility in 2016, and has continued expanding services through projects including a regional cancer center, a new clinic, and an early childhood education center to support employee and community needs. Guided by his strategic vision, the system has been recognized by multiple community accolades, including “Business of the Year” awards and “Best of the West” hospital honors. Mr. Thomas is also a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Kay Whitley. CEO of Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center and Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center (Walsenburg, Colo.). Ms. Whitley is responsible for managing Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital, and Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center, a 120-bed verteran’s home. She took on the role in 2016 and played a key part in keeping patients and veterans safe during the pandemic. Before her current position, Ms. Whitley held leadership roles at Pueblo, Colo.-based Parkview Medical Center from 1999 to 2016.
Explore profiles of 240 community hospital CEOs shaping care quality and growth in 2026 across U.S. health systems and local communities.
