HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider, has appointed Matt Sogard, FACHE, as chief executive officer of Overland Park Regional Medical Center, effective April 9, 2018. Sogard will succeed Kevin J. Hicks, who has spent close to 40 years working in the healthcare field.
Hicks started his HCA Healthcare career in 1987 in El Paso, Texas, where he served as chief executive officer of two HCA facilities. He has been a part of HCA Midwest Health’s leadership team since relocating to the Kansas City area in 1993, first working at Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Research Medical Center before serving as chief executive officer at Research Medical Center (2006 – 2014) and then as chief executive officer at Overland Park Regional Medical Center (February 2014 – present). His strategic vision, leadership, compassion and relationship-building skills have allowed these hospitals to flourish both in its staff recruitment, patient and visitor experience and market presence. In addition, Hicks has served as an HCA Midwest Health ambassador in the community, developing vital relationships with many organizations.
Sogard has been with HCA for more than 13 years. He is currently chief executive officer of Lee’s Summit Medical Center, a position he has held since 2014. Under his leadership, the hospital has earned multiple national clinical quality honors, achieved high scores in employee, physician and patient satisfaction and experienced record growth.
Prior to joining Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Sogard served as chief operating officer at Research Medical Center, playing a key role in daily operations, strategic planning and medical staff development and directing many service line growth efforts.
"I’m thrilled to lead Overland Park Regional Medical Center at a critical time in its growth, especially as I have the opportunity to fill the big shoes that Kevin, a long-time personal mentor, leaves behind."
Sogard first joined HCA in 2005 and served as chief operating officer of the 600-bed Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, Colorado, immediately prior to coming to Kansas City. While in Denver, he led the hospital’s operations and drove service line growth agendas, helping the facility experience tremendous growth. He directed a significant number of major capital projects, highlighted by development of a $150 million, state-of-the-art pediatric facility.
In 2010 and 2011, Sogard was named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s national “Rising Stars: 25 Healthcare Leaders Under 40.” He earned a Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa and a bachelor of science in biology from Iowa State University. Sogard’s robust current and past community involvement includes the American Heart Association, Epilepsy Foundation of Missouri & Kansas, Rose Brooks Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities and numerous local civic organizations. Sogard is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
A talented and respected leader who has great passion for HCA’s mission of providing exceptional patient care, Sogard focuses on developing an internal culture of servant leadership that permeates the entire organization.
“Matt is an accomplished hospital administrator, widely respected as a consensus builder and is adept at creating authentic, credible and lasting collaborative relationships with community leaders and decision makers,” says M.L. Lagarde III, president, HCA Midwest Health. “His knowledge of the Women’s and Children’s services, along with an impressive ability to form meaningful and lasting partnerships with employees and physicians, makes him the perfect fit to guide Overland Park Regional Medical Center at this crucial time.”
“I’m thrilled to lead Overland Park Regional Medical Center at a critical time in its growth, especially as I have the opportunity to fill the big shoes that Kevin, a long-time personal mentor, leaves behind,” Sogard says. “In addition, following Kevin’s success, we will continue to concentrate on strategic initiatives that are deeply meaningful to staff, physicians and patients, including developing a culture of excellence in the patient and visitor experience. I am committed to fostering the collaborative partnership within the community, which is a vital part of Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s mission and vision.”
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we would like to warmly welcome Matt to the Overland Park Regional Medical Center family,” says Dr. Brent Finley, M.D., Overland Park Regional board of trustee chair, and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, MEDNAX. “His dedication, commitment to the community and leadership for excellence in patient care will provide the hospital the right vision for the future.”
“Matt has an excellent track record working with physicians, staff and has been dedicated to community involvement for his many years in healthcare,” says Dr. Daniel Farrell, M.D., Orthopedist and medical staff president, Overland Park Regional Medical Center. “On behalf of the medical staff, we welcome Matt to our Overland Park Regional family as we bid Kevin a fond farewell.”
An active search for Sogard’s replacement at Lee’s Summit Medical Center will begin immediately. Lee’s Summit Medical Center’s Pat Kueny, chief operating officer, will act as interim chief executive officer.