Welcome to Springfield Clinic!

Since 1939, Springfield Clinic has been dedicated to delivering the highest quality primary and specialty care to patients in central Illinois. And while our backyard has grown quite a bit during that time, we've worked hard to stay true to our roots: ensuring that exceptional care is available close to home for all members of our community.  
 

We remain grateful to our patients, referring providers and physicians who have entrusted us and our mission to improve health, provide value and serve our community. 

Improve Health

We are a community-based organization with more than 650 physicians and advanced practitioners delivering care in more than 80 medical specialties and subspecialties. We flourish by providing the latest innovative treatments, service lines and modern technologies to achieve optimal health outcomes. 

Provide Value

We strive to provide an exceptional patient experience every patient, every time. We celebrate our nationally ranked providers and care teams in patient experience and invest in digital technologies and modern facilities to elevate the patient health care journey. 

Serve Community

Our physicians, nurses and employees live, work and take great pride in the more than 20 counties we serve in central Illinois. We take the time to get to know our patients and their caregivers. We listen to their feedback to identify opportunities for ongoing improvement and to celebrate the meaningful patient connections nourished every day at Springfield Clinic. 

• Learn more about our commitment to caring

• Explore our services and medical specialties

Jen Boyer, RN, MBA

Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO, Jen Boyer reports directly to Springfield Clinic’s Board of Directors. She leads the clinic’s operational strategy and oversees key initiatives across multiple departments to ensure seamless delivery of care and services. Jen is accountable for Springfield Clinic’s primary goals of creating a differential patient experience and building a high-reliability organization for physicians and employees. 

My Leadership Why: “Be the best you every day. Find your passion and calling and live by the golden rule. Have perseverance, resilience and courage—and stay true to yourself. And we’re all in this together. When we focus on each other, everything else falls into place.” 

Jen found her love for patients and health care during grade school when she volunteered at a local hospital. This passion has continued to grow with each step of her career, from nursing school to today. Here, she lives and breathes the “we are our own community, charged with caring for the community” mantra every day. By being spread out across the region, Springfield Clinic encompasses many separate, distinct communities all striving toward the same goal of providing patients with exceptional care. 

“It’s the team’s commitment to both their patients and each other that inspires me. The team at Springfield Clinic strives to adapt and be nimble as health care evolves. These quick pivots enable us to provide patients with the best care possible.” 

Jen considers herself to be a participative and decisive leader, always encouraging her team to voice their opinions so they can come to the best decision together. Driven by the unknown of each day but guided by her health care calling, Jen’s focus will always be helping the patient navigate the health care system—removing barriers so they get the care they need—and partnering with physicians. 

Vital Stats:

• Has 30 years in health care: 15 years of nursing in critical care and emergency medicine as well as four in the public health arena; has spent 23 years serving in health care leadership.

• Earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health and a Master of Business Administration/Health Care Administration from Benedictine University in Springfield. Professional affiliations include the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), Group Practice Improvement Network (GPIN) and Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing. 

• Active in the agriculture world, husband farms east of Springfield. 

• Southern Illinois native, loves traveling to experiencing new adventures with her family and friends as well as spending time at her parents’ lake. 

Katie Bussing

Chief Human Resources Officer

Katie Bussing, SPHR, oversees all areas of Human Resources, including Benefits, Compensation, Employee Relations, Talent Development and Talent Acquisition. 

My Leadership Why: “Making Springfield Clinic a great place to work; empowering our workforce to provide an exceptional patient experience.”

Katie considers one of her top priorities to be championing her team to be as successful as possible in their roles. This is what Human Resources is all about, she believes: supporting the rest of the organization to carry out Springfield Clinic’s mission every day, because a positive environment for employees helps them create a community of caring for patients. This vision is simple, but the work is not always, and that’s what makes each day exciting. 

“What motivates me is always being able to move things forward. If we sat stagnant, I’d go crazy. Health care is always evolving; there’s always an ongoing challenge in the industry. That means there’s always something out there that we can move toward and improve upon—and that’s where I thrive.”

Vital Stats:

• Two decades in human resources leadership that includes all areas of HR, including leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies in the Chicago area. 

• Earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. 

• Sits on the Board and Executive Committee for Sparc.

• Maintains certification as a senior professional of human resources (SPHR) and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

• Born and raised in Springfield and has three children, Ryan, Jake and Emily.

• Favorite hobby/other full-time job is being a mom and jumping from one kid activity to the next.

Michelle Clatfelter

Chief Legal Officer

Michelle Clatfelter leads legal affairs across Springfield Clinic and its affiliate companies, including legal operations, transactions, compliance, governance, and risk and claims management. She also serves as a resource to the Clinic’s Board of Directors as well as those of its affiliates.  

My Leadership Why: “If you put the patient at the center of the decision-making, the rest will fall into place.”

Growing up in a predominantly clinical family, Michelle gained insight early in her life regarding the complex and often evolving challenges providers navigate in clinical practice day to day. This led her to pursue a legal career with a focus in health care law; her goal, to provide meaningful support to those ultimately responsible for rendering care at the bedside (or chairside). 

“What motivates me is this greater objective of enabling our caregivers to do what they do best, by eliminating unnecessary distractions so that they can focus on the patient. We all have a role to play in optimizing patient experience, no matter how many steps removed from the bedside. I take pride in the work that we do to support that effort, and I enjoy working alongside team members who share that philosophy.”

Vital Stats:

• Has over 20 years of experience practicing in health law and policy, over half of which have been spent serving in executive roles in health care organizations “in house.” 

• Received her juris doctorate and certificate in health law from Saint Louis University School of Law, Center for Health Law Studies, during which time she was editor of the  Journal of Health Law & Policy  and teaching assistant. 

• Born and raised in Peoria and lives in Sherman with husband Trevor and three children, Harrison, Adeline and Theodore, and new puppy, Viktor. 

• Has served on the Board of Directors for Sparc and actively participates in the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys, American Health Lawyers Association and St. John’s Society for Service and Leadership. 

• Enjoys attending her children’s activities and sporting events, listening to live music and being outdoors, especially snow skiing, swimming, hiking, biking and tennis.

Tom Fitch

Vice President, Facilities, Real Estate and Construction

Tom Fitch, S.E., leads a team that oversees the day-to-day operations of facilities and supporting growth through the development of new real estate and construction projects.

My Leadership Why: “If we’re not failing, that means we’re not doing anything.”

In his role, Tom leads his team in providing direction and guidance throughout projects and fostering an environment that both empowers and nurtures creative solutions by holding to the mentality that each project is an opportunity for innovation—the foundation of which being the collaboration between a multidisciplinary team.

“What has been most gratifying to me has been to see the tremendous amount of growth my team has gone through, both in the style of their work and the confidence in their leadership.”

Vital Stats:

• Earned a Master of Science in structural engineering and Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

• Licensed structural engineer with eight years of practical engineering experience designing buildings and bridges.

• 15 years of previous facilities executive leadership experience for a large commercial construction company and 14 years of small business ownership co-owning a local daycare center.

• Has sat on several Boards, including the YMCA, Heartland Credit Union, 2014 Board of the Chair to the Greater Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Business Education Partnership, Springfield Quantum Growth Partnership and is currently a national advisory board member of Ready Nation, Council for a Strong America, an advocacy group focused on just, equitable and quality early childhood education. 

• Received the 2015 McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Corporate Champion for Change Award.

• Born and raised in Springfield, Ill.; Tom and his wife Trish have six children.

• In his free time, enjoys long bike rides or runs, relaxing with a good book, spending time with his family attending concerts, catching a Cubs game or cooking up a family dinner at home. 

Nick Fuchs

Chief Information Officer

Nick brings a wealth of experience in both health care and finance, two industries where security, reliability and innovation are critical. He began his career in engineering and technical leadership, spending nearly a decade at ING Financial, a global financial institution, where he served as Vice President of the IT Engineering division. In this role, he led efforts to streamline processes, implement cost-effective technology solutions and enhance security measures, ensuring operational efficiency and resilience in a highly regulated industry.

Following his time at ING, Nick joined a technology startup, where he led product development efforts to bring enterprise capabilities to the platform, ultimately securing the company’s first major enterprise customers. His contributions were instrumental in the company's success, leading to its acquisition by Google.

Since joining Springfield Clinic in 2019, Nick has played a pivotal role in transforming our IT landscape. As Senior Director, then Chief Technology & Information Security Officer, he led the build out of the organization’s security, service delivery and engineering programs from the ground up. Through his leadership, Springfield Clinic has modernized its security infrastructure, closed critical gaps and advanced its cloud strategy, leading to stronger security, improved service reliability, increased cybersecurity insurance coverage and greater protection of patient and employee data.

Sunny Hampsey

Vice President, Operations & Quality 

Sunny Hampsey oversees key areas of patient care and service delivery, including Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Home Health, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiologists, TeleNurse services and Nursing. She also leads our Quality Management program, ensuring excellence in clinical outcomes and operational efficiency, and serves as the president of Springfield Clinic Home Health.

My Leadership Why: “Making a difference through service, growth through embracing the grey.”

If there is one thing Sunny has learned while leading the Quality Management Department is that, while growth can at times be uncomfortable, pushing boundaries, thinking outside of the box and pivoting are the best—and sometimes the only—way to make lasting improvements to how things are done. The COVID-19 pandemic, during which Sunny managed all aspects of employee health in addition to setting best practices for safely operating facilities, is a perfect example of that to her.

“Leadership is about inspiring the team to not only work together to meet the common goal of the department or organization, but also inspiring them to push themselves past boundaries they might think they have and encouraging them to grow.”

Sunny is inspired by her team’s willingness to jump in and tackle projects that better serve patients and enhance service delivery for employees and providers every day. Her goal is to continuously build a data-driven quality improvement program that supports the organization through sound recommendations based on the present, even if it’s not always been done that way. 

Vital Stats:

• An RN since 2007, Sunny joined Springfield Clinic in 2012 as the Oncology Nurse Navigator for the Cancer Center. She has since served as the Senior Director of Quality Management and Vice President of Nursing.

• Received her Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration from Benedictine University.

• Originally from southern Illinois, Sunny and her spouse have one son and two “four-legged children,” Gus the Golden Retriever and Maddie the Lab.

• Loves being outdoors—walking in Washington Park, hiking or Jeeping—as well as all things music. 

Joe Heigert

Vice President, Operations

Joe Heigert, BS, MLS (ASCP)cm, leads Springfield Clinic’s ancillary service programs which include the areas of Laboratory, Occupational Health, Radiology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. 

My Leadership Why: “As individuals, we are unique, and we each bring a unique set of skills, experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. Springfield Clinic brings us together for a common purpose—the patients we serve—and we embrace that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Throughout his various roles in laboratory services, Joe points to his desire to always improve the patient experience as one of the things that drives him every day. While often working behind the scenes, Joe is passionate about advancing ancillary services to showcase their dedication to helping patients every day. He is committed to fostering their growth and continually enhancing the patient's experience.

“Our team’s dedication to their areas and our patients is what inspires me the most,” he says. “A culture of teamwork and resilience is key to long term success, and I am inspired every day by the resilience and perseverance of our teams.” 

Vital Stats:

• Has been in the medical lab field since 2012 ranging from positions as a laboratory bench technician to Director of Laboratory Services. 

• Earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and his Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and completed his clinical laboratory rotation at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. 

• Born and raised in Sherman and continues to live in Sherman with his wife, Amanda, daughter, Harper, and their two labrador retrievers, Callie and Dakota. 

• In his free time, he enjoys coaching his daughter’s sports team, hunting and watching St. Louis City SC. 

Samantha Johannsen

Vice President, Operations

Samantha “Sam” Johannsen oversees our Critical Care Medicine, Family Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Urgent Care, Urgent Care Plus and Women’s Health Departments.

My Leadership Why: “It’s through our connections with each other and working together that we can achieve our biggest goals.”

Sam has served as a health care leader since the early 2000s with experience in primary care, specialty care and ancillary services. When she joined Springfield Clinic as an operations manager, it was the support from her peers and mentors that made Springfield Clinic an ideal workplace for her. Having seen the way teams from across the organization come together to find solutions to problems and enact big change over the years, Sam remains eager to lead initiatives across the organization.

“What motivates me each day is working with the physicians and our teams to accomplish our goals and see ideas become realities. There is never a lack of support or feeling like you’re out on your own. Everyone here at Springfield Clinic bands together when there’s a need, to serve our patients and take care of our employees. That’s really inspiring and motivating.”

Sam’s areas of focus include growing and developing the primary care teams and connecting providers across the Clinic so they have a streamlined way to share ideas to build the best possible practices for patients.  With a passion for data and the stories it can tell, Sam is also looking at operations process improvement, so that patients have a consistently exceptional experience, whether they’re walking into Urgent Care, visiting the office for their annual check-up or seeking help for an illness or injury. 

Vital Stats:

• Received her master’s degree in business and health care administration from the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind., and her bachelor’s degree in business from Arizona State University in Phoenix, Ariz.

• Previous experience includes operational oversight for independent private practices in the highly competitive Phoenix health care market and human resources, particularly recruitment, talent sourcing and employee onboarding. 

• Originally from central Illinois, enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling and attending live performances at local theaters. You can find her often traveling to and attending her children’s sporting events and activities. 

Zach Kerker

Chief Brand and Advocacy Officer

Zach Kerker leads the development and reputation of the Springfield Clinic brand, efforts to improve the patient experience and community and legislative advocacy efforts. 

My Leadership Why: “Death to 'it’s always been done this way.'”

Zach has spent much of his career riding a wave of market disruption. After starting in broadcast television, Zach left to create Channel1450.com, a digital platform for local sports content that would change the way fans in central Illinois would consume sports media. In 2018 he joined Springfield Clinic, despite having no experience in health care, with a mission to modernize patient communication and the patient experience. 

“Springfield Clinic was looking for someone who didn’t bring a traditional health care mindset to the team, and I thought it was a tremendous opportunity. Health care has been one of the last industries to adopt a modern consumer approach for the patient. It’s frustrated me personally as a patient, and I saw a chance to have a positive impact on that for our community. I’m comfortable in the often uncomfortable space of change, and that’s been a necessary mindset for what we’ve set out to do at Springfield Clinic.” 

Vital Stats:

• Grew up in Mendon, Illinois and now lives in Chatham with his wife, Lori and their two daughters, Harper and Dagny.

• Graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2006 with a degree in Mass Communications.

• Winner of 2018 Illinois Capital Innovation Awards “Innovator of the Year.”

• Fan of Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Cardinals.

Kenneth R. Sagins, MD, FAAP

Chief Medical Officer

Kenneth Sagins, MD, FAAP, is Chief Medical Officer, ensuring the quality of care for all departments and locations. He is also the clinical liaison for other medical entities, develops strategic clinical needs with the Board and CEO and supports care coordination to deliver positive patient outcomes along with the four physicians who serve as medical directors. 

My Leadership Why: “Whether in the exam room or the Board room, it’s never one person who achieves goals; it’s always a team approach.”

Dr. Sagins is uniquely situated to walk in both of Springfield Clinic’s “worlds”: the clinical and the business. But what he values most about his two jobs and the people he works with is how, as he puts it, everyone pulls on the same rope to get the patient what they need. Not only does he feel that he can call on any of his physician colleagues to help take care of his patients directly, Dr. Sagins also watches how decisions all the way up to the admin level are made to the end of excellent patient care.

“You’ve got to be on your toes here. I work with some really dedicated, sharp people, and you can’t ever slack, honestly.”

To Dr. Sagins, the most important aspect of his role leading the Clinical Research and Quality Management teams is remaining a full-time clinician. That way, he retains the perspective of his physician colleagues and understands their challenges and needs. He also relishes the opportunity to continue learning every day, whether about a new therapy for a patient’s diagnosis or about what goes into the business side of running a medical organization. 

Vital Stats:

• Joined Springfield Clinic as an associate physician in 1997 and served as chairman of the board and a medical director before taking the chief medical officer role.

• Completed his residency in internal medicine/pediatrics as well as medical degree at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

• Born in Detroit, Michigan, and now lives in Springfield with his wife Anne and three children.

• In his free time between being a full-time clinician and executive, he plays ice hockey and the guitar.

Sheila Streb

Chief Financial Officer (Interim) & Vice President, Revenue Cycle

Sheila Streb serves as the interim Chief Financial Officer, overseeing Springfield Clinic’s revenue cycle, accounting, financial planning and analysis and physician compensation. She is responsible for budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting, as well as aligning physician compensation with organizational goals. Sheila also leads the execution of a risk-based internal audit plan to ensure financial integrity and compliance. 

My Leadership Why: “Transforming health care impacts and improves all patient experiences, including my family’s.”

Motivated by the prospect of new challenges and driving transformation, Sheila leads Clinic-wide coordination and innovation within the revenue cycle. She implements improvements across all levels of the organization, focusing on financial planning, performance excellence, cost reduction and physician compensation to achieve Springfield Clinic’s financial goals.

“I’m committed to a seamless financial experience for our patients. That requires continued assessment and optimization at both the strategic and operation levels to achieve performance excellence. ‘The only ceiling created is the one I create,’ is what I tell my team. It’s exciting to be a part of that kind of transformation, to be a part of ensuring the success of Springfield Clinic for generations to come.”

Sheila’s guiding focus is her roots in the community. While not originally from Springfield, she has raised her family, who have had Springfield Clinic doctors their whole lives, here. It’s how she can see the direct impact her team’s work has on patients’ health care journeys, and she uses it to help drive toward that exceptional patient experience every day. 

Vital Stats:

• Began her career in public accounting with a local firm focusing on compliance and financial auditing and tax preparation.

• Sheila joined Springfield Clinic more than 20 years ago; in that time, she built the Internal Audit program from the ground up, developed the contracts management function and led the successful transition of the billing system and optimization of related processes.

• Attended Eastern Illinois University and University of Illinois – Springfield and received her degree in business/accounting.

• Grew up in Gillespie, Ill., and now lives in Springfield with her husband Eric. Together they have three children, Logan, Kasten and Lizzy.

• Enjoys spending time at the lake, boating and water sports.

Christine Stuenkel  

Vice President, Operations 

Christine (Chrissy) Stuenkel, RN, MBA, oversees our surgical and specialty care across all locations as well as our Cath Lab and Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Springfield and Peoria. 

My Leadership Why:   “Support them every step of the way, growing new leaders and seeing them succeed is very rewarding. +  Put the team first. Let them be seen for the great work they are doing”.

Chrissy enjoys the teamwork she gets to engage in through her role in operations. She stands by her motto: we are all in this together.  Her clinical background of working as a team carries over in the leadership role too; Assess the situation. Work towards a care plan together.  Just like nursing at the bedside her role now allows her to work with people from various departments to all come to common goal, allow our teams to provide the best patient care.

I always knew I wanted to be a nurse as a little girl growing up watching my mom be an ER Nurse and Nurse Manager.  I never really thought about leadership until I was working at the bedside and realized I wanted to be the voice of a clinician in healthcare leadership.

“When tackling the projects and issues we encounter, I encourage my leaders to share a brain as a team. We each have experience and knowledge, and together, we can come to a better solution and solve the tough problems facing our patients, physicians and employees.” 

Vital Stats:

• Earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri and her Master of Business Administration/Healthcare Administration from Benedictine University, Ill  

• Has been in a nursing role since 2003. She moved from bedside nursing in 2007 and began serving in various leadership roles as an emergency room nurse manager, regional administrator, operations director and senior operations director.  

• Member of Sigma Theta Tau, Honor Society for Nursing 

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt 

• Born and raised in Springfield, Ill., lives there with her husband, three sons and two dogs.   

• Enjoys spending time with her family, attending her sons’ sporting events and traveling in her free time.  

Cal Thomas

Chief Strategy Officer

Cal Thomas leads Springfield Clinic’s strategic planning in the areas of Data Analytics & Engineering, Market Intelligence, Provider Recruitment & Integration, Medical Staff Services, Regional Strategy & Planning and Payer Strategy & Contracting.

My Leadership Why: “Seeing the collective effort of the team coming together to secure opportunities and tackle challenges, celebrating those wins together.”

Cal’s focus is creating an exceptional experience through expanding healthcare services, modernizing processes, and building hospital and other community partnerships. His team touches all aspects of recruiting top Physician and APP talent, the utilization of internal and external intelligence for evaluating expanded services and partnering with all sectors of healthcare in each community served.

Cal’s background as an athlete is what taught him early-on that teamwork achieves success. 

“By leveraging valuable perspectives from all areas—peers, physician/APPs, and patients—only then can we discover, develop and deliver a truly differential experience. When people put aside their own interests and come together, that’s when the magic happens.” 

Vital Stats:

• More than 20 years in the health care field for both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

• Oversaw program development, operations and mergers for a multispecialty federally qualified health center in the St. Louis and Metro East areas.

• Program development, marketing and operational initiatives in the Phoenix, Aspen and Chicago markets gave him various cultural and regional perspectives that lend themselves well to working with people differing backgrounds and perspectives.

• Born in Rochester, Ill.; lives in Sherman with his wife, Carly, two children, Carson and Callie and their lab, Cocoa.

• Attended Indiana University and Southern Illinois University and received degrees in business administration and marketing.

• Collegiate Team Captain and All-American in soccer and played professionally.

• Enjoys spending time with family, traveling the country for his kids competitive sports, and pretty much any outdoor activity. 

Stanley Allen, MD, FAAP

Medical Director, Greater Peoria Area

Dr. Stanley Allen is Medical Director for the greater Peoria area, working with Springfield Clinic’s physicians in many of our satellite areas, primarily Peoria, Macomb, Bloomington and Taylorville.

My Leadership Why: “Ensuring access to quality care for all the communities of central Illinois.”

As an Urgent Care physician with a background in primary care private practice, Dr. Stanley Allen enjoys making connections with people, both his patients and his colleagues. Having grown up in a rural community and completed his medical school and residency in central Illinois, Dr. Allen’s focus is physician stewardship in Springfield Clinic’s satellites, working with physicians outside of Springfield to grow and develop in their medical practice and careers with Springfield Clinic.

“My whole family lives around here, and my intent was always to provide care to the local community. Our communities outside of Springfield, especially, are close to my heart because of this, and I’m looking forward to connecting with the physicians in these areas.”

Vital Stats:

• Has been department chair for Urgent Care for six non-consecutive years and a member of the Finance Committee; sits on the Quality Management Committee now.

• Received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Ill., and completed his internal medicine/pediatrics residency at Southern Illinois School of Medicine.

• Is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and maintains membership with the Sangamon County Medical Society.

• Grew up in Ashland, Ill., and lives in Sherman with his wife, two children and Hazel the dog.

• Enjoys traveling, cooking, attending his children’s sporting events and spending time with his extended family, which includes five siblings and 17 nieces and nephews.

Lynne Barkmeier, MD, FACS

Medical Director, Associate Advancement

Dr. Lynne Barkmeier is Medical Director of Associate Advancement, working with Springfield Clinic’s physicians and with residents and students as they look to join Springfield Clinic.

My Leadership Why: “Working to make small changes that effect big impacts in patient care.”

A full-time vascular surgeon, Dr. Lynne Barkmeier sees her role as medical director as complimentary to being a doctor, as helping other physicians develop is also caring for a broader range of patients than just her own. Dr. Barkmeier helps Springfield Clinic colleagues, as well as residents and students looking to join Springfield Clinic down the road, get accommodated with the Springfield Clinic environment and team, as well as answers questions, concerns and issues.

“We’re a community, and everyone is here to help new physicians be successful. We want them to be find their place at Springfield Clinic and be happy at their jobs so they can then turn around and create a community of caring for their teams and their patients.”

Vital Stats:

• Has been medical director for nearly 20 years and sits on the QM Committee; has been a past member of the Building & Operations and Finance Committees.

• Received her medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and completed her general surgery residency at Creighton University and vascular surgery fellowship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

• Is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Sangamon County Medical Society and Illinois State Medical Society.

• Has lived in Springfield since 1989 with her husband, who is a financial planner, two children and, now, one grandchild.

• Has loved water skiing and is a stand-up paddle boarding enthusiast; loves to cook, knit and crochet in her free time.

Joseph Conlon, MD

Medical Director, Physician Stewardship

Dr. Joseph Conlon is Medical Director of Physician Stewardship, working with Springfield Clinic’s physicians to grow and develop throughout their career.

My Leadership Why: “Setting physicians up for success at Springfield Clinic by helping them provide the highest quality patient care possible.”

Dr. Conlon’s role as a medical director is rooted in the belief of doing the right thing and that happy people make the best doctors. A full-time practicing pediatric dermatologist himself, he knows it’s hard to be on your game and have your best day every day as a physician. He works one-on-one with Springfield Clinic physicians as needed to help them develop in their lives and career; to be and do their best.

“I want every physician to know I’m approachable, I’m here to help, and I want them to succeed in both life and at Springfield Clinic. All of us, we’re a team. Using all of our strengths and resources together as doctors, that helps us build and grow stronger, which allows us to better provide for our patients and our community.”

Vital Stats:

• Has been a medical director for a decade and sits on the Quality Management and Building, Operations and Marketing Committees.

• Received his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; completed his pediatric residency and pediatric dermatology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and his dermatology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

• Active member of the Society of Pediatric Dermatology

• Clinical assistant professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

• Born and raised in the area; now lives in Springfield with his wife and four children.

• Enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially outdoors, and trying new foods and craft beers.

Board Chairman

Christopher Wottowa, MD

Orthopedics

Dr. Wottowa joined Springfield Clinic in 1996. In addition to his Board of Directors service, he serves as co-chair of both the Ambulatory Surgery Committee and the Building, Operations and Marketing Committee. He also has served as the Chair of the Orthopedics Department. 

“My primary reason for serving on the board is to help maintain our focus on caring for our patients. As health care has become increasingly complex, it is important for providers to focus on the actual care of our patients,” says Dr. Wottowa. “Our organization puts the needs of our patients first. My goal as a board member is to strengthen our commitment to high quality, compassionate care.”

Board Member

Bryan Kellenberger, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Kellenberger joined Springfield Clinic in 2015.  "I came to Springfield Clinic after languishing for years in a small rural Family Medicine clinic near Peoria. Springfield Clinic immediately impressed me with its professionalism, strategic mindset and ability to respond to changing market conditions. I firmly believe that each of us is very lucky to be here. 

As our world emerges from the pandemic, it is becoming increasingly clear that Springfield Clinic is now the medical center of gravity in the Springfield market. My goal on the Board of Directors is to help lead this organization as we navigate the next challenges. I'm proud to be a part of this company and am genuinely excited as we look forward into our next chapters.” 

Board Member

Paul Pacheco, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Colon and Rectal Surgery

Dr. Pacheco joined Springfield Clinic in 2012 as a colorectal surgeon and is currently serving on the Board of Directors. He is the chairman of the Department of General Surgery at HSHS St. John's Hospital and serves as the chairman of the IT Committee at Springfield Clinic. He also serves as the chairman of the IT Committee at Springfield Clinic. He is on the teaching faculty at SIU School of Medicine and works with the general surgery and colorectal surgery residents. 

“The opportunity to be involved in the decisions of patient care and how I practice medicine is what attracted me to Springfield Clinic. Having exceptional colleagues and patients makes practicing medicine here worthwhile. During my time at Springfield Clinic and on the Board, my goals are to continue to recruit the most clinically sound and well-rounded physicians possible and to make sure we never lose our central focus on providing the best patient care.”

Board Member

William Putman, MD

Center for Women's Health

Dr. Putman joined Springfield Clinic in 1989 and has served two six-year terms on the Board of Directors and twice as chairman. He is a board member at Memorial Health System as well, giving him a wealth of experience to draw on.

“My interest in leadership at Springfield clinic stems from the fact that I can positively impact the care of many more patients than just those in my own practice. Working with the board, committees, and our administrative team, my hope is we further elevate the level of care delivered to all patients at Springfield Clinic. 

In addition, having seen over 30 years the less-than-optimal ways the practice of medicine has evolved with hospital ownership, corporate and even private equity ownership, I believe more strongly than ever that physicians should be the ones directing how medicine is practiced. Our physician-owned model, partnered with a strong administrative team, is ideal. It provides us the opportunity to continue to develop an organization that provides a great environment for physicians and employees to work with the proper focus on our patients. With that, we are well positioned to be the regional leader in health care for the foreseeable future.” 

Board Member

Preet Paul Singh, MD

Cancer Center

Dr. Singh joined Springfield Clinic in 2016. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, he chairs the Ancillary Committee and sits on the Research Committee. 

Board Member

Steven Tsoraides, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Colon and Rectal Surgery

Dr. Tsoraides joined Springfield Clinic in 2020 and has been on the Board of Directors since. His other leadership positions include chair for the Surgery Department at Springfield Clinic Peoria, president of the Illinois chapter of the American College of Surgeons and chief of colorectal surgery in the Department of Surgery for the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP). He is a clinical associate professor of surgery with UICOMP and a member of the accreditation committee for the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) with the American College of Surgeons’ commission on cancer. 

“The thing that really makes Springfield Clinic special is the focus on physicians and patients. Our goal is to provide and support an environment where physicians can perform their best and provide care for patients in our communities. Health care has evolved over the last decades, and too much has come between physicians and their patients. Doctors are best suited to understand the needs of their patients, and physicians taking on key leadership roles ensures that patients and doctors will always be the priority.  

My goal is to promote a culture where doctors are empowered to make the right leadership choices for the future of health care in Illinois that protects quality care for patients and our ability to recruit and retain the top doctors that our communities deserve.”  

Board Member

Leslie Acakpo-Satchivi, MD, PhD, FAANS

Neurological Surgery

Dr. Satchivi joined Springfield Clinic in 2011. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, he co-chairs the Finance Committee and is the Department Chair for the Neurological Surgery Department. 

Board Member

Murty Renduchintala, MD

Hospital Medicine

Dr. Renduchintala joined Springfield Clinic in 2007. He has served on the Board of Directors for three terms and co-chaired Springfield Clinic’s Hospital Medicine Department for nine years. He is also an active member of the IT Committee and is currently co-chairing the Benefits & Payer Relations Committee. He has served as a member of the Medical Executive Committee at Springfield Memorial Hospital for two terms and is starting his first term as President-elect in January 2023.

“I am committed to bringing the perspective of the hospital to the Board of Directors and creating relationships that bridge Springfield Clinic and our regional hospital partners. It’s important to me that we work together in order to provide the best possible care to the patients we serve.

I truly believe the best part of Springfield Clinic is its partnership of physicians. This is a wonderful group of doctors to work with and a wonderful community to serve, and I am proud to be a part of our organization’s leadership to be able to ensure that service is exceptional.” 

Board Member

Leslie A. Dignan-Moore, MD

Center for Women's Health

Dr. Dignan-Moore joined Springfield Clinic in 2009 and is serving her first term on the Board of Directors. She is the chair of the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department as well as the current chair of the Quality Management Committee, and she is volunteer teaching faculty at SIU School of Medicine. 

“I think the best part of Springfield Clinic is the intangible magic of physician ownership and participation and the resilience and energy of our staff. The level of physician quality we are able to attract to care for patients in central Illinois is amazing. Springfield Clinic makes it easy to do what doctors do best, which is show up and take care of the patients. There are other physician-run multispecialty clinics across the country, but what sets us apart is the consistent compassionate care we are able to provide our patients. 

I truly feel it is vital to have physician participation outside of the clinic setting. That’s why I’m eager to support both my partners by being their voice on the Board as well as our employees by being a physician-leader."

Board Member

Gaurav Sangwan, MD

Pulmonary Diseases & Sleep Medicine

Dr. Sangwan joined Springfield Clinic in 2010. In addition to his Board of Directors service, he has served on the Clinic’s Benefits and Payer Relations Committee and currently serves as co-chair of the Ancillary Committee. He’s also served as Chairman of the Pulmonary Diseases & Sleep Medicine Department. 

Board Member

Trupesh Chanpura, MD, MHA

Critical Care Medicine

Dr. Chanpura joined the Springfield Clinic Critical Care team in 2013. In addition to his clinical practice, he has served as Critical Care Department Chairman and Vice Chairman, a member of the Quality Management committee and Research Committee at Springfield Clinic and as MICU medical director at Springfield Memorial Hospital (SMH). He is also a volunteer faculty member at SIU School of Medicine and works with ER and ENT residents. He currently sits as a co-chair on the Benefits and Payer Relations and Research Committees at Springfield Clinic and is a member of the Peer Review and Professional Enhancement committee at SMH.

"I believe clinicians with leadership qualities can transform the health care crisis and complexities into future opportunities and growth," says Dr. Chanpura. “Springfield Clinic’s partnership provides the best working environment for health care teams to achieve outstanding patient care experiences.” 

Each year, one physician is chosen from among the many well-trained and talented doctors at Springfield Clinic to receive the prestigious A. Raymond Eveloff Award for Clinical Excellence. The award was established in 1997 in honor of A. Raymond Eveloff, a local pediatrician and one of Springfield Clinic’s founding partners.

The annual award recognizes the recipient for going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the health and well-being of patients and to continually strive for excellence in the delivery of health care. Candidates for the award have also demonstrated leadership in the community, the organization and their medical specialties.

Eveloff Honoree of the Year

John Kwedar, MD — 2024

The A. Raymond Eveloff Award for 2024 was presented to John Kwedar MD, Ophthalmology. Over the past year, Dr. Kwedar has provided exceptional patient care and leadership. In addition to his practice, Dr. Kwedar served on Springfield Clinic's Quality Management and ASC committees as well as various hospital-based committees.

Watch the video!

Past Honorees

Established in 2023, this annual award recognizes an advanced practice provider who consistently demonstrates clinical excellence and quality of care through evidence-based

practice and shows an ability to lead, problem solve and drive successful patient outcomes.

Golden Leaf Honoree of the Year

Melinda (Mindy) Vance, APRN, CNP — 2024

Melinda (Mindy) Vance, APRN, CNP, with Springfield Clinic Family Medicine is the 2024 recipient of the Golden Leaf for Clinical Excellence in Advanced Practice Award. Mindy has been with Springfield Clinic since 1998, first working with Dr. Scott Morton and now Dr. Kaitlin Henry. She also collaborated for a period of time with Dr. Sarah Dietrich in Dermatology. She has more than 30 years of health care experience in both Illinois and Missouri.

Past Honorees