DARLINGTON — Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County (MHLC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Marie Wamsley, FHMA, as their new Chief Executive Officer, effective December 16th. Wamsley will succeed Kathy Kuepers, who has been a visionary and dependable leader for MHLC for over 40 years, guiding the team to new levels, including the successful leadership of the replacement facility.
“Kathy has devoted her entire career to MHLC, making a lasting impact on our community, patients, providers, and staff. In 2018, she set the vision of building a new facility, and by 2023, she successfully launched the project. The new facility is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025. Kathy truly deserves a fulfilling retirement; and we are grateful for her leadership, expertise, and forward-thinking approach” stated Jack Sauer, Hospital Committee Chairman.
In her new role, Wamsley will oversee all strategic and day-to-day operations of the Critical Access Hospital and Clinics. She brings 18 years of health care experience, including 16 years in critical access hospital leadership, to her new role. Wamsley began her healthcare career at MHLC and was the Chief Financial Officer from 2008 to 2013. Most recently, she served as the MercyOne Regional Director of Finance for the Critical Access Hospitals of the Eastern Iowa Region. This position included financial operations oversight of three 25-bed Critical Access Hospital in Guttenberg, Elkader, and Dyersville, Iowa. During her time with MercyOne she was also instrumental in the successful financial onboarding and contracting of over 50 providers clinic in Clinton, Iowa.
Wamsley has been recognized for her leadership, passion, and dedication to rural healthcare. She received the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative Rural Health Ambassador Award in 2014 and was named Outstanding Young Leader Honorable Mention by the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network.
“The Lafayette County Hospital Committee is thrilled to welcome Marie back to MHLC. We are excited to collaborate with her in this new leadership role and continuing the strong tradition of exceptional health care that MHLC is known for,” said Jack Sauer, Hospital Committee Chairman.
A native of Southwest Wisconsin, where she grew up on a farm, Wamsley graduated from Lancaster High School. She and her husband, John, moved to Darlington in 1997, where they raised their two daughters. Wamsley holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lakeland University and earned her Fellowship in Healthcare Financial Management Association in 2016.
“When I became a volunteer EMT in 2006, I fell in love with patient care and developed a strong appreciation for the importance of quality healthcare in my rural community,” Wamsley said. “Two years later, it was an easy decision to accept the opportunity to become the CFO for MHLC, a truly unique opportunity to bring my love for accounting and providing quality patient care together to make a positive difference in my community. When I left MHLC, my colleagues encouraged me to expand on my healthcare expertise and bring that experience back with me someday when I return to MHLC. Here I am, I took that advice and ran with it. I have literally come full circle, and I am excited to bring these experiences and the expertise back home. I am ready to lead the incredible MHLC team into the future.”
Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County (MHLC) was established in 1952 and continues to grow to meet the healthcare needs of citizens in Lafayette County and the surrounding area. As a critical access hospital, MHLC provides a full range of acute care inpatient and outpatient services. MHLC is unique in that it’s the only county-owned hospital in the state of Wisconsin.