Kalispell Regional names new CEO

Roughly six months after Northwest Montana’s largest medical system lost its chief executive officer, Kalispell Regional Healthcare has named its newest leader.

The Kalispell Regional Healthcare Board of Trustees announced Wednesday that Pamela Robertson will begin the role as CEO on Sept. 15. Over the last decade, Robertson worked for the Spohn Health System in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2010, she was named president and CEO of the six-hospital system.

Robertson said in her first 90 days in Kalispell, she plans to focus on learning about the organization and the community.

“Working together, I know we will continue to advance the mission of improving health, comfort and life,” Robertson said in a press release. “I cannot think of anything better than joining a progressive, patient-focused organization and, at the same time, living where nature provides access to year-round activities.”

Robertson is filling the role left by Velinda Stevens, who died from cancer on Jan. 22 after living with the disease for years. Stevens worked for the hospital system for 18 years and during that time the organization’s number of employees increased from 1,200 to 4,000.

Curtis Lund, the health care system’s interim CEO and current board chairman, said Robertson can lead Kalispell Regional into the future.

“Her 25 years of experience driving the vision and performance of complex health care organizations — from academic medical centers to rural hospitals — will be a tremendous asset to Kalispell Regional Healthcare,” Lund said.

While in Texas, Robertson served in roles including chief administrative officer, executive vice president and chief operating officer before becoming the leader of the hospital system.

Robertson began her career in health at Hampton General Hospital School of Radiology Technology in Hampton, Virginia. There, she received a certification as a radiology technologist. She later attended Christopher Newport University and earned her Master of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary.

She assumed her first leadership role in 1992 when she accepted the position of director of cardiac, vascular and transplant services at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, which is the regional referral center for Sentara Health System in Norfolk, Virginia. Over the next 15 years, she took on additional leadership responsibilities, which led to her appointment to vice president of operations for Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Robertson is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served as a member of numerous boards and groups, including the CHRISTUS Health Population Health Task Force, Teaching Hospitals of Texas, the Texas Hospital Association Commission on Policy Development Committee and the Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Foundation Board of Directors. She was the recipient of the Hector P. Garcia Humanitarian Award in 2015.

Robertson said she enjoys cycling, golfing and traveling. She has one daughter, Lauren, who lives in North Carolina with her husband, Terrell.

“I look forward to taking full advantage of living in the beautiful Flathead Valley and becoming an active member of the community,” Robertson said.

Robertson’s arrival follows years of expansion for Kalispell Regional.

Last fall, Kalispell Regional Medical Center and North Valley Hospital finalized an affiliation that brought the Whitefish hospital under the Kalispell Regional’s umbrella. As the hospital worked toward completing a $14 million expansion of the emergency services department last year, it announced a 190,000-square-foot pediatric center as an effort to keep families in the valley for care. Most recently, the hospital began construction on a new digestive health institute valued at $12.9 million, according to city documents.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.