New Kalispell Regional CEO announced

A North Dakota health-care administrator who served two combat missions in Iraq with the U.S. National Guard will take the reins as the new president and chief executive officer of Kalispell Regional Healthcare. He will begin the job in early February, the hospital board of trustees said.

Craig Lambrecht replaces Pam Robertson, who stepped down Nov. 30, 2018, after a little more than a year at the organization. Since then, William Gibson, general counsel, and Tracey Talley, interim chief financial officer, have served dual roles as interim president and CEO role with support of the other members of the executive team.

Lambrecht received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He later received a Master of Science in Health Services Administration, a Master of Public Health and a Master of Business Administration.

He first assumed a health-care leadership role as senior chief medical officer in 2002 with the North Dakota Department of Health. Lambrecht later served multiple roles at Medcenter One Health System in Bismarck, North Dakota, including Emergency Department chair, corporate medical director, chief operating officer and president and chief executive officer. He was later selected to lead the region as president of Sanford West, a member of the Sanford Health System, a position he has held since 2012.

Lambrecht served in a variety of leadership roles during his 30 years with the National Guard. He is the recipient of numerous awards for exemplary service, including an Army Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, the United States Army Legion of Merit Award, the Army Commendation Medal for Support of Iraqi Freedom, the North Dakota National Guard Governor’s Legion of Merit Award and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

He is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, a delegate to the American Hospital Association, a member of the Montana Medical Association, a member of the North Dakota Medical Association, an Advisory Council member of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and a member of the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Lambrecht has chosen to join the KRH team and make Kalispell his home,” Kalispell Regional Healthcare Board Chairman Dennis Sabo said in a press release. “The KRH Board of Trustees is confident that Dr. Lambrecht has the right mix of skills and experience to compassionately lead our organization out of a difficult time and into a bright future. Dr. Lambrecht shares our vision of an independent health-care system whose physicians and provider staff deliver the highest quality medical care possible to our community.”

Lambrecht said in a prepared statement he is “thrilled to join Kalispell Regional Healthcare.

“KRH has a rich history of excellence and provides an impressive level of health-care services to this region,” he said. “While the organization has seen some challenges over the past couple of years, I’m confident that KRH is positioned for a healthy future. I’m committed to working with the board, executive team, medical staff and employees to fulfill our mission to the level our patients and families expect and deserve.”