Aug. 30, 2005 – After an extensive local and national search, Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center will have a new administrator at the end of September.
"We are pleased to announce the selection of Harold L. Wallace Jr., as the permanent administrator of Myrah Keating," Rodney E. Miller Sr., president and chief executive officer of the Schneider Regional Medical Center, said in a release from his office issued Tuesday. "We chose someone with excellent credentials who will lead Myrah Keating to the next level of health care for the people of St. John." Miller said.
Wallace, 38, comes to the Virgin Islands from Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center in Kansas City, Mo., where he was chief operating officer. He oversaw the daily operations of seven health center satellite locations and managed a $14 million budget with approximately 200 employees, the release said.
In 2004 he won an award from Ingram's Business Magazine "40 and Under 40 future leaders of Kansas City."
Samuel Rodgers serves a diverse patient population with a variety of healthcare programs, including WIC, school-based programs, dental, substance abuse, HIV, and foster care services, the release said. The main site is comprehensive with adult medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, mental health, radiology, pharmacy, and transportation services.
After receiving his bachelor's degree in Secondary Education in 1992, three years later Wallace earned a Master's of Public Health (MPH) from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. After working in the managed care market in Chicago, Ill. and Charlotte, N.C. , he was offered the COO position at Samuel Rodgers in January 2003. Wallace has been instrumental in expanding that institution's outreach programs throughout Missouri. Wallace managed the Bureau of Primary Health Care collaborative study on diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular illness, and served on the boards of the Missouri Primary Care Association and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
In a statement, Wallace said he is “extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Mr. Miller, the management team at Myrah Keating and the hospital," the release said. Wallace said since he was instrumental in expanding healthcare services at Samuel Rodgers, he believes he is well-equipped to enhance the programs and services at Myrah Keating.
"Community healthcare," Wallace said, "is a humbling career. It's a career that ignites passion within, and quenches the thirst to serve."
Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center is St. John's only comprehensive healthcare facility. The health center provides 24-hour emergency medical services, urgent and outpatient services, family practice, ophthalmology, women's health, high-risk OB/GYN services, family planning, immunizations, health card exams, laboratory, and general radiology. The center averages about 500 visits per month for all services.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.