BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nebraska Health Network is a physician-led Accountable Care Organization (ACO) formed by Methodist Health System, Nebraska Medicine and their affiliated physicians and hospitals to improve the health of all patients by delivering high-quality, affordable and accessible health services throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa.

NEBRASKA HEALTH NETWORK

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Patrick Ahrens, MD

METHODIST HEALTH PARTNERS

Patrick Ahrens, MD

Patrick Ahrens, MD, is a general surgeon at Methodist Physicians Clinic in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He attended medical school at the University of Washington and completed his residency at Henry Ford Health Hospital.

Garnet Blatchford, MD
METHODIST HEALTH PARTNERS
Garnet Blatchford, MD

Garnet Blatchford, MD, a 30-plus year member of Methodist Hospital’s medical staff, is the vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital. Dr. Blatchford, who began her medical career in the 1980s, was born and raised in Omaha and is a trailblazer for women in surgery. Her career in colon and rectal surgery has spanned decades in the Omaha community. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate received her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and completed her fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Creighton University.

JohnJCanella
METHODIST HEALTH PARTNERS
John J. Cannella, III, MD

Dr. Cannella is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He practices at Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates in Omaha where he specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of liver and biliary diseases, in addition to gastroenterological disorders and endoscopic procedures. Dr. Cannella earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Creighton University College of Arts and Sciences in 1998 and earned his Doctorate of Medicine in 2003. He completed his Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2006, and remained at UNMC through 2009, where he completed his Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Don Darst, MD
NEBRASKA HEALTH PARTNERS
Don Darst, MD, Past Chair

Dr. Don Darst is board-certified in internal medicine and earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Darst is the sole owner and president of Midwest Regional Health Services in Omaha. MRHS was the first clinic in Nebraska to be recognized as a NCQA Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Stephanie_Daubert
NEBRASKA HEALTH PARTNERS
stephanie daubert

Stephanie Daubert serves as chief financial officer for Nebraska Medicine. In her three decades with the organization, Daubert has worked in a variety of roles beginning her career as a unit secretary while in college, and working her way up into more progressive leadership roles. Prior to her current position, she was CFO at Bellevue Medical Center and served as controller for Nebraska Medical Center for 12 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, management information systems from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master in Business Administration and Management Degree from Creighton University.

Jeff Francis
METHODIST HEALTH PARTNERS
Jeff Francis

Jeff Francis is vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Nebraska Methodist Health System. Francis joined Methodist with more than 25 years of financial management experience obtained through a variety of health-care organizations nationwide. He earned his Master of Business Administration from Creighton University.

Steve Goeser
METHODIST HEALTH PARTNERS
STEVE GOESER

Steve Goeser is president and chief executive officer for Methodist Health System. Prior to his appointment as CEO of Methodist Health System, he served as president and CEO at Methodist Hospital. During his tenure, Goeser was instrumental in the planning and construction of The Pathology Building – Schenken Pavilion, Methodist Women’s Hospital and the current $90 million surgery renovation and expansion project. He was recently recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the top 183 Nonprofit Hospital and Health System CEOs to Know. Goeser earned his bachelor’s degree at Creighton University and his Master of Business Administration in health care administration from City University in Bellevue, Wash.

Richard Hahn
MEDICARE BENEFICIARY
RICHARD HAHN

Richard Hahn retired from Farmers National Company in 2005, where he served as a President and CEO. During his leadership, Farmers National Company expanded its services and continued to grow and maintain its position as the nation’s largest farm and ranch management company. He was named a Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement honoree in 2011. In addition to serving on the NHN Board, Hahn also is a member of the Nebraska Methodist College Board of Directors.

Jeff Harrison, MD
NEBRASKA HEALTH PARTNERS
JEFF HARRISON, MD

Jeff Harrison, MD, is a board certified family medicine physician. Dr. Harrison practices at the Family Medicine Clinic at Bellevue Health Center. He graduated from, and completed his residency at, the UNMC College of Medicine. 

Dr. James Linder
NEBRASKA HEALTH PARTNERS
JAMES LINDER, MD

Dr. Linder is the chief executive officer for Nebraska Medicine and professor of pathology for the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After earning his medical degree from UNMC and subsequent training in pathology at Duke University, he joined the UNMC faculty in 1983. Dr. Linder has authored more than 150 publications and five textbooks while filling diverse roles in academic medicine and business. In the commercial sector, his research as chief medical officer for Cytyc Corporation led to new cancer screening technologies that reduced the incidence of cervical cancer. As co-founder of Constitution Medical, a new hematology instrument was developed to enable the rapid diagnosis of blood disorders. His research led to induction into the National Academy of Inventors.

Stephen Mohring MD
NEBRASKA HEALTH PARTNERS
STEPHEN MOHRING, MD

Dr. Stephen Mohring is an internal medicine primary care physician-educator and health-care leader. He completed both medical education and residency training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. After completing training, he began work as an assistant professor and attending physician for UNMC and Nebraska Medicine. He balances his time between an active clinic schedule, teaching medical students and residents, and medical direction for the Patient-Centered Medical Home and Population Health programs.

PeteWhitted
NEBRASKA HEALTH PARTNERS
PETE WHITTED, MD, JD

Dr. Peter Whitted is a specialist in external ocular disease, anterior segment, laser surgery, glaucoma and LASIK/vision correction surgery at Midwest Eye Care. An Omaha native, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln. Dr. Whitted earned a medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Following a pathology internship at the University of Colorado College of Medicine in Denver, Dr. Whitted completed his ophthalmology residency at Baylor College of Medicine, Cullen Eye Institute, Houston.

Kent Willadsen, MD
METHODIST HEALTH PARTNERS
KENT WILLADSEN, MD, CHAIR

Dr. Willadsen is a practicing family medicine physician with Methodist Physicians Clinic in Council Bluffs. He earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed his residency at Lincoln Medical Education Partnership.

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