Wilbarger General Hospital appoints Burke Kline as new CEO
The Board of Trustees of Wilbarger General Hospital (WGH) announced April 9 the appointment of Dr. Burke Kline as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective April 24.
Dr. Kline, a Nebraska native, is an experienced healthcare executive with a particular commitment to rural healthcare. He has a proven history of enhancing quality patient outcomes and improving financial stability across multi-facility health systems. Throughout his tenure in rural health administration, he has overseen all facets of care delivery, including critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, long-term care facilities, physician recruitment, and major capital projects.
Dr. Kline holds an extensive academic portfolio, including a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration (DHA), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in Management (MSM) and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA). He has further distinguished himself with post-doctoral studies at Harvard Business School and Oxford University. Dr. Kline holds a board certification from American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) as a Fellow (FACHE) and a certification from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) as a Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP).
He and his wife, Andrea (an LPN), are raising their two daughters, Katelyn and Ellie, with a love for rural living, horse riding, the outdoors, and a sense of place. He and his family will be relocating to Vernon from South Dakota during the week of April 20.
“The Board conducted an extensive search to find the right leader for the Wilbarger team. We are confident that Burke is the right person to lead Wilbarger General Hospital into its new chapter of growth and innovation” said Robert M. Webb, Chairman of the Board.
