Board of Directors
President
Russell Gilmore
Vice President
Delila Swinger
Secretary
Steve Reid
Treasurer
Tim Gardner
Board Member
Lance Crawford
Administration
Chief Executive Officer
Leigha Ward (Interim)
Chief Financial Officer
Leigha Ward
Chief Operating Officer
Cathy Brown
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Erica Scheffer
Medical Chief Of Staff
Dr. Joseph Kulpeksa
Chief Nursing Officer
Tim Faulkner (Interim)
Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems Executive Team
Leigha Ward, Chief Executive Officer (Interim) and Chief Financial Officer
Leigha Ward began her career in healthcare in 2016 when she joined Pemiscot Memorial Health System as a Financial Analyst. She has served in her current capacity as Chief Financial Officer since 2017 managing the following departments: Accounting, Admissions, Data, Health Information Management, Purchasing and Revenue Cycle. She received her undergraduate degree in Accounting from Arkansas State University, Masters in Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University, and is an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association. Leigha has deep driven roots in the Missouri Bootheel being a lifelong resident and the daughter to a multi-generational agricultural operation. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and raising her daughter, Collins with her husband, Jay.
Cathy Brown, Chief Operating Officer
Cathy Brown began her career at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems as an LPN after graduating from Pemiscot Vocational School of Nursing in 2009. Cathy has served in a multitude of roles over her career at Pemiscot Memorial, and she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2022. Before becoming COO, Cathy served as Clinic Operations Director where she managed Pemiscot Memorial’s six Rural Health Clinics and Outpatient Diagnostic Center. She always looks out for the interests of both our local patients as well as all members of the PMHS team around the Bootheel. In her free time, Cathy enjoys doing yardwork and spending time with her close family and friends.
Sherry Swims, Clinic Operations Director
Sherry Swims has led a long and productive career at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems. Since beginning as a clinic housekeeper in 2012, she has worked diligently up the ranks of the organization to accept the role of Clinic Operations Director in 2022.
With extensive experience in billing and data processing, Sherry works closely with Pemiscot Memorial’s six rural health clinics to ensure that we continue to provide the highest quality of care possible to our patients. In her free time, Sherry enjoys fishing and other outdoor activities with her family.
With extensive experience in billing and data processing, Sherry works closely with Pemiscot Memorial’s six rural health clinics to ensure that we continue to provide the highest quality of care possible to our patients. In her free time, Sherry enjoys fishing and other outdoor activities with her family.
Jackie Powell, Human Resources Director
Jackie Powell began a long and enjoyable career in healthcare when she started at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems in 1996. She was promoted to Human Resources Director in 2006 where she has served since. Jackie was born and raised in Caruthersville and has long-standing ties to the Bootheel. Jackie is passionate about helping budding healthcare workers begin their careers at Pemiscot Memorial as Human Resources Director. When she is not working, Jackie enjoys camping and spending time with her two children, two grandchildren, and her husband of 40 years.
Tim Faulkner, Chief Nursing Officer (Interim)
Tim is a respected and proven leader who is energetic, focused on improving patient outcomes and inspire high standards of performance. His wealth of knowledge and experience will ensure that PMHS will make great strides in maintaining and improving our nursing care for the community.
Tim embodies the spirit of the community; he was reared in Pemiscot County and graduated from Caruthersville High School in 1992. He began his medical career with PMHS in 1996. Since then, he has over 26 years of diverse clinical healthcare experience in nursing, emergency medicine, ambulance operations and nursing leadership.
Tim embodies the spirit of the community; he was reared in Pemiscot County and graduated from Caruthersville High School in 1992. He began his medical career with PMHS in 1996. Since then, he has over 26 years of diverse clinical healthcare experience in nursing, emergency medicine, ambulance operations and nursing leadership.