Four Mercy Leaders Make Becker’s List for Rural Healthcare

ST. LOUIS - Becker's named four Mercy leaders of small-town hospitals to its annual list of rural healthcare executives to know.

Bobby Stitt, Daryle Voss, Chris Wibbenmeyer and Sue Ann Williams are on Becker's list of 146 rural hospital and health system presidents and CEOs to know. The list recognizes leaders who understand the importance of quality healthcare services in rural communities that drive better patient outcomes and experiences.

"Rural hospitals are so much more than places of healing. They're community cornerstones and sources of civic pride," said Dr. John Mohart, Mercy executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Bobby, Daryle, Chris and Sue Ann are people you're proud to have not only as a leader in your hometown, but also as a neighbor and friend."

Bobby Stitt

Stitt is the chief administrative officer of Oklahoma's Mercy Hospital Ada, which is also affiliated with Mercy's critical access hospital in Tishomingo.

The Becker's list noted Stitt's foundation as a registered nurse, along with his military service and decades of leadership in rural Oklahoma healthcare. He's responsible for Ada's organizational structure, alignment, strategic direction, financial performance and community involvement.

Stitt began his career with Mercy as a nurse in 2007, moving into hospital administration in 2012. He's overseen sustained successes in operations, finances and patient satisfaction throughout his tenure.

Daryle Voss

Voss is president of Oklahoma's Mercy Hospital Ardmore, which is affiliated with Mercy's critical access hospitals in Healdton and Love County. He also oversees Mercy Hospital Ada and its affiliated critical access hospital in Tishomingo.

Becker's highlighted Voss' leadership in earning repeated Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Studies (CMS) 4-star ratings and top Leapfrog safety ratings for southern Oklahoma hospitals. He has served a long career in Oklahoma healthcare and started with Mercy in 2013.

The Mercy hospitals in his purview have achieved national recognition for quality of patient care and top safety scores.

Chris Wibbenmeyer

Wibbenmeyer is administrator of Mercy Hospital Perry in Perryville, Missouri.

Becker's noted Wibbenmeyer's role in raising the hospital's CMS star rating, deepening community partnerships and expanding service options for local patients.

Wibbenmeyer has been at the same rural hospital since 1998 and helped lead its strong financial turnaround, which includes the hospital's transition into Mercy in 2023.

Sue Ann Williams

Williams is administrator of Mercy Hospital Stoddard in Dexter, Missouri.

Becker's detailed the hospital's transition into Mercy in 2024, followed closely by the implementation of electronic health records. Stoddard is one of only 13 Missouri hospitals with a 5-star patient recommendation based on CMS patient survey data.

Williams has more than 30 years of healthcare experience and is a past president of the Missouri Hospital Association, SoutheastHEALTH District Council.

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation's largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.