Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center Announces New CEO

The Board of Directors of the Hospital & Medical Foundation of Paris, Inc. (d/b/a Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center) and Alliant Management Services recently announced the appointment of long-term employee Oliver (Ollie) Smith, RPh, as the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PCH/FMC. Smith assumed this role on January 8, 2014.

Smith is a veteran of PCH/FMC for nearly 30 years. He began working for Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center (PCH/FMC) in May 1985 as a pharmacist. He obtained his pharmacy degree from Butler University in Indianapolis and worked for Eli Lilly & Co. before returning to Edgar County to help with the family farm in Hume. After returning home, Smith worked at Kook & Link (Newman), Cook Drugs (Chrisman), and Paris Clinic Pharmacy before joining Paris Community Hospital.

In addition to Smith’s job as pharmacist, he has served PCH/FMC in a number of other roles, including supervising departments and serving as an employee advocate on the Employee Assistance Committee. In 2001, he was named the Vice President of Human Resources and Professional Services and Director of Pharmacy.

Smith was promoted to Senior Vice President of PCH/FMC in June 2013. Smith, in conjunction with Jeff Buckley, regional CEO of Alliant Management Services, began to oversee all
operations of both the clinic and hospital until a new president & CEO was named.

“Ollie’s relationships throughout the organization have been a real positive over the past few months,” said Jeff Buckley, who had been serving as interim president & CEO. “[These relationships] are a real strength; top of the list for any CEO to have. His open, approachable, and results-oriented leadership style has been appreciated throughout the organization. Personally and professionally it has been a pleasure working with him the past few months.”

In his spare time, Smith continues to farm. He is also a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Hume, the Hume Lions Club (#308), American Legion (Post #369, Hume), Human Resources Center (HRC) Board of Directors, and Edgar County Public Health Board of Directors. He serves as a trustee for Shiloh Township and Drainage District Commissioner for Shiloh #2.

“In the past seven months, Ollie has shown he is a highly effective leader for the organization,” said Nolan Longest, board chairman for the Hospital & Medical Foundation of Paris, Inc. (HMFP). “The fact that he has very deep roots in Edgar County is just a bonus. We were fortunate that Ollie was ready and willing to step up to the challenge and the Board is excited about moving forward with him at the helm.”

Smith commented: “What I want to do is preserve what we have now and make it better—even through the challenges in healthcare that we are faced with. We need to make the transition of our medical staff—and other staff—as painless as possible, while looking at other service lines to develop or expand for the needs of our community.”

PCH/FMC is a full-service primary care facility providing hospital services, emergency medicine, surgery, family medicine, and much more backed by an outstanding team of health professionals. The facilities also include diagnostic and treatment technologies and a growing list of visiting medical and surgical specialists.

Smith and his wife Ruth Anne reside in Hume near the family farm.