Happy post-summer solstice, Flathead Valley. While the days will be getting shorter, after a long weekend navigating a SUP down the South Fork and tromping through a moss-laden fen in search of a rare, fairy-like orchid (a round-leaved orchis for you biology and flower nerds out there), today I’m basking in the rays of knowing that summer’s light has only just begun to warm up the mountains, rivers, and lakes for all our outdoor play.
Speaking of beginnings …
Logan Health Flathead Valley will welcome a new president next month with the introduction of Josh Neff. Neff will oversee Logan Health Medical Center and Logan Health Whitefish alongside the respective facilities’ Chief Medical Officers Cory Short and Jonathan Amick.
Hospital board members and administrators have been searching for a new president since January, when then-President Kevin Abel announced he would step down from the position. The hospital officially merged with Billings Clinic in 2023, and Abel had originally been named co-CEO alongside Billings Clinic CEO Dr. Clint Seger. About a year later, Seger was named the sole CEO for the state’s largest integrated health care system.
According to a June 17 press release, Neff (pictured above) is currently the president of a 90-bed regional medical center and Level III trauma center in Durango, Colorado and system vice president of integration and rural health for CommonSpirit Health. At CommonSpirit, he works closely with critical access hospitals and rural outreach programs in Colorado, Utah and western Kansas.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to organizations that are deeply connected to the communities they serve,” Neff said in a prepared statement. “Logan Health’s commitment to providing exceptional care close to home, combined with its strong regional presence across Montana, aligns closely with my passion for strengthening rural health care and ensuring access for patients who might otherwise have to travel long distances for care.”
Neff began his career 20 years ago as a licensed paramedic and flight paramedic, experiences he says have shaped his perspective as a leader in the health care industry. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
Neff will step into his role on July 13, in time to enjoy some of that sought-after Montana summer I was talking about. Neff said he’s looking forward to hunting, fishing, and adventure travel.
“I am looking forward to getting to know our teams and communities, both personally and professionally,” Neff said. “Relationships are the most important aspect of our business, and I am excited to join Logan Health at a time when we can build on the organization’s strong history and continue supporting exceptional care for the communities we serve.”
I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s see what the rest of the roundup has to offer.
Glacier Park Airport Runway to Close on Weekdays Starting July 6
As crews complete a critical rehabilitation project, airport officials have implemented a rolling schedule that closes the runway from Monday at 6 p.m. to Friday at 10 a.m. through July 31
Judge Pauses Water Permit for Lakeside Development, Allowing For Administrative Review
A lawsuit local environmental groups brought against the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation challenges the agency’s preliminary approval of a water permit for the Territory 1889 development, and its dismissal of objections raised by the groups
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