Spencer Hospital Announces Internal Candidate for President Role

posted on Monday, August 14, 2023 in General

The Spencer Hospital Board of Trustees has announced plans to formally interview the hospital’s Senior Vice President of Patient Care and Operations, Brenda Tiefenthaler, for the position of hospital president.

The hospital is hiring a new president following an announcement by current hospital president Bill Bumgarner in February that he will be retiring at the end of the year.

Tiefenthaler, who has been employed by Spencer Hospital for 23 years, will interview on August 21 in a closed session of the hospital Board of Trustees.  She will also be meeting with other groups on that day including the hospital’s medical staff and members of the leadership team.

“A search committee appointed by the Board of Trustees has been working diligently for several months to identify and evaluate candidates,” said board chair Julie Christensen.  “We’ve been pleased by the number of qualified candidates who have expressed interest in the position.”

The hospital engaged WittKieffer, a nationally recognized healthcare executive search firm to coordinate the search process.  Christensen shared that over 35 candidates from around the country applied for the job.  The search committee narrowed that group to 12 for further consideration, then conducted preliminary interviews with five candidates identified as having experience that aligned well with the needs of Spencer Hospital.  Christensen indicated that two other candidates, in addition to Tiefenthaler, remain in consideration.

“The search committee concluded that we want to initiate the interview process with our internal candidate,” she said. “Following Brenda’s interview, the search committee will meet to determine its next steps in the process.”

Serving on the search committee are Christensen; Trustee Bruce Nystrom; Board advisory members Neal Conover, John Cotton and Larry Harden; medical staff president and general surgeon Dr. Jason Keonin; family physician Dr. Bruce Feldmann; orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jason Hough; family physician Dr. Amanda Young; and community representative Jill Davis.                

Tiefenthaler has worked in a range of jobs at Spencer Hospital since joining Spencer Hospital in 2000 as she earned higher levels of responsibility.  In addition to her current executive position leading the day-to-day operations of the hospital, she previously served in leadership positions to include Vice President of Patient Care for 16 years; Director of the Abben Cancer Center for four years; and assistant director of the emergency department and intensive care unit for one year.  Prior to working at Spencer Hospital, Tiefenthaler worked as registered nurse in specialties to include critical care, bone marrow transplant and oncology.

She holds Masters degrees in both Healthcare Administration and Nursing from the University of Phoenix; a Bachelors Degree of Nursing from the University of Iowa; and an Associate of Nursing Degree from the College of St. Mary in Omaha.  Tiefenthaler grew up on a family farm in Fonda, Iowa.  Together, she and her husband Jeff have five children, seven grandchildren and reside in Spencer.

“We appreciate Brenda’s interest in the hospital president position and look forward to her formal interview,” said Christensen. “She’s made many important contributions to Spencer Hospital and our medical community during her career to enhance both patient services and business outcomes.”