LMH Health appoints Dr. Shelly Kortkamp as President & CEO
The LMH Health Board of Trustees has appointed Shelly Kortkamp, MD, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Kortkamp is a physician executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience guiding complex healthcare systems through transformative growth. She will begin her role on November 10, 2025.
“As a community-owned, independent hospital and healthcare system, LMH Health cares for more than 90,000 patients and delivers on a century-old charitable care mission,” said Board of Trustees Chair Beth Llewellyn. “This is a special place, and it requires special leadership. Dr. Kortkamp brings a unique combination of clinical expertise, operational discipline, and people-first leadership that has consistently delivered results for patients, providers, and communities. She is uniquely prepared to lead LMH Health into the future.”
Dr. Shelly Kortkamp
Dr. Kortkamp most recently served as President and Chief Medical Officer at St. Peter’s Health in Helena, Montana, where she led a 123-bed acute care hospital and behavioral health facility. During her tenure, she drove cultural and financial transformations that doubled employee engagement and restored financial margins. Her work in advancing quality and safety included achieving Montana’s first DNV ISO 9001 certification, a globally-recognized accreditation awarded to organizations illustrating a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care. Dr. Kortkamp has also served in executive leadership roles with Beacon Health System in Indiana, HSHS Health System in Illinois, and as a physician leader in the U.S. Air Force, where she earned the Meritorious Service Medal.
“I am deeply honored to join LMH Health as its next President and CEO,” said Dr. Kortkamp. “I am drawn to the organization’s rich history and unwavering purpose of serving the community with excellence and compassion. I know I am standing on the shoulders of many dedicated leaders who have come before me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to build on their legacy. With great excitement, I look forward to partnering with the board, our physicians, our staff, and the community to shape a vibrant future for LMH Health.”
Dr. Adam Goodyear, LMH Health orthopedic surgeon, incoming chair of the medical staff, and CEO search committee member, said, “Dr. Kortkamp’s leadership reflects a clear understanding that excellence in patient care begins with a culture that values and supports its people. She has demonstrated the ability to bring physicians, providers and employees together around shared purpose and accountability. That commitment to collaboration and respect will be vital as we continue to strengthen LMH Health’s culture and our service to the community. I am excited about the future under Dr. Kortkamp’s leadership and looking forward to her collaboration with the medical staff.”
A nationally recognized speaker on healthcare governance, Dr. Kortkamp is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been honored with numerous awards, including the American Hospital Association’s Grassroots Champion for Montana and Becker’s “Top 100 CMOs to Know.” She earned a Medical Doctorate from East Carolina University and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from St. Louis University. She is board certified in Family Medicine and licensed as a physician and surgeon.
“One element that excites me about LMH Health is the determination to remain a strong, independent hospital,” said Dr. Kortkamp. “The well-being of the organization and the well-being of Lawrence are inseparable. I am eager to hear from our teams and learn directly from those caring for patients, so together we can strengthen LMH as an employer of choice and a trusted partner in lifelong health. Guided by the cultural value of Better Together, I look forward to shaping the next chapter with this community.”
Llewellyn, who chaired the search committee appointed by the Trustees, said that the candidate assessment process provided many opportunities to learn about Dr. Kortkamp's experiences in healthcare leadership.
"In a striking example, Dr. Kortkamp shared insight into how she and her colleagues confronted a difficult situation involving concerns about oncology care at her previous institution, resulting in system-wide improvements in quality, culture, and financial stability,” said Llewellyn.
Trustee Dr. Shari Quick said Dr. Kortkamp has exhibited a commitment to transparency and ethical leadership throughout her career.
“Dr. Kortkamp has shown what it means to be an authentic and committed leader who puts patients first,” said Dr. Quick. “She has exhibited hallmark qualities of courage and integrity, and - most notably - an unwavering dedication to patient advocacy.”
Dr. Kortkamp will be the first woman and physician to hold the role of President and CEO in LMH Health’s 104-year history. The appointment followed a nationwide search led by WittKieffer, a nationally recognized executive search firm. She succeeds Russ Johnson, who retired in August after nine years with the organization. Dr. Kortkamp and her family will be relocating to Douglas County this fall.
“My husband Todd and I wanted to make our forever home in the Midwest, in a community with history, culture, and genuine warmth — and a health system with vision and strength,” said Kortkamp. “We’ve found that in Lawrence and at LMH Health. I am grateful for the opportunity to join this community and this organization at such an important time for healthcare in our country.”
