CoxHealth announces changes to Board of Directors

CoxHealth recently made changes to its Board of Directors, including welcoming a new chair and adding new members.

Dr. Hal Higdon, chancellor and president of Ozarks Technical Community College, has been named chairman of the CoxHealth Board of Directors. Dr. Higdon will succeed Robert Fulp, who will continue on the Board as immediate past chair.

“I can’t thank Rob enough for his support and leadership as CoxHealth’s board chair. His mentorship, support and confidence in me helped immensely as I started in this position,” says Max Buetow, president and CEO of CoxHealth. “And as we look to the future, I am extremely grateful that Dr. Hal Higdon will serve as the next chairman of our Board of Directors. Hal has always been a respected member of our Board – he is a strong leader who is willing to push our organization to be the best it possibly can be.”

In addition to his work with OTC as the longest-serving public college president in Missouri, Dr. Higdon is one of the founding Board members of the Alliance for Healthcare Education, a partnership between OTC, CoxHealth, Missouri State University and Springfield Public Schools. He has also been heavily involved in multiple community service organizations throughout the region.

There were also other membership changes to the Board of Directors. Phil Loyd retired from the Board after a decade of service, and two new members joined: Pam Yancey and Thomas Douglas.

Yancey was recently named President and CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.  Prior to joining the Chamber, Yancey served as the community bank president of Arvest Bank in the Tri Lakes Area for 11 years. Committed to making a tangible impact, she actively participates in various nonprofit and civic organizations, contributing her expertise to numerous boards and committees. Yancey has also served on the Cox Medical Center Branson Board since 2020.

Douglas is CEO of JMARK, a Missouri-based information technology service company. Douglas’ work has led the company to be recognized on Inc. Magazine’s list of the top 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America for nine consecutive times. Nationally, he an author and speaker on leadership and technology, including culture and people puzzles, operational efficiencies, executive strategies, entrepreneur tactics, technology trends, IT maturity methodologies and cybersecurity.

As the region's only locally owned, not-for-profit health system, CoxHealth has long benefited from local governance by a Board of Directors made up of strong community leaders.

“Our Board of Directors consistently works to advance CoxHealth,” says Buetow. “I am extremely grateful for the continued sense of guidance, accountability and commitment from the Board. As we look to the future of our organization, we are very blessed to have this group of strong leaders – past, present and future -- working alongside us.”