The Bothwell Regional Health Center Board of Trustees voted to change leadership, terminating CEO Lori Wightman’s contract effective Oct. 13.
The board announced the decision Tuesday, one day after voting to end Wightman’s contract. She had served as Bothwell’s CEO since 2019.
In a statement released Tuesday, the board thanked Wightman for her leadership and dedication, citing her work during the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to recruit physicians and health care providers, and advocacy for rural health care.
“On October 12, 2026, the Board of Trustees made the decision to end Lori Wightman’s contract as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 13, 2026,” the statement said.
The board appointed Mike Harvey, who joined Bothwell in April as interim chief operating officer, to serve as interim CEO. Harvey brings more than 25 years of health care leadership experience, including 18 years as CEO of a rural hospital system in Nebraska.
Deidre Esquivel, a member of the Bothwell Board of Trustees, said Harvey will lead the hospital while the board determines the next steps for its leadership team.
“He is currently the interim CEO as of today,” Esquivel said Tuesday. “We’ll be working through the process of finding an interim COO. We don’t know what that’s going to look like yet, but the board will be working with Mike to do that.”
The board also plans to begin the process of searching for a permanent CEO. Esquivel said trustees want to give that process the time it deserves.
“Correct, correct, yeah, we will be doing that,” Esquivel said. “The process takes time, and we want to give it the time it deserves.”
In the meantime, Esquivel expressed confidence that Bothwell would continue serving its patients and the surrounding community.
“Bothwell is moving forward, just like always,” Esquivel said. “We’ve served the community for over 100 years, and we plan to be here another 100.”
Esquivel acknowledged that leadership changes can be difficult but said the hospital’s focus must remain on its patients and employees.
“Leadership changes can be difficult, but we just need to set aside our personal feelings, our beliefs, because in the end, what matters is our physicians, our support staff, the rest of our employees at the hospital; what matters are the patients that we serve,” Esquivel said. “And really, that’s all that matters in the end.”
Esquivel said the hospital intends to continue providing quality care while recognizing the work of its employees.
“We want to continue to give good care. We want to protect our patients. We want our employees to be recognized in the work that they do,” Esquivel said.
In its statement, the board emphasized its commitment to Bothwell’s future and its role in providing health care to Sedalia and the surrounding communities.
The trustees said they would work with Harvey, the senior leadership team, medical staff and employees to maintain stability during the transition while conducting a “thoughtful and thorough search” for a permanent CEO.
The board also addressed hospital employees directly, emphasizing that Bothwell’s success depends on the collective efforts of its workforce.
“The success of this organization is not the result of any one individual, but rather the collective dedication, compassion, and hard work of the people who serve our patients and community every day,” the statement said.
The board said its commitment to Bothwell’s mission remains unchanged despite the leadership transition and expressed confidence in the hospital’s employees and its future.
Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.
