HealthONE Leadership /
Sub Menu About Us Contact Us Quality HealthONE Leadership - Board of Trustees - Hospital CEOs HealthONE mission, vision, values and standards of behavior Community Impact Colorado Hospital Transformation Program Outreach Services Media Center Newsroom Joint Commission Public Notice Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Hospital CEOs
2022 HealthONE Board of Trustees
John Hughes, Jr.
Christine Benero
Jerome Buckley, MD
Greg D'Argonne
Matthew J. Fleishman, MD
Jon Foster
John McWilliams
Ruth Nauts, MD
Linda Osterlund
Brian Pauls
Lydia M. Prado, Ph.D.
Michael Niyompong, MBA, MS
Ali Sarram, MD
Sylvia Young
John Hughes, Jr., CPA - Retired
John Hughes graduated from CSU with a BSBA in Accounting in 1969 and in April, 2018 was one of the first inductees into the CSU Accounting Hall of Fame. After serving two years in the Army, as a Finance and Accounting Specialist, he went to work for a local CPA firm in Fort Collins, at which he had interned while attending CSU. He continued to work in public accounting, earned his CPA certificate and in 1976, with two other partners, formed Levine, Hughes & Mithuen, Inc., CPA's. John served as president and CEO of the firm, which grew to approximately 35 people, when it merged in 2006, into Clifton Gunderson, LLP, which subsequently became CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP. During his career, he earned his Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Accredited Business Valuation (ABV). John retired as a partner with CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP at the end of 2012.
John served on numerous committees, the Board of Directors and as an officer with the Colorado Society of CPA's. He also served on committees for the AICPA. He served on the boards of water and sanitation districts, the advisory boards of two banks, the advisory board for the CSU Accounting Department and was board chair of a business incubator for clean tech companies for over 20 years. Additionally he served on the Board of Directors, Treasurer and Chair of the South Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Boards of several for profit and non-profits corporations including nine years on the board of The Colorado Health Foundation, which has approximately $2.4 billion in assets. He is current chair of the Board of Trustees of HCA/HealthONE Hospitals. John is also a member of the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast, where he served as president of both the club and its foundation.
President & Chief Executive Officer, Mile High United Way
Christine Benero is President and Chief Executive Officer of Mile High United Way, the first United Way in the country. For nearly 130 years, Mile High United Way has worked to advance the common good and believes all children, individuals and families should have the opportunity for success. Last year, Mile High United Way proudly invested over $30 million in the Denver metro area.
Christine is the former Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter, in Denver, Colorado. Prior to joining the American Red Cross, Christine was the Director of the Office of Public Liaison for the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, DC. She served in two Presidential administrations working for both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Christine has served as Vice President of the National Civic League, and as a Community Affairs Corporate Program Officer for Target Stores in Minneapolis, MN.
Christine serves on the Boards of HealthONE, National Domestic Violence Hotline, Community Wealth Partners, Denver Public Schools Foundation and EPIC. In 2015, Christine was asked to serve as co-chair on the Denver Public Schools Community Planning Advisory Committee by Superintendent Tom Boasberg. She was appointed by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock to the Denver Education Compact Board and currently sits on the National Professional Council for United Way Worldwide. Christine was named the 9News Leader of the Year in 2007 and in 2009 received the Community Leader Award by Goodwill Industries and was named by both the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post as one of "Nine to Watch in 2009." In 2010 she was named a "Woman of Distinction" by the Girl Scouts of Colorado and in 2011 received the "Las Madrinas" award from Centro San Juan Diego. In 2012, Christine was honored nationally by Girl Scouts of America as one of "One Hundred Distinguished Alumni" in honor of Girl Scouts 100th birthday. In 2013, she was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Denver by the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce and presented with the Urban League's "McKinley Harris Distinguished Warrior" award and in 2014 she was a finalist for CEO of the Year by ColoradoBiz magazine. In 2016 Christine was named one of the Denver Business Journal's Outstanding Women in Business and in 2017 received the Colorado Governor's Citizenship Medal for Public and Community Service by Governor John Hickenlooper. The Colorado Governor's Citizenship Medal is one of the highest honors bestowed upon citizens and organizations of Colorado for their meritorious contributions to the strength and vitality of the state. Most recently, Christine received the 2018 Community Champion Award from Colorado Youth for a Change.
Christine is a past President of the Association of Junior Leagues International, a past chairman of the Women's Foundation of Colorado, Coalition for America's Children and the Kiwanis International's Young Children: Priority One Advisory Board. She was a delegate both to the Presidents' Summit for America's Future in 1997 and to the NGO Forum at the UN Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.
Christine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Boston University, a Masters in Education from Harvard University, Graduate School of Education and was selected as a 2007 Gates Fellow for the Senior Executive Program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Dr. Buckley received his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha. In 1992 he received his MBA from the University of Colorado at Denver. Dr. Buckley is Board certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy and Asthma, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He also belongs to the American Medical Association, Colorado Medical Society, and the American College of Physician Executives and is a member of multiple professional societies. Buckley has been listed in Best Doctors in America, is author/co-author of numerous papers, a pulmonary function teaching monograph, and allergy/asthma textbook chapter and has been a frequent presenter at specialty medical meetings and liability insurance meetings.
Dr. Buckley is past Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of COPIC Insurance Company, which insures approximately 80 percent of all physicians in Colorado who require private medical professional liability insurance and nearly all the smaller independent hospitals.
As part of a documented history of service to the medical community and recipient of numerous professional and community awards, Buckley has helped establish a clinic for the medically indigent (Metro Community Provider Network – MCPN); co-founded a camp for severely asthmatic children (Champ Camp); volunteered to help Pueblo establish and develop a program (Health Access Pueblo Program) for the working uninsured; and is working with a team in exploring a pilot project to address children born with Neurological Impairments with a "no-fault" compensation program.
Chief Financial Officer, HealthONE and HCA Continental Division
Mr. D'Argonne joined HCA in 1984 and served as the Assistant Controller at Parkland Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA and Controller at North Monroe Hospital in Monroe, LA. Mr. D'Argonne has served as CFO for HealthONE and the HCA Continental Division since 2001. Prior to that, Mr. D'Argonne served as Controller and then CFO at Wesley Medical Center from 1994 to 2001. Mr. D'Argonne earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University in 1981. Mr. D'Argonne is a member of various health care related organizations.
Radiology Imaging Associates
Dr Fleishman has been practicing radiology in Denver as a member of Radiology Imaging Associates since 1997. Based at Swedish Medical Center, he has been chief of the radiology department since 2000. Earning his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, he completed internship in Medicine and fellowship training in Nuclear Medicine at the Presbyterian Hospital in the City of New York. He went on to complete residency training in Diagnostic Radiology and additional fellowship training in Thoracic Imaging at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University Medical Center in St Louis. He is certified by the American Board of Radiology and the American Board of Nuclear Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Radiology. In 2011, he completed a Masters Degree program in Medical Management from Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Dr Fleishman is a board member of COPIC Insurance Company.
Dr Fleishman brings his training in Nuclear Medicine and Thoracic Imaging to a longstanding clinical focus on the diagnosis and imaging management of lung cancer and complex lung disease.
Active in medical staff leadership at Swedish Medical Center for more than 10 years, Dr Fleishman has served in a variety of roles on the Medical Executive Committee and is a past President of the Medical Staff. He is also past Chairman of the Council of Medical Staff Presidents for the HealthOne hospital system in Denver.
Outside of medicine, Dr Fleishman enjoys fly fishing, skiing and cycling. With his wife Stacey, they have two young children; Sydney and Charlie.
President, HCA-American Group
Jon Foster is the President of HCA's American Group, one of two operating groups for Hospital Corporation of American (HCA), the largest hospital system in the world. In addition to serving as a senior officer of HCA, Foster's responsibilities as President of the HCA American Group which includes oversight of 80 hospitals across Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Finally, Foster serves as President of HCA-Texas, the largest hospital system in Texas. The HCA American Group has annual revenues of $17+ billion and employs 80,000 staff members.
Prior to his current role, Foster served as President and CEO of Austin, Texas-based St. David's HealthCare, a $1.2 billion, seven-hospital healthcare system, with 60 locations throughout the central Texas region.
Prior to coming to St. David's HealthCare, Foster served as the executive vice president of operations for the Baptist Health System of East Tennessee. His career began in 1986 at the Methodist Healthcare System in Houston, Texas, where he served until 1991.
Foster holds a BBA degree from Baylor University and an MS degree in Healthcare Management from Trinity University. While at Trinity, he was named a Foster G. McGaw Scholar. In 2000, the 30,000-member American College of Healthcare Executives gave Foster the prestigious Robert S. Hudgens Award recognizing him as the "Young Healthcare Executive of the Year" for the United States and Canada.
Mr. Foster has served on numerous national and state-level governing boards and currently serves as a past-Chair of the Texas Hospital Association Board of Trustees. In addition, he serves as a board member for the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board, the Austin Economic Development Corporation, the Texas Quality Coalition, the University of Texas College of Pharmacy Advisory Board, and the board of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) Austin Chapter.
Mr Foster and his wife, the former Laura Chapman, have two daughters, Haley and Lindsey. They reside in Nashville, Tennessee.
Chief Financial Officer – HCA American Group
Ashley Johnson, a 21-year veteran of HCA, has served as chief financial officer for HCA's Capital Division with responsibility for financial operations and reporting for the division's 18 hospital campuses located in Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Virginia. Prior to that position she served as CFO for several HCA hospitals including Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver, Colorado; Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida; and Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida. Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant and holds bachelors' degrees in accounting and management from the University of Central Florida.
President and Founder, Western Skies Group
Western Skies, Inc., was established in 1971 and WSi Personnel Services in 1987 by John McWilliams. He is currently active in the areas of health care consulting, real estate sales, and the development of medical facilities, commercial office buildings, shopping centers, art museums, hotels, and land subdivisions. Since Western Skies' inception, John has guided the firm to the successful completion of real estate developments and transactions valued in excess of $1 billion. In addition, he has assembled over 50 real estate partnerships, joint ventures, and syndications. In 1986, John initiated the formation of Integrated Medical Campus. IMC was a national company in scope that created physician and hospital integration strategies, developed the strategies into ambulatory healthcare programs, and implemented the programs. John's prior corporate experience included positions with Xerox and Control Data Corporation. He has also been part owner of a construction company.
Throughout his career, John has been and is still active on the Board of Directors and leadership positions of many local community, religious, professional and charitable organizations as well as numerous metro districts and homeowner associations. These include, but are not limited to, The Colorado Health Foundation, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Cherry Creek Commerce Association, Race for the Cure, Center for Nursing Excellence, Denver Chamber of Commerce, NAIOP, Lower Downtown District (LODO), Downtown Denver Partnership, Alternative Pregnancy Center, and Eagle Lake Camp. John received a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from Regis University and was an instructor at the University of Virginia's Darden Business School and at Denver University Business School. John is a Realtor and holds a Real Estate Broker's license in the State of Colorado.
Dr. Nauts has been a practicing orthopedic surgeon for 34 years in the Denver Medical community. She has worked at the University of Colorado in an academic teaching practice, a private practice in Aurora and within Kaiser Permanente Colorado as a physician leader. She has expertise in healthcare policy, health and care delivery has been developed by years volunteering with the Colorado Health Foundation as a member of its Board of Directors. She also performed orthopedic surgery at the Denver Veterans Administration Hospital. Her focus at Denver Veterans Administration Hospital was total joint replacement and was an instructor of Orthopedic Surgery, teaching University of Colorado resident physicians.
Linda C. Osterlund, Ph.D, LMFT
Academic Dean & Professor -Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions Regis University
I have been at Regis University for over 15 years and served in progressively responsible leadership roles, as the Program Coordinator and Associate Dean for the Division of Counseling and Family Therapy, Vice Provost, and now Academic Dean. As Academic Dean for the Rueckert-Hartman College of Health Professions (RHCHP), I am leading one of Regis University's most successful colleges into the future. RHCHP is a Jesuit, Catholic interprofessional college, with programs in Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, Counseling and Family Therapy, and Health Services Education.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Colorado (#693). I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychobiology at UCLA, Master of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from University of Northern Colorado. I have been practicing therapy with couples, adolescents and families for over 25 years. My clinical experience includes work in private practice, in-patient adolescent and adult treatment, adult residential treatment, training and supervising counseling interns. I am an Approved Supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and certificated as an Approved Counselor Supervisor (ACS). I was a part-time Instructor for Graduate and Undergraduate Counseling Courses at UNLV and the College of Santa Fe. I am a Clinical Member of ACA and AAMFT.
President, The Pauls Corporation
Brian Pauls earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Westmont College and a Master's degree in Real Estate and Construction Management from the University of Denver.
Brian is a Principal at The Pauls Corporation and over sees investment activities. He is President of Gateway Business Park LLC (a 1,200 acre mixed use business park near Denver International Airport): President of Pauls Real Estate Opportunities, LLC (opportunistic real estate investment funds): and President of Pauls Properties Corporation (the Canadian development company of The Pauls Corporation). He has 25 years of experience working in both residential and commercial real estate development and investment.
Brian is active in his community and serves on the Board of Directors of Samaritan's Purse USA, Samaritan's Purse Canada, and a past trustee of the Board of Trustees of Denver Area Council Boy Scouts of America. He is a member and past Board member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter Young Presidents Organization.
Brian is a member of Cherry Hills Country Club and enjoys golf, snow skiing, fishing, hunting and motorcycle riding. He is married to Diane and they have three children: Kristen, Tyler and Julia.
Director of Lifespan Local Change Partnerships
Lydia Prado, PhD, is the Director of Lifespan Local Change Partnerships, a new organization expanding her work to foster, guide, and direct innovative cross-sector community partnerships that address complex social issues such as affordable housing, social determinants of health and economic development. In this role, she provides strategic vision and leadership, seeking excellence in research design, program development and evaluation, and the implementation of "best practices" that promote community well-being, particularly for people in neighborhoods that have not had equitable access to opportunity. She works diligently to transform traditional service models to benefit diverse populations, develop prevention and early intervention strategies, and establish community-based partnerships that yield effective programs for children and families.
Lydia is the project visionary behind Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being, an innovative community center in Northeast Park Hill that promotes health and well-being across the lifespan. The site features an inclusive preschool, dental clinic, farms and gardens, mental health services, and indoor and outdoor community spaces. The Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being is a model of community-informed practice and partnership that sets the bar for the development of healthy communities. The Campus has won multiple awards including The Mayor's Design Award 2016 in the Building Well, Living Well Category, the Engineering News Record Award for Best Health Care Project and the 2017 Community Health Promotion Award by the Mid-Western Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Dr. Prado serves on a number of Boards, and in 2016, was appointed to the Colorado Governor's Early Child Leadership Commission as the public health representative. Lydia has been recognized for her leadership by The Denver Foundation, being awarded the Swanee Hunt Individual Leadership Award in 2016, by the Colorado Rockies with the Hispanic Leadership Award (2005), by Sisters of Color United for Education with the Madrinas de la Esperanza [Godmothers of Hope] Award (2007, 2009), and by the Denver Public Library with the Cesar Chavez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Award (2014). The Colorado Association of Black Journalists honored her with their Outstanding Community Service Award in 2016.
Lydia is the proud parent of four children.
Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer, Mental Health Center of Denver
With a strong penchant for social good, design, innovation and futurism, Michael Niyompong is Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer at the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD), a local and national model for innovative and effective community behavioral health care. In his role, Michael oversees the organization's philanthropy and fundraising; communications and marketing; external relations, community engagement and strategic partnerships; and public policy and advocacy functions. Prior to joining MHCD, Michael was Chief Operating Officer at Denver-based Clayton Early Learning. Michael was also Vice President at Rebound Solutions, a socially conscious firm specializing in strategy, change management and turn-around solutions and was Vice President of Technology and Facilities at Mile High United Way.
Co-Founder, Robinson Dairy
Richard L. "Dick" Robinson is a fourth generation native of Denver. He attended schools in Denver, graduating from East High School, and then attended Colorado State University, graduating with a B.S. degree in Agriculture and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2007 by CSU.
After decorated service in the U. S. Army, Dick began his career in the dairy business, working in the milk plant operated by his family. He has spent his entire working career in the dairy business. Dick and his brother Eddie formed the present Robinson Dairy in 1975, by purchasing the assets of Roberts Dairy for their operations in Denver. They sold the company to Dean Foods in 1999 and presently serve as Co-Chief Executive Officers of the Denver operation.
He has been active in a multitude of community and charitable organizations. He presently serves as a member of Consolidated Containers LLC. He serves on the boards of the Denver Art Museum and Regis University. He is past Chairman of the Rose Community Foundation, past Director of US Bancorp in Minneapolis, past Chairman of the Denver Area Council Boy Scouts of America, past Chairman of the Greater Denver Chamber of Commerce, past Chairman of Mountain States Employers Council and past Chairman of the CSU Board of Governors. Dick is also the past Chairman of the Milk Processors' Education Program that presents the milk moustache ads.
Dick, an avid golfer, is a member of the Castle Pines Golf Club, Denver Country Club, and Green Gables Country Club. He has been married to Marcia for 56 years and has two children, John and Ellen, and two grandchildren.
Dr. Ali Sarram has been a practicing urologist at Colorado Urology Associates since 2002. Dr. Sarram received his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1995 he came to Colorado and completed an internship and residency in General Surgery and Urology at the University of Colorado. Following completion of residency training in 2001, he moved to Seattle, where he received a Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Renal Transplantation at the Virginia Mason Medical Center. In 2001, Dr. Sarram returned to Colorado, where he joined Aurora Urology based in Aurora, Colorado. During his tenure, Aurora Urology grew to three offices and three hospital locations, changing its name to Advanced Urology. In 2019, Advanced Urology merged with two other groups in town to form Colorado Urology Associates. Under the banner of United Urology, Colorado Urology is now a part of the largest urology group in the country.
Dr. Sarram focuses his practice on minimally invasive laparoscopic and DaVinci robotic surgery. His practice philosophy is to maximize patient outcomes through expert, state of the art care. He believes in empowering his patients through education and shared decision making. Dr. Sarram is a Diplomat of the American Board of Urology.
Dr. Sarram has been active as a medical staff leader for over a decade. He served in a variety of roles on the Medical Executive Committee at The Medical Center of Aurora. He was the President of the Medical Staff from 2011 to 2013 and served as the Chair of the President's Council from 2017 to 2019. An active member of the Rocky Mountain Urological Society, Dr. Sarram served as President from 2013 to 2015. He currently is a member of the Board of Trustees of HCA/HealthOne Hospitals.
Dr. Sarram is married to Mrs. Ramina Kashani. Together they have two children. Away from work, he enjoys the outdoors, bicycle riding, skiing, and hiking.
HealthONE and HCA's Continental Division
Sylvia Young, a 34-year veteran of hospital administration, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of HCA Continental Division in June 2012. The Division includes HealthONE in Denver, CO and Wesley Healthcare in Wichita, KS. Consisting of nine acute care hospitals, one rehabilitation hospital, a behavioral health and wellness campus, nine freestanding emergency departments, 20 ambulatory surgery centers, dozens of physician clinics and six urgent care clinics. Before her appointment to the Denver-based Division headquarters, Young served as President of HCA's Sunrise Health System, which includes Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center and Sunrise Children's Hospital, MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital in addition to four ambulatory surgery centers in Las Vegas.
From 1998 to 2007, Young served as Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center of Aurora and Centennial Medical Plaza, a three-campus hospital that includes a Level II trauma center, three emergency departments, four outpatient imaging centers, 20 operating suites and a behavioral health campus. From 1995 to 1998, Young served as Chief Operating Officer of HealthONE's The Medical Center of Aurora.
In 2018, Young received "Alumni of the Year" from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Graduate School of Health Administration. Young was also a Denver Business Journal finalist for "Outstanding Women in Business."
Additionally, in 2016, Forbes magazine named Young one of the "Top Women Business Leaders in the Western U.S." In January 2015, Young was honored by the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce as one of the "Top 25 Most Powerful Women." Young was named Samford University's "Alumni of the Year in 2013," and one of the 10 "Power Women of Nevada" by Nevada Business Magazine in 2012. In 2009, Young was recognized nationally by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the "Top 25 Women in Healthcare."
Young serves on the HCA Corporate Leadership Development Institute.
Young supports a variety of local boards including Colorado Concern, Denver Center for the Performing Arts and American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board 8. In addition, Young has chaired/co-chaired the following community events:
2017 Denver Center for the Performing Arts - Saturday Night Alive Annual Gala
2017 Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America - Distinction Awards Dinner
2015 Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation - Kaleidoscope Gala
2015 Lymphoma and Leukemia Society - Light the Night Walk
2014 American Heart Association - Go Red for Women
Young has a Master's degree in Health Administration from the University of Alabama, Birmingham and a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Samford University in Birmingham. She and her husband, David Young, MD, have two daughters.