Washakie Medical Center CEO Stallings officially retires

After working for the past decade as CEO at Washakie Medical Center, Jay Stallings has retired from his role at the hospital.

Stallings officially stepped down from his role at the beginning of 2024, but stayed on through January in an advisory role to aid in the transition of the new CEO, Lisa Van Brunt.

He said of Van Brunt, "She is really a very hard worker. As we identified the traits of the new CEO going forward, there's no question that she meets those expectations."

Stallings added, "But I don't want to discount anyone else who works here, we've got some great folks. You could talk about Jennifer McMillan, who is the CFO for all the western rural hospitals as well as northern California, and Sarah Witt who runs HR and she covers multiple facilities. Or Anna Venable, who is responsible for the physician's clinics and has several facility responsibilities as well. All of us that work with them are truly blessed. These are strong personalities who are great in their character, and no single individual can do what we've collectively done."

The Banner hospital CEO gave an interview to Northern Wyoming News on Jan. 29, his office mostly bare. He shared that he would be gone by the start of February.

Stallings said, "Coming from an agrarian community, you know what it's like; you're helping one day growing up, and next thing you know you're working for the rest of your life. I never thought I'd hit a point that I'd retire, I always thought I'd be doing something; and I will always do something, but in a role such as mine there comes a point when you realize, 'It's time. There are others who can do this better than me.' There are people at this hospital who exhibit strengths and abilities that are extraordinary, and they should be doing this; not me anymore. My optimal time at this hospital has come to an end."

After over a 40-year career in health-care administration and operations, there's no question about the good that Stallings has done for the community in Worland and for others.

In a company statement from Banner Health Western Division President Margo Karsten, she said, "Prior to coming to Banner, Jay was an adjunct faculty member and executive in residence with the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management and was also regional president at Southwest Ambulance, a rural/metro company, VP of Ion International with Unisource Energy, and administration at Tucson Medical Center in Arizona. He first joined Banner and worked in Mesa, Arizona, as associate administrator of Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Children's at Cardon Children's Medical Center. In 2014 he took the helm at Washakie as the CEO and during that time he has been fundamental in the development of the current operations agreement and facility construction in Washakie."

On his journey to becoming a hospital CEO, Stallings said, "If you go and you agree to take on certain things, and you work hard and you do well with that, then more things are added to it; that's just the novelty of working and trying to do your best. I like to think that I always gave it my all ... I've had such a broad scope of exposure and experience, it's really been fun."

Stallings reflected on his career and what he enjoyed about it. "Health care is a place where you truly know whether you're making a difference in people's lives," he said.

He added, "People come here because something has happened to their body, the marvelous machine that we've been given. Or they come here for a safe place for a procedure to happen, like delivering a baby. That's a special thing to be able to be a part of."

He continued, "Certainly, from an organization perspective, you get feedback on whether you're doing well, and that's with any business ... But the bigger issue in health care is making sure that one is giving their very best - and that they're prepared to give their very best while also at the same time being kind - to make the best outcome possible. Out of all the policies, the procedures, the visions, the mission statements, I've tried to hone it down to simplify it for myself, and I've come up with this: to be highly competent in everything we do, and to be kind to everyone."

In reflecting, Stallings was also asked about the things he is most proud of from his career. In his immediate response, he said, "When I was at Desert (Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona), I had the primary administrative responsibility of building a children's hospital. It was Banner's money, and it was Banner's strategy, but I happened to be at the right place at the right time, working with the rest of the administrative team and we were able to do some amazing things. I got to be a part of that, and that was very exciting."

The hospital Stallings was tasked with building then was called the Cardon Children's Medical Center, and it was completed in 2009. It has since been renamed to Banner Children's at Desert.

Stallings was promoted to the role of Washakie Medical Center CEO in 2014, at the advent of the project to build a new hospital in Worland. He said, "Everyone at Banner involved in that process, our philosophy was that everybody deserves outstanding health care. That was our approach to this. There was a great deal of concern and frustration at first, and we had earned some reputational things that had to be fixed. I know the character and values of Banner, and I knew we had some work to do. We had the talent here, they just needed to be heard ... I'm sure glad we were able to do what we did."

He added, "When we're talking about quality health care, it's not just the building. The building is extraordinary, but the equipment is top-notch. For example, as we've spoken about in board meetings, we have a brand new MRI machine coming. We haven't gone to the community and said, 'Hey, you need to form a hospital district and you need to figure out how to pay for this.' That is part of the Banner philosophy, and those things are really big deals for me, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't have the people. The people here know what they are doing; we hire to bring the best that we can to our community."

Even though he won't be there to see it, Stallings said that he's still invested in the future of Washakie Medical Center.

"My hope is that what we've worked so hard to accomplish over the last 10 years will continue forever, and hiring the right people to continue to do that is one of proudest things that I've been able to be a part of. Allowing some of the finest people that I've ever known the freedom to give their best and to be acknowledged for it has been very rewarding," he said.

In retirement, Stallings and his wife of 48 years, Diane, will leave Worland and head for North Carolina to be closer to family. In Karsten's statement about Stallings, she said, "Jay is an accomplished artist and will use some of his time in sculpture, painting, leatherwork, stained glass and wood-working."

In a remark on the end of his career in Worland, Stallings said, "I'm very grateful to Banner that they've given me the opportunity to do this, and all things before this, but I'm really grateful to the community for accepting my wife and I, and for giving me the opportunity - in a very small way - to help touch the lives of our community."

He added, "We've asked for feedback, people have given us feedback, and we appreciate it even when it's tough. I've had some really tough conversations, and I've been told some really tough things, but that gives us something to build upon.

"I have loved being here. I love the people, and I love this community."