Rural hospitals are leaning on their leadership to get through some of the challenges the industry is facing, and one of those newly certified leaders is in your own backyard.

Patti Vickman, the Board Chairperson of Door County Medical Center, is among the first 12 graduates of the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Hospital Certification Program. Last summer, the organization began its first cohort to help rural hospital board members strengthen their leadership skills and lead their respective hospitals. NRHA CEO Alan Morgan said that “leadership is the biggest predictor of rural hospital success” at a time when one in every three rural hospitals has been identified as “at risk.” Other rural hospital board trustees designed the program, and the certification immediately recognizes those who complete it as equipped to lead a rural hospital with excellence.

Leadership is nothing new for Vickman, who, besides being the former Southern Door School District Superintendent, has served on other boards such as the United Way of Door County, Birch Creek Music Performance Center, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.