Two University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences administrators have been invited to join the Ivinson Memorial Hospital (IMH) Board of Directors. After a final approval process, each will serve a three-year term, with the possibility of reappointment.
Sherrill Smith, dean and professor of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, and Kem Krueger, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy, will join the 14-member board that includes representatives of the fields of education and medicine, and city and community leaders.
Krueger has experience in hospital pharmacy, independent pharmacy and chain pharmacy settings. He also worked for the U.S. Public Health Service and for Marion Merrell Dow Inc., in the Health Economic and the Global Scientific Competitive Intelligence departments. He has been at UW since 2005 and is the past president of the IMH Foundation Board of Directors.
“I am honored to join the IMH Board of Directors and contribute to the vital connection between health care education and patient care,” Krueger says. “This partnership presents an incredible opportunity to enhance collaboration between the university and IMH, and to advance patient care in our community. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues on the board to support the hospital’s mission and drive innovation in patient-centered care.”
Smith joined UW’s School of Nursing in 2019 and has extensive experience in public health nursing and nurse education, as well as the military. She also is a member of several regional, national and international nursing organizations, including the Wyoming Governor’s Health Care Task Force and the Western Institute of Nursing.
“I am honored to have been asked to serve on the Ivinson Hospital Board of Directors,” Smith says. “I hope that my service can be part of giving back to an organization that serves our community in so many ways.”
Smith and Krueger began their service on the IMH board March 3. Like other board members, they were chosen based on a set of criteria that will aid in the hospital’s ability to make educated and timely decisions as health care continues to grow and change.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sherrill Smith and Kem Krueger to the IMH Board of Directors,” says Gary Crum, the board’s chair. “Their leadership, expertise and commitment to advancing health care education and patient care complement the strengths of our current board members and will help us navigate the evolving health care landscape and ensure that our institution remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence in patient-centered care.”
Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences, points to the importance of the relationships between academic health education and real-world applications of administering health care, such as through community hospitals.
“I am pleased to recognize the outstanding leadership of Dr. Sherrill Smith and Dr. Kem Krueger,” Hardigan says. “Both have shown a strong commitment to advancing health care education, research and practice. Their collaborative efforts and dedication to building partnerships between academia and health care institutions have significantly benefited our students and the wider community. I am confident that their ongoing leadership will further strengthen the important relationship between the University of Wyoming and enhance the success of Ivinson Memorial Hospital.”
IMH was established in Laramie in 1917. The hospital is a 99-bed facility with emergency room and critical care services; treatment centers for behavioral health, cancer and rehabilitation; and a wide range of patient information services.
About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences
UW’s College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.
With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.
