As Newman Regional Health and Stormont Vail Health continue conversations about Stormont’s potential medical facility in Emporia, the leader of Stormont’s operations has announced he is stepping down.
Dr Robert Kenagy, Stormont’s president and CEO for over five years, will retire in May 2025.
Kenagy served as Stormont’s senior vice president and medical officer for three years before assuming the top leadership role. He also held leadership positions in the Via Christi Health system in Wichita and at St John Health Network in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in addition to serving as a family physician for over 20 years.
Kenagy has overseen a new primary and specialty care building in Manhattan and taking ownership of a county hospital in Geary County that is now Stormont’s Flint Hills campus in Junction City.
Earlier this year, Stormont has purchased land at the southeast corner of Roads 180 and G as Stormont and Newman Regional were in the middle of mediated conversations about the possible Stormont facility in general and the specific services to be provided if Emporia city commissioners approve the building, which could well involve annexation of Lyon County land if Stormont moves forward as expected. Stormont has confirmed surgery, a major concern of Newman Regional administrators, will not be one of the service lines to be immediately offered if the building is approved.
City commissioners are awaiting either an agreement between the two hospitals or a report detailing progress towards an agreement this month. City Manager Trey Cocking has said the city will start considering Stormont’s proposal on its own merits if there is no agreement or progress by Sept. 13.
