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BHS Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees at Butler Health System

Ken DeFurio, BHS President and CEO

Ken DeFurio, BHS President and CEO

Ken DeFurio has been with Butler Health System for nearly 37 years. He has served as President & CEO for 16 years.

Under DeFurio’s leadership, BHS has grown into one of the most successful regional health systems in Pennsylvania, all while remaining community-based and independent.

BHS employs more than 3000 people. It is the largest employer in Butler County and one of the largest in all of western PA. Butler Health System includes Butler Memorial Hospital, Clarion Hospital, and Butler Medical Providers, a large, multi-specialty physician network of more than 150 physicians and more than 100 advanced practice providers. BHS has 80 ambulatory locations across 8 counties.

DeFurio began his career at BHS as a respiratory therapist, providing direct care to patients. He holds a BS in Respiratory Therapy from Indiana University of PA, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. DeFurio serves on a number of boards and community organizations, including Butler County Community College and the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

Timothy J. Morgus, CPA, CGFM

Timothy J. Morgus, CPA, CGFM

Tim Morgus is the Managing Partner at Maher Duessel, Certified Public Accountants. A graduate of Robert Morris University with a B.S. in Accounting, Mr. Morgus has concentrated his practice to the areas of governmental and non-profit auditing. Mr. Morgus joined Maher Duessel in 1996 and was named partner in 2005 and named Managing Partner in 2021. Tim represents over 100 nonprofit and government clients, and is a frequently-requested speaker on topics including government finance, fraud and government accounting principles, pension standards, and tax-related matters. Tim also serves as Director of Recruiting for the firm, which under his leadership has grown to over 100 employees. He actively serves his community through volunteer service and civic engagement, including: Technical Reviewer, GFOA Special Review Committee, Past Treasurer, Government Finance Officers Association for Western PA; Butler County United Way, Past Chairman and Board Member; Leadership Butler County-Graduate and Past Board Member; and Federal Bureau of Investigation Pittsburgh Division-2015-XVI Citizens Academy.

Mr. Morgus resides in Center Township with his wife Sari and two sons Jackson and Wyatt.

Dennis M. Demby, MD

Dennis M. Demby, MD

Dr. Demby has been a resident of Butler County since 1981 with the position of an internal medicine primary care physician. He is currently the Medical Director of Butler Medical Associates.

Dr. Demby also serves as Medical Director for the Helen O’Brien Gaiser Addiction Center. He has also served as a member of the Butler County Drug and Alcohol Board.

Dr. Demby is a graduate of the Temple University School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He has been serving the people of Butler County since completing his residency.

Joseph P. Grunenwald, PhD

Joseph P. Grunenwald, DBA

Dr. Joseph P. Grunenwald served as the 15th President of Clarion University. He brought to his new duties a long and respected record of professional service to Clarion University as a professor of marketing and department chair, interim executive dean of the Venango Campus, director of continuing education, dean of the college of business administration, and provost and academic vice president. In each of his roles, Grunenwald worked to promote academic excellence and the highest quality in university programs and services.

In July, 2010, The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education awarded the status of President Emeritus in recognition of his career long contributions. He was only the fifth president to receive this honor in the nearly three decades of the System’s existence.

Grunenwald is a member and past national Vice President of the American Marketing Association and has served in editorial positions for the Journal of Services Marketing, W. C. Brown Publishers, and Merrill Publishing Company. He has also served as a member of the NCAA Division II President’s Council. He has served as a consultant for numerous regional businesses and non-profit organizations.

Within the State System of Higher Education, Grunenwald was a member of the Commission of Presidents of the State System and had served on State System committees addressing such issues as articulation, social equity, labor negotiations, and budget allocation. He has also served as coordinator of the PA Center for Applied Nanotechnology and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Academy of Teaching and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Dr. Grunenwald has served as Board Member for the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, the Northwest Workforce Investment Board, and the Northwest Pennsylvania Keystone Innovation Zone.

Locally, he has served on the boards of numerous economic development and community organizations, including the Clarion County Economic Development Corporation, for which he served as president, Clarion County Chamber of Business and Industry, Clarion County Industrial Development Council, and the Clarion County Sawmill Center for the Arts.

Grunenwald holds a bachelor of engineering degree (1970) from Youngstown State University and master of business administration (1975) and doctor of business administration degrees (1981) from Kent State University.

Holly Hampe, D.Sc., RN, MHA, MRM

Holly Hampe, D.Sc., RN, MHA, MRM

Dr. Holly M. Hampe has over thirty years of healthcare experience, with an extensive background in patient safety, quality, risk management and regulatory affairs. She maintains her level of credibility through board and committee positions in a variety of healthcare organizations. In addition, she maintains her regulatory knowledge and applies this knowledge to mock surveys in healthcare organizations around the country.

Dr. Hampe is the Health Service Administration (HSA) Program Director/ Assistant Professor at Robert Morris University in the School of Nursing, Education and Human Studies (SNEHS). Her educational background includes a Doctoral of Science degree from RMU School of Information Systems and Communication, RN diploma, BSN, Masters Health Administration and Masters Risk Management. In addition, she is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).

As a register nurse, Dr. Hampe has hospital and home care experience. She also has experience with insurance healthcare cost containment products. Her hospital administration experience includes administration, nursing administration, quality, risk management, patient safety and regulatory affairs. In addition, she has experience with a group purchasing organization in the development of the organization’s quality and patient safety program as the National Director of Quality. Prior to coming to RMU, Dr. Hampe was the Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for St. Clair Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Hampe also works as a national regulatory affairs consultant for hospital and home health organizations.

Dr. Hampe loves to learn and teach others regarding patient safety and quality. It is her hope that healthcare will be a safer place one healthcare professional at a time. Her publications focus on quality management and performance improvement, identifying ways to ensure safety to patients in healthcare organizations. She describes herself as creative/innovative, energetic and positive individual. She is a people person and receives energy from those around her, always looking for the next learning, educational opportunity.

Patrick Hampson

Patrick Hampson

Patrick Hampson currently serves as managing partner of HM3 Partners, a private equity investment and advisory firm focused on the healthcare sector. Pat was previously founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of MED3OOO-one of the largest and most advanced healthcare management and technology service providers in the United States. MED3OOO was acquired by McKesson Corporation, which is currently ranked 15th on the FORTUNE 500, and is the nation's largest healthcare services company.

Pat has a personal commitment to advancing the performance of medical practices, health systems, and physician networks through provider collaboration and a focus on strong patient provider relationships. Mr. Hampson is a well-known speaker on physician alignment and hospital affiliation strategies, and is an advocate for physician leadership and their role in improving the cost, quality and access to healthcare in the United States. In 2002 Mr. Hampson received the Ernst and Young Western Pennsylvania and Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year Award and has continued his involvement with this program as a judge for several annual competitions. Mr. Hampson has been an investor in the healthcare technology industry and has served on the boards of Medic Computer Systems (NASDAQ) and A4 Health Systems (private) which were both sold separately to Allscripts (AHS:NYSE) and has served on numerous other healthcare boards and advisory boards. Mr. Hampson is a 1977 graduate of Ohio Northern University, and resides with his wife Debi and three children in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania.

Patrick Hampson

Jennifer Ames, MD

Dr. Jennifer Ames is the Butler Health System (BHS) Medical Staff President. She brings strong scientific/academic training coupled with practical experience in patient advocacy, quality improvement, physician hiring, employment contracts, management and financial analysis.

Dr. Ames graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. As an undergraduate, she won a Howard Hughes research fellowship from Harvard University and a research fellowship at the renowned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. She was also awarded pre-doctoral fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to pay for graduate school. Every year, only 80 students world-wide are awarded HHMI scholarships to pay for graduate studies.

Dr. Ames earned her M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She completed radiology residency and two radiology fellowships in women’s and abdominal imaging at UPMC.

Dr. Ames has been a general radiologist at BHS for over 12 years. She is currently Assistant Medical Director of Radiology, Director of Women’s Imaging, and serves on the Quality and Medical Executive Committees. Previously, she served as Chairman of Special Services, Treasurer of the Medical Staff, and Physician Health Organization Finance Committee member.

Anie G. Perard

Anie G. Perard, MD, FACOG
Director of Medical Affairs, BHS Clarion
President, Network Operations Council

Anie Perard, MD, joined Health Services of Clarion in 2005. Dr. Perard began her medical training in 1995 attending Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Her internship at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2001 to 2002 led to her residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, which she completed in 2005.

Board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, she is also a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In her tenure with this health system, Dr. Perard has acted as Department Chair of OB/GYN and Department Chair of Surgery. She currently serves as President of the Medical Staff of Clarion Hospital and Director of Medical Affairs at BHS Clarion, and President of the Hospital’s Network Operations Council. Through all of this, her passion has always been women’s health. It is important to her to be a part of making women feel empowered, acknowledged, respected and healthy. For Dr. Perard, it is important to help take care of the community that helps support her. “Taking care of friends, family and neighbors is rewarding in countless ways. Clarion welcomed me with open arms 17 years ago and I count myself lucky to still be a part of this amazing community.”

Fred Port

Fred Port

Fred Port has been in the banking industry for more than 28 years, currently serving as the Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager with Northwest Bank in Clarion, PA. During his career, he has held a number of positions in the banking industry in the retail and commercial side of the banking world. He works with small business owners to match their financial needs with the correct lending and deposit products across a four county territory in Western Pennsylvania from his office in Clarion. Northwest is a $10 Billion community-oriented financial institution established in 1896 which operates 172 full service community banking locations.

Mr. Port currently serves as the Board Chair of the Clarion Healthcare System and Clarion Hospital (since September of 2017) and is a member of their finance committee. He has attended several national conferences with Quorum Health Resources since beginning his board service at Clarion in 2011. Additionally, he has served as the Treasurer of the for profit corporation under Clarion Healthcare, Clarion Development Corporation (CDC) since September of 1992. The CDC has operated retail pharmacies and owns/operates several medical use properties that the company leases to a variety of tenants. Mr. Port also served as Vice-Chair of the Pennsylvania Mountain Care Network from December of 2014 to October of 2018, an affiliation between Indiana, Punxsutawney and Clarion Hospitals during that period of time.

Mr. Port has been a member of the Clarion Rotary Club since December of 1992, serving on its board of directors several times, serving as President of its Foundation and serving as Club President in 2003-2004. He is a Paul Harris Fellow multiple times for donations to the Rotary International Foundation. Mr. Port is a coach and director of the Rising Stars of Clarion AAU Basketball Club since February of 2006. He has coached girls and boys teams during this time with teams from 11U to 18U. The Rising Stars teams have played in eleven states, winning many championships including the Carrier Dome Pre-Nationals and the NAYS Championships in Chicago, IL.

Mr. Port and his wife, Michelle, live on their family farm in Clarion and are the proud parents of three adult children, Taylor, Lily and Noah.

Larry Richert

Rajiv Sawhney, DPT

Dr. Rajiv Sawhney is a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh’s, Physical Therapy program. Following graduation, he was employed at University of Pennsylvania and then, Keystone Rehabilitation where he started Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Sports Medicine Clinic. Dr. Sawhney returned to Pitt where he completed his advanced masters in orthopedic physical therapy and served as a Graduate Assistant.

Dr. Sawhney and Dr. Jay Irrgang opened the doors to the University of Pittsburgh’s Sports Medicine Institute. While there he had a joint faculty position at the University of Pittsburgh in the Physical Therapy program. He and Dr. Steve Gough joined forces to open Allegheny Chesapeake Physical Therapy an outpatient physical therapy practice that grew from one office and three therapists to over 12-clinics and 130 employees.

Dr. Sawhney completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Chatham University, where he has served as a faculty member since the inception of the program. He is known for his excellence in care and advanced skills in orthopedics. In 2016, Sawhney and his partner sold their practice and he is currently employed at Pivot Physical Therapy and maintains a faculty position at Chatham University.

Larry Richert

Larry Richert

Larry Richert is the host Host of the Big K Morning Show weekdays 5:30am - 10am on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.

Larry has been a shining star in Pittsburgh radio and television since he came to KDKA in November of 1988. There was a 10 year period where he was a weather anchor for KDKA-TV. He joined the KDKA Morning Show in 2001. His dedication to Pittsburgh made him the perfect ambassador for the city and awarded him the Vector’s Richard Caliguiri Award. He was hired in November of 1988 to follow John Cigna on the radio and hosted a TV morning show on KDKA-TV.

As Larry grew up he traveled through-out the city to many towns helping to shape his love of Pittsburgh. He was born in Millvale and raised in McCandless Township, and then attended St. Ursula grade school in Hampton. Next he progressed to North Allegheny High School where he graduated and journeyed to Clarion University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.

Outside of radio, Richert is the public address announcer at Heinz Field for all Pittsburgh Steelers home games, a part of the University of Pittsburgh football radio team for pre-game, sideline and post- game locker room shows and since 1985 he has served as the voice of NFL Films/Steelers Highlights. Larry also co-wrote and co-produced a feature family film called “Amazing Racer” starring Lou Gossett Jr, Charles Durning, Eric Roberts and many more well know stars! He is also the Executive Producer of a new documentary, “Bruno Sammartino”.

Larry has joined the HM3 Independence Fund Board and has committed his time to helping others wherever he can with numerous charities in the region. He supports our veterans through “It’s about The Warrior Foundation”, is the Honorary Chairperson for the American Cancer Society’s annual Golf Classic and the JDRF Gala event plus the McGuire Memorial Home, just to name a few.

Larry has three children, Erica, Zachary & Emily and five grandchildren. He and his wife Cindi reside in Pine township in Gibsonia.

John C. Reefer, MD, FACP

John C. Reefer, MD, FACP

Dr. John Reefer opened his practice in internal medicine and was appointed to the Medical Staff of Butler Memorial Hospital in 1980. During his tenure, he held leadership positions including President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of the Department of Medicine, as well as Chair of multiple committees of the Medical Staff.

While engaged in full time practice, he expanded his interest into the areas of health care quality improvement, utilization management, and health care administration. After leading several care improvement projects, he accepted the position of Medical Director of the Office of Organizational Excellence in 1998.

In 2008, Dr. Reefer limited his practice to part time in order to accept the newly created position of Vice President of Professional Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at BMH. He served in this capacity through 2017, at which time he moved to the position of Interim Chief Operations Officer, a post he held until his retirement in 2018. At the present time, he continues to serve as a Medical Director for the Physician Assistant Program Studies program at Slippery Rock University.

After graduating from the Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Reefer attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine training at Presbyterian University Hospital. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a fellow in the American College of Physicians, and a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Over the years John has served on multiple boards including the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Clinic of Butler, the Butler County Soccer Association, Northern Steel Select Soccer Club, Good Samaritan Hospice, and Life Butler.

Craig Thomasmeyer

Craig Thomasmeyer is Executive Vice President of MIS, an IT specialty contractor, since 1992. MIS has been a Pittsburgh contractor serving clients IT infrastructure and equipment needs since 1984. Recognized as a reliable and professional contractor by many Fortune 500 companies throughout Western PA. Prior to joining MIS, Craig worked for Davenport Marvin, Joyce CPA’s located in NC. Obtaining his CPA license and practicing primarily in the areas of Audit and Accounting services. In 2004, Allegheny Valley Bank added him to the Board of Directors of this local community bank and continues to serve in that capacity under the new merged banks, as Standard Bank.

Craig attended Butler HS and then graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with undergraduate degrees in Marketing and Accounting. Currently, residing in Penn Township with his wife Beth, their 5 children are all Knoch graduates and living and working throughout the east coast.

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