The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS, Va. (VR) – Bath Community Hospital is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jane Russell, PharmD, MBA, FACHE as its next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 25, 2025.
A nationally respected healthcare executive with more than two decades of experience, Dr. Russell brings deep expertise in leading complex rural and critical access hospitals, strategic service line development, and high- reliability healthcare operations. She succeeds Jeff Lingerfelt, whose leadership over the past five years guided the hospital through periods of significant growth and change, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
L. Traywick Duffie, Chair of the Bath Community Hospital Board of Directors, expressed great confidence in Dr. Russell’s capabilities. “Dr. Russell’s 25-year legacy of transforming rural healthcare systems—from tribal communities in Alaska to award-winning coastal hospitals—aligns perfectly with our mission,” he stated.
“Her expertise in operational innovation, financial stewardship, and patient-centered care will build upon the strong framework established by Jeff Lingerfelt. We are confident she will further strengthen our commitment to accessible, high-quality care for all citizens.”
Dr. Russell most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport, Oregon, where she oversaw hospital operations, a $152 million annual budget, and more than 500 employees.
Under her leadership, the hospital was recognized as a 2023 American Hospital Association Rural Health Leadership Finalist. She successfully launched new oral health integration and rural residency training programs, and championed strategic investments in behavioral health, surgical services, and robotics.
Previously, Dr. Russell served as Vice President of Hospital Services at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC), overseeing comprehensive care—including medical, behavioral health, dental, grant programs, and environmental health—for more than 25,000 Alaska Native residents across 50 remote communities. In her role as Vice President for Medical and Surgical Specialties at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), she oversaw 23 specialty services delivering care to Alaska’s 158,000 Native residents. In both roles, she advanced access and quality in some of the nation’s most remote regions.
A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Dr. Russell currently serves as the ACHE Regent for the state of Oregon, where she has helped shape regional and national conversations around workforce development, rural health sustainability, and inclusive leadership.
Dr. Russell earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from Creighton University and an MBA from Western Governors University. She is board-certified in oncology pharmacy and brings a clinical background that enhances her operational leadership with a deep understanding of patient-centered care.
She will relocate to Virginia this summer with her husband, Ed, and their daughter, Peyton, who will begin her studies at the University of Virginia in the fall.
“It’s an incredible honor to join Bath Community Hospital,” said Dr. Russell. “I’ve spent my career working in rural and mission-driven healthcare, and I’m excited to partner with the Board, our providers, and the entire team to build on the hospital’s strong foundation. Together, we’ll continue to strengthen access, quality, and community trust—because every person in this region deserves exceptional care close to home.”
About Bath Community Hospital
Bath Community Hospital, established in 1916, is a 25-bed, not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital located in Hot Springs, Virginia, in Bath County. Bath Community Hospital provides twenty-four-hour emergency services and a select range of diagnostic services, rehabilitative services, pharmacy, general surgery, wellness center, rural services, rehabilitative services, pharmacy, general surgery, wellness center, rural
