Scott City, Kansas, native Kevin Strecker has been named Ascension Kansas ministry market executive and senior vice president for Ascension, bringing more than two decades of healthcare leadership experience to his new role.
Strecker, currently hospital president and chief operating officer for Ascension Via Christi, will be assuming the role filled by Don King, who as of July 1 will lead Ascension's Florida and Gulf Coast ministry market.
"Kevin 's experience, education, and commitment to our Mission and Catholic healthcare make him the right person to lead our Kansas ministry going forward," said Craig Cordola, MBA, MHA, FACHE, Ascension executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Strecker joined Ascension Via Christi in 1994, serving at what today is Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital. In 1997, he and his wife, Karen, moved to Chicago, where he worked as a regional administrator for Health South's imaging division. In 2002, the Streckers moved back to Wichita and he rejoined Ascension Via Christi as director of Radiology. He subsequently was promoted to vice president of Imaging and Laboratory Services.
In 2009, he was named vice president of Operations for Ascension Via Christi's Wichita hospitals and the following year was selected to lead newly constructed Ascension Via Christi St. Teresa. In 2016, he took on the role of senior administrator for Ascension Medical Group Via Christi. Two years later, he was chosen to serve as interim regional hospital president and in 2019 he moved to his current role as the operational leader for Ascension Via Christi's Kansas hospitals.
Strecker earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Kansas State University. He later went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University and a master's degree in Management and Leadership.
Strecker is a graduate of the Ascension Executive Ministry Leadership formation program and serves as a board member for the Wichita Cancer Foundation, Catholic Care Center and Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center.