PRESS RELEASE

Lisa Klenke nominated for the 2025 Ohio Hospital Association Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

The Ohio Hospital Association’s Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award is an annual honor presented to one Ohio caregiver who personifies leadership, motivates colleagues, influences others, provides valuable service, exemplifies the mission, vision and values of their organization, and has an impact in their community. Lisa Klenke, Chief Executive Office at Mercer Health, has been nominated for the 2025 Health Care Worker of the Year Award. 

Her nomination read, “Lisa Klenke’s remarkable healthcare career spans decades, including involvement in nearly every aspect of hospital operations. Today, her vision and efforts have secured local, quality healthcare for future generations, ensuring thousands of lives in our community will continue to have access to local, quality healthcare. It is likely no one in the state of Ohio, and probably the nation, is more passionate about rural healthcare, more versed in rural healthcare policy and more devoted to servant leadership. Furthermore, it is likely that no one in our community has had more impact on more lives than Lisa Klenke.”

In addition to serving as CEO at Mercer Health for the past 12 years, Lisa was also the Chief Nursing Officer for 20 years. Outside of Mercer Health, she has served the broader hospital and nursing communities, holding various leadership positions in nursing, quality and regulatory compliance. Specifically, she has served on the Board of the Ohio Organization of Nurse Leaders, the American Organization of Nurse Executives Quality and Patient Safety Committee and Regulatory Monitoring Committee. Lisa served sixteen years on the Ohio Board of Nursing and is a past president. She currently is a member of the Ohio Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees. In 2011 she received the Exceptional Leadership Award from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) for her achievements as the Ohio Board of Nursing President and her contributions to NCSBN initiatives, received the Nursing Leadership Award from the Ohio Organization of Nurse Executives and was recognized by the Ohio Senate for her work in Nursing Regulation.

Additionally, Lisa’s deep community roots are reflected in her involvement with numerous local organizations, including the Celina-Mercer County Chamber board, Western Ohio Educational Foundation board, and Women in Leadership of West Central Ohio. Among her recognitions are Outstanding Alumni by Wright State University-Lake Campus and Citizen of the Year by the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce.

Robert Rose, Mercer Health Board of Governor’s President, commented, “On behalf of the Mercer Health Board of Governors, we are proud to recognize Lisa for her unwavering leadership and years of dedication. Her vision and integrity have profoundly shaped Mercer Health’s success and the well-being of our community. Lisa Klenke’s nomination for the 2025 Health Care Worker of the Year Award is a testament to her unparalleled contributions to healthcare and her devotion to improving lives both locally and across Ohio."

Photo of Lisa Klenke below.