Leadership
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Carolyn Sparks
Chief Executive Officer
Carolyn Sparks comes to us from Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas, Tennessee's regional Lifepoint Health system. Since taking on her role as CEO of both Highpoint Health - Riverview and Highpoint Health - Trousdale in 2021, Carolyn has significantly enhanced the quality of care, expanded access to services, and fostered leader and provider development. Under her leadership, Trousdale was honored as a Lifepoint Health National Quality Leader in July 2022. This recognition celebrated the facility's transformed safety culture and it's high standards of quality care, performance improvement, and patient engagement. Additionally, Carolyn's dedication to expanding healthcare access in rural areas earned her a spot on Becker's Healthcare's list of top rural hospital CEOs to know in 2023. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare ExecutiYes (ACHE).
Sparks earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, and a master’s degree in health administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.
Tanya Nelson-Hackney, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CPPS
Chief Nursing Officer
Tanya joined the team as Chief Nursing Officer in June 2022. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare with extensive knowledge of acute care, long term care, physical rehabilitation, behavioral health, and physician office settings. Tanya has also held several leadership positions at Lake Cumberland including Director of Special Care and Rehabilitation (2007-2009); Senior Director of Acute/Sub-Acute Services (2010-2018); Interim Chief Nursing Officer (2018); and Senior Director of Nursing and Cardiovascular Service (2018-2020).
Tanya earned a Master of Business Administration from Campbellsville University and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. She’s also an alumna of Lincoln Memorial University and Pellissippi State Technical College. Tanya is a Registered Nurse and Nursing Home Administrator and is also a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS).
Rhee Perry, MBA, BSN, RN, CPPS
Chief Operating Officer
Rhee Perry has served as the Chief Operating Officer at Lake Cumberland since February of 2022. Before joining Lake Cumberland, Rhee spent 6 years in leadership at North Alabama Medical Center (NAMC), another LifePoint facility, in Florence, Alabama.
Perry earned his Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Western Governors University in Franklin, Tennessee. He is also a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and was nominated for the 2021 ACHE Early Careerist Regent’s Award.
He lives in Somerset with his wife, Hanna, and his two daughters: Evelyn Kate and Vera Ann.
Steve Sloan
Chief Financial Officer
Steve Sloan has served as Chief Financial Officer at Lake Cumberland for over 13 years, prior to which he served as Chief Financial Officer at Terre Haute Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Before joining LifePoint he spent ten years with HCA Healthcare in various financial leadership positions throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana.
He is a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Marketing.
A Chicago native, Dr. Michael Citak has served as Chief Medical Officer at Lake Cumberland since 2007, where he is also a general surgery specialist. He is a graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, completed his residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and while in practice, he completed an MBA at the University of Tennessee.
He served in the United States Air Force as a General Surgeon, earning various teaching honors and taking care of active duty troops and has completed clinical fellowships in interventional ERCP and general thoracic surgery.
He is Board Certified in Surgery, is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety, and a Certified Physician Executive by the American Association for Physician Leadership.
J. Barry Dixon, MD
President, Physician Practices
Dr. Barry Dixon has served the Somerset community as a family practitioner at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital since 1991. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and his medical doctorate from the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
He completed his residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, Kentucky. Dr. Dixon is a member of the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians, the Kentucky Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the County Medical Society.
He is an inaugural member of LifePoint’s National Physician Advisory Board and has served as President of Lake Cumberland’s Physician Services since 2013.