The Leadership
Leadership is demonstrated at every level of Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical
Center. We are proud of everyone who contributes to the care and services
of patients. Whether they work in clinical care or operations support,
every person at BSMC plays an important role in contributing to the health
of our community.
Administration
Chris Darnell, PhD, - Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of BSMC and
will lead development efforts for the Bozeman Health clinically integrated
network. Most recently, Chris served as vice president of Bozeman Health
Medical Group, overseeing physician clinic integration, operations, and
development, having joined Bozeman Health in 2014. A native of Virginia,
Darnell spent 15 years in Charleston, South Carolina, primarily at the
Medical University of South Carolina. His roles ranged from administrative
fellow to director to administrator, and most of his experience involved
working with physicians and managing practices. He then moved to East
Cooper Medical Center, also in the Charleston area, where he served as
vice president for strategy and development, leading strategic planning
and developing the physician network among other endeavors. Chris holds
a masters and a doctorate degree in health services administration.
Philip A. Hess, MD, Medical Director for Big Sky Medical Center, attended medical school at
Temple University, and completed his Family Medicine Residency at Lancaster
General in Pennsylvania. He previously practiced in Anchorage, Alaska,
where he provided oversight as Medical Director for two rural health clinics.
Prior to working in Alaska, he worked at a hospital in Helena for 10 years
after several years in private practice there. Dr. Hess is board certified
in Family Medicine.
Board of Managers
From left to right: Renae Schumacher, Hans Williamson, Taylor Middleton,
Elizabeth Lewis, Steve Karl, Loren Bough, Kirk Weber (not pictured)
Renae Schumacher moved to Big Sky in 1993 from Sturgis, South Dakota. She began working
at the Big Sky Conoco and soon became its owner. Renae has been an active
community participant and business leader. She has served on various community
boards through the years including the Big Sky Resort Tax Board, Big Sky
Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Arts Association, and homeowners associations.
Currently she serves on the Big Sky Fire Board. Renae and her husband
Steve enjoy raising their three teenage boys while skiing, hiking, biking
and taking full advantage of this spectacular place. Big Sky is home and
Renae takes great pride in being involved with these active boards that
help shape this community.
Hans Williamson is Vice President of Operations and General Manager at Yellowstone Club,
the world’s only private residential ski and golf club located on
13,600 acres in southwestern Montana. Hans leads the Yellowstone Club
Operations Team, comprised of 1,100 members in winter and 425 during the
summer. Hans graduated from Cornell University in 1983 with a Bachelor
of Science degree in hotel administration. Hans’ wife of 31 years,
Kim, is a yoga instructor. They live in Big Sky and have two sons.
Taylor Middleton, Chair, is a longtime advocate for the medical center and has worked with the
Bozeman Health leadership for many years on this initiative. Taylor has
been General Manager of Big Sky Resort since 1995. He became President
in 2011 following a decade of leading the resort’s sales and marketing
operations. Taylor has a deep history of civic engagement including leading
legislative initiatives, founding community organizations, and serving
on multiple civic and corporate boards. A full-time resident of Big Sky
for 35 years, Taylor was presented the Chet Huntley Lifetime Achievement
Award by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce in 2015.
Elizabeth S. Lewis, RN, MSN, JD, see above.
Stephen Karl, MD, has been visiting Big Sky since the early 1990s. He started pediatric
surgery programs at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire and at the
University of South Dakota School of Medicine. Dr. Karl oversaw the federal
Emergency Medicine Services for Children grant for the state of South
Dakota from 1994 until his retirement, and then became the Academy of
Pediatrics’ representative to the Committee on Accreditation for
the Emergency Medical Services Professions. Dr. Karl was the medical director
of the paramedic program in Sioux Falls and is a licensed paramedic in
Montana. His family’s love of skiing frequently brought them to
Big Sky where they have had a residence since 2001. He is now in his fourth
year as a professional ski patroller at Big Sky and has trained with the
Big Sky Fire Department. Dr. Karl and his wife, Rhonda, are very involved
with the Big Sky community in weed management, trail maintenance, and
river cleanup.
Loren Bough was raised farming and ranching in Highwood, Montana. Following graduation
from Harvard, Loren worked as a trader in New York, London, and Moscow.
Loren has been an active entrepreneur and philanthropist in Russia for
the past 20 years with a focus on investment banking, retail, and real
estate. Since moving to Big Sky in 2004, he and his wife, Jill, have focused
on local educational and philanthropic issues. Loren currently serves
as Chair of the Big Sky School District Board of Trustees, President of
Friends of Big Sky Education, Chair of the Warren Miller Performing Arts
Center Board, Chair of the Board of Property and Environment Research
Center, Vice President of the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation and
as a Trustee of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation.
Kirk E. Weber, MD, FACEP (not pictured), is an emergency medicine physician at Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.
A fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Dr. Weber previously
practiced emergency medicine in Hawaii where he was emergency department
vice chair at the medical center in Hilo. Dr. Weber completed his residency
in emergency medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
in Oklahoma City. He earned his medical degree at Loma Linda University
School of Medicine and completed an internship at Blodgett Medical Center
in Michigan. He is board certified in emergency medicine.