WNH Names Leaders in Three Positions

Jun 28, 2024

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William Newton Hospital is pleased to announce new leaders in its nursing and finance departments: Chief Nursing Officer Laura Frazier, RN, BSN, Controller Leah Conover, and Med/Surg Nurse Manager Jessica Beard, RN.

In March, Frazier returned to the position of chief nursing officer. Frazier first began her career at William Newton Hospital in 2001 and held many different roles including medical/surgical nurse, intensive care float, and labor and delivery nurse. When her family moved to Owasso, Oklahoma in 2006, she was able to continue her nursing career at Ascension St John Owasso. There, Frazier grew as a nurse leader while working in the medical/surgical unit, and then transitioned into a leadership role from 2007 until 2019. Frazier then returned to her William Newton Hospital roots for three years as chief nursing officer before taking a position with Angels Care home health. She most recently served Angels Care as the assistant director of nursing.

“Laura was a pivotal leader for William Newton Hospital during the height of the pandemic,” said Brian Barta, CEO. “We welcome her back to the William Newton Hospital family and are so grateful to have her as part of the senior management team.”

While Frazier loved working with patients in the field, her passion has always been to provide quality, compassionate care to our patients in the hospital setting.

“I am a nurse first and foremost; patient care has always been my passion,” said Frazier. “I look forward to working with the exceptional nurse leadership team to provide our communities with quality, safe patient care.”

A Cowley County native, Frazier grew up in Arkansas City and graduated from Arkansas City High School. She continued her education at Cowley College and transferred to the Wichita State University nursing program, graduating in December 2000. She resides in Arkansas City with her husband, Jeremy. The couple has four boys ages 12 to 24.

In April, Leah Conover joined William Newton Hospital as controller. Conover brings a strong financial background and a decade of experience to this crucial role. After starting her career as a records analyst and progressing into payroll at GE Aerospace, she transitioned to a formal role within the company as a human resources associate for payroll and benefits. Most recently, she honed her skills as a billing analyst. Leah holds a bachelor's in business administration with a minor in finance from Columbia Southern University.

“We are beyond excited to have Leah join our accounting team," said Kara Goff, CFO. "Her wealth of experience across various aspects of finance, complimented by her solid educational background, truly sets her apart and makes her a valuable addition. We have every confidence that Leah's skills and dedication will be instrumental in ensuring the continued financial health of William Newton Hospital."

Conover herself is eager to contribute to the hospital's mission.

"I'm honored to be appointed controller at William Newton Hospital," she shared. "Having the opportunity to work for an organization so deeply involved in the well-being of our community is truly rewarding. I'm especially looking forward to learning from the experienced team at WNH and collaborating with such a supportive and welcoming group."

A resident of Burden, Kansas, Conover is happily married to her husband Shane. They have two sons.

Earlier this month, Jessica Beard took the reins as William Newton Hospital’s medical/surgical nurse manager from Jennifer Owen, APRN, who is now the lead provider in the William Newton Hospital Fast Track in the emergency department.

Beard’s healthcare journey began in 2004 as a certified nursing assistant. Over the years, she has steadily advanced her skills and knowledge, ultimately becoming a registered nurse. Before joining the William Newton Hospital team, Jessica served as nurse assessment coordinator at Cumbernauld Village and director of nursing at Rossville Healthcare and Rehab in Rossville, Kansas.

Originally from Atlanta, Kansas, Jessica graduated from high school in Burden. She went on to earn her nursing degree from Butler Community College.

“Returning to my hometown to serve the community I grew up in has always been a dream,” Jessica shared. “I take great pride in providing care to my neighbors and look forward to building strong relationships with staff, patients, and families.”

In her new role, Jessica is eager to leverage her knowledge and collaborative spirit to create a positive experience for both patients and staff.

Frazier shared her enthusiasm for bringing Beard on board.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jessica to the nursing leadership team. Jessica brings a wealth of experience and a passion for patient care to this role.”

William Newton Hospital extends a warm welcome to these leaders and looks forward to their leadership and expertise in the years to come.

Learn more about Careers at WNH