2026 IRHA Board Nominees

President
Jennifer Taylor, DHEd, MPH, MCHES
Associate Professor of Family Medicine/Executive Director, Indiana Area Health Education Centers Network

President-Elect
Christine Schultz, MBA, RN
Chief Executive Officer, Recovery Centers of America at Indianapolis

Treasurer
Larry Bailey, FACHE, CPA, MBA
Chief Operating Officer, IU Health Bedford Hospital

Secretary
Bradley M. Rogers, DPT, MPA, MPM, PT
Chief Operating Officer, Woodlawn Hospital

Meredith “Merry” Jaye Addison, RN, MSN, FAEN
Meredith (Merry) Addison RN, MSN, FAEN is ME, and I am KEENLY interested in being chosen for service to the board of the Indiana Rural Health Association for another go round (I did six years way long ago, before the kids were all raised and the bills were all paid) to do more for our rural networking. I was born in 1958 and have all the baby boomer mentality of “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” and didn’t realize I was poor until I got into the school system and had lunches on a “special program” based on family income. I became a Registered Nurse to serve as a health care professional for as long as I could move and do, and because in 1976 as a Hoosier Honor Scholar on a field trip with dozens of other high schoolers I was told I was not able to be a Veterinarian because I was a girl and I believed what I was told by the leader tasked with that tour. Now I know NEVER SAY NEVER! I’ve achieved highest honors in any program into which the path has taken me, from high school, to the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, to the three and a third degrees in nursing at Indiana State University, and continue to wake each morning with a song in my heart and the mission to answer the call and save the world one task and attempt at a time. I persist and proceed until the dots are all connected and the resources flow from needs to deeds and am now wide open calling “PUT ME IN COACH” just as I used to do in volleyball, track, or softball. I understand that accomplishments take patience, persistence, and practice just as it did in marching band. I am married to the administrator emergency nurse leader who rescued me from harm and we live on a family farm raising kids and critters.

Jason Berkhalter, MBA
Jason Berkhalter is an accomplished healthcare and investment management executive with extensive experience leading operational growth, financial strategy, and high-performing teams across the healthcare and financial services sectors.

For 20+ years Jason's goal has been to transform people's lives every day and help them become better off than they were when he first met them. The last 11 years Jason has been part of a team at Pain Management Group (PMG) that is transforming lives every day in rural America.  Jason is the Regional Chief Operating Officer and leads hospital-based pain management centers throughout the Midwest.

Pain Management Group (PMG) is a leading provider of balanced, quality, hospital-based pain management centers. PMG specializes in joint venture partnerships with hospitals to develop and operate pain management facilities that provide patients with the highest level of health care.

Jason and PMG's diversely talented team works closely with partnering hospitals to organize pain as a service line and maximize hospital resources and services. PMG contracted physicians work with hospital clinical staff in a program that strengthens communities by helping patients return to work and a life uninhibited by pain.

Prior to being at PMG, Jason obtained his Series 7 and 66 licenses and was a Vice President for a firm in the financial services world where he was able to transform many lives through Investment and Portfolio Management.  Jason holds both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Taylor University where he was an All-American basketball player and his jersey retired in 2009. 

In 2025, Jason was named one of Indy's Most Pivotal Leaders.  He also serves as a board member of Northview Athletics and a board member of the Brookside Community Church of Indianapolis.   

William E. Cooke, MD, FAAFP, FASAM
Dr. William Cooke is a nationally recognized family physician, addiction medicine specialist, author, and public health advocate dedicated to advancing health equity and compassionate, community-centered care. A graduate with honors of the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2001, he is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Cooke has received numerous state and national honors recognizing his commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care. His awards include the IU Southeast Distinguished Alumni Award, Family Physician of the Year from both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians, and the Doc Hollywood Award from the Indiana Rural Health Association for his service to rural communities. Additional recognitions include the Indiana State Health Commissioner’s Award for Exceptional Public Health Service, the Ryan White Distinguished Leadership Award, the Hoosier Heartbeat Award, and the inaugural Physician Pillar of Excellence Award from the Addiction Policy Forum.

A visionary healthcare leader, Dr. Cooke has founded and helped grow several organizations focused on expanding access to care for underserved populations, including Refresh Health, now Health Plus, and Foundations Family Medicine, now part of Well Care Community Health, where he continues to serve as Medical Director. His work is grounded in the belief that every person deserves access to hope, health, and opportunity, themes he explores in his book Canary in the Coal Mine, which examines the historic 2015 HIV outbreak in Scott County, Indiana.

A sought-after keynote speaker and national advocate, Dr. Cooke speaks frequently on health equity, addiction, healthcare reform, social determinants of health, and the structural drivers of declining life expectancy in the United States. He has served on multiple state and national health-related boards and advisory groups, including the IU Grand Challenge advisory board. In 2021, he served as an expert witness before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, addressing health equity, social determinants of health, and declining life expectancy in America.

Melisa Franklin
I'm a Healthcare executive specializing in federal correctional healthcare delivery, with deep experience supporting the Federal Bureau of Prisons and other government programs. Known for leading large-scale operations in highly regulated, security-sensitive environments, with a track record of optimizing provider networks, improving access to care, and driving strong financial performance across complex portfolios. As Vice President of Healthcare at Seven Corners, I lead a high-performing division responsible for healthcare operations, federal contracting, provider network strategy, and revenue cycle performance across government and institutional partnerships. My work sits at the intersection of healthcare delivery, operational execution, and federal program management. My career has been defined by turning strategy into operational reality. I build and scale systems that work—aligning provider networks, streamlining claims and reimbursement processes, and structuring contracts that support long-term sustainability. I’ve led cross-functional teams across operations, care coordination, scheduling, claims, and business development, consistently delivering results in complex, high-demand environments. I am particularly focused on expanding access to care within correctional settings through innovative delivery models, including telehealth, specialty coordination, and integrated provider partnerships—areas that continue to shape the future of federal healthcare delivery. I believe the strongest systems are built by developing great people, creating operational clarity, and maintaining a clear focus on the populations we serve.

Justin D. Harris, MSHA, MBA, FACHE, serves as Chief Executive Officer of Daviess Community Hospital in Washington, Indiana. Since joining DCH in 2025, Justin has led a period of significant transformation, focused on expanding access to high-quality care, strengthening workforce stability, and driving long-term strategic growth.

Under his leadership, DCH has opened a new Women’s Health Center, recruited the hospital’s first employed OB-GYN physicians, and expanded services through strategic partnerships with Jasper OB-GYN and Tri-State Orthopaedics to bring surgical, specialty, and musculoskeletal care closer to home. He also successfully recruited a board-certified interventional and diagnostic radiologist, significantly advancing DCH’s ability to provide high-quality, minimally invasive care close to home.

Justin has overseen major operational and strategic initiatives, including guiding the hospital through a management transition to Deaconess Health System while maintaining local governance, leading the implementation of the Epic electronic health record, and advancing revenue cycle modernization efforts. He also led a $1.6 million investment in employee wages to improve recruitment and retention and strengthen care delivery.

Prior to DCH, Justin held executive leadership roles across Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, including serving as CEO and CFO of a $70 million musculoskeletal organization and as a senior leader in a large physician-owned surgical group. His experience spans both hospital and physician practice settings, with a focus on operational performance, growth strategy, and rural healthcare advancement.

Justin holds a Master of Science in Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is actively involved in professional and community organizations and is passionate about strengthening rural healthcare systems, expanding access to high-quality care, and building sustainable models that support both patients and providers. He currently serves on the Indiana Rural Health Association’s Policy & Legislative Committee, contributing to statewide advocacy efforts and policy development impacting rural healthcare. He also serves as a board member of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation, Vincennes University (VU) Foundation, and the Indiana Medical Group Management Association (IMGMA), and a member of the Washington Rotary Club and VU Foundation Finance Committee.

Katrina Norris, LCSW LAC CADAC V
Katrina is the Executive Director of Indiana’s State Psychiatric Hospital Network within the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. In her role she oversees all six of Indiana’s state hospitals. In addition, to her professional role, Katrina has been a valued asset to the state and regional communities serving multiple advisory boards, including the IU School of Social Work Alumni Board and the Indiana Rural Health Association Board. In 2020, she was nominated by two separate Deans and received the prestigious bicentennial medal from Indiana University. In 2022, Katrina was awarded the Distinguished Chapter Service award by the National Association of Social Workers. 2023 brought recognition by receiving the Governor’s Public Service award as well as Mental Health America’s Behavioral Health Team of the Year award.

Billie Wolfe, MBA
Billie started at Ball State as a part time Dining cashier in 2014. Since then, she has worked her way up, through several service positions, while obtaining her formal education. She held positions in Dining, Housing, and Facilities. She graduated from Ball State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She then continued at Ball State University, completing the Masters of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in Health: Economics, Policy, and Administration. She is currently pursuing her EdD: Adult and Community Education, with an expected graduation date of Summer 2028. Billie is an administrative healthcare professional. She is still working at Ball State, currently serving as the Director of the East Central Indiana Area Health Education Center, in the College of Health Dean’s Office and IUSM as an Adjunct Lecturer.

She was the recipient of the 2017-2018 BSU Women's Club Scholarship, the 2019-202 American Association of University Women Muncie Branch Scholarship, and the 2019-2020 BSU Stanley L. Wadman Memorial Scholarship. She was recognized on the Dean's List for Fall 2016, Summer 2017, and Fall 2019. She is still holding a 4.0 in the continuing efforts of her EdD program and obtaining her graduate certificates as she progresses through the doctorate coursework.

Additionally, she has been a competition powerlifter with both USPA and APF federations since 2017. She has also been a member of the BSU Women’s Club since 2017. She has been a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) since 2019. She has served on the CCMA Advisory Board for Delta High School to get it up and running. She is still serving on the Nursing Advisory Board at Ivy Tech in Muncie, Anderson D26 Advisory Board, and the RHTP GROW Committee for Region 4. She is working on the 2026 NAO/ ACR Rural Health Outreach Projects for both Lupus and ILD. Her center has been chosen to pilot the Community Roots: Indiana Nurse Mentoring Program this year, as well.

In her current role, as Director of the East Central Indiana Area health Education Center, she supports health professions students, health professions programs, community partners, and community members with a focus on rural and underserved communities. She helps to connect students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health. She is committed to utilizing her experience and education to assist with the health and betterment of the communities in which she serves, and inspiring those around her to learn and make a difference.

Holly A. Wood is a public health leader and PhD Candidate at Purdue University who has dedicated her career to strengthening rural and community health systems across Indiana. A lifelong Hoosier, Holly is committed to developing practical, community driven solutions that build on the unique strengths, needs, and experiences of rural communities.

Holly began her public health career in a small rural health department, where she learned firsthand that strong public health systems are built through relationships, trust, and local innovation. Early in her career, she created community focused initiatives that connected public health with sectors not traditionally engaged in health work, including developing continuing education programs for local realtors focused on septic systems, environmental health, and prevention strategies to reduce environmental harm and system failures. She also helped build new partnerships across counties and regions to strengthen coordinated public health and emergency response efforts.

During her time with the Indiana Department of Health, Holly played a leading role in statewide efforts to reduce infant mortality and improve outcomes for Indiana families. She led the development of Indiana’s Community Action Team (CAT) model, which began in two pilot communities and expanded across the state by helping local communities use infant fatality review data to identify their own contributing factors and develop community driven prevention strategies. Her work focused on bringing together healthcare providers, families, faith organizations, public health agencies, and local leaders to create sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of each community.

In 2021, Holly partnered with community leaders in Richmond, Indiana to help launch Indiana’s first Handle with Care program, an initiative designed to better support children exposed to trauma and adverse experiences through stronger coordination between law enforcement, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations. The success of the pilot helped establish a model for trauma informed community response across the state and contributed to the rapid expansion of Handle With Care initiatives now serving families in more than one third of Indiana counties.

Today, Holly serves in senior leadership roles at Purdue University, where she leads large scale implementation and partnership efforts focused on behavioral health, maternal and child health, workforce development, healthcare innovation, and community resilience. She helped create Indiana’s first known public health pharmacy fellowship embedded within a local health department, an innovative workforce model designed to expand prevention services, strengthen rural public health capacity, and connect pharmacy practice more directly to community health needs.

In addition to her professional leadership roles, Holly serves on the Community Health Partnerships (CHeP) Advisory Board and leads the Hoosier Health and Wellness Alliance (HHWA) for the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), supporting efforts to strengthen collaboration between academic institutions and communities to advance meaningful and community responsive health initiatives across Indiana.

Susan M. Zabor, MBA, MSN, RN, FACHE, CSSBB
Susan M. Zabor, MBA, MSN, RN, FACHE, CSSBB is the Vice President of Primary Care and Chief Quality Officer at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana. Her role is to build a collaborative structure and support Schneck by maintaining clinical excellence, managing clinical quality and cost improvement, and implementing systems to assure patient and operational outcomes are consistently measured against national benchmarks.

Susan began her career as a Registered Nurse at Schneck Medical Center after earning her Bachelor’s in Nursing from Purdue University. In 1998, she continued her nursing career in Ohio, before returning to Schneck in 2005. Since that time, she has held the positions of staff nurse, Quality Outcomes Coordinator, Director of Lean Six Sigma & Organizational Projects, and Vice President of Clinical Services. In addition to her experience at Schneck, she holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Nursing, is certified by as a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and is certified by the American Society of Quality as a Six Sigma Black Belt. Susan also serves on the Indiana Rural Health Association Board and the Leapfrog Hospital Advisory Committee.