Southeast's leaders

It has been 19 years since Southeast Missouri Hospital named a new top administrator. Last month, the hospital's board announced two key appointments, one a newcomer to Southeast Missouri and another from one of the area's most distinguished families.

Debbie Linnes has been named president and CEO of the hospital, filling the position left vacant by the resignation of Jim Wente, who served as the hospital's chief administrator for 19 years. Wente will be president emeritus for a year. And Jim Limbaugh was named executive vice president of planning and business development.

Linnes, who has nearly 30 years of experience in health care, most recently was president and CEO of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo. Previously she held administrative positions with health care systems in Colorado and California.

Limbaugh, who served as the chairman of the hospital's board of trustees until his appointment to an administrative post, has resigned as chief operating officer of Montgomery Bank, his most recent post in a long banking career.

Southeast Missouri Hospital, like all health care providers, faces a challenging future. The hospital's trustees are to be commended for picking a leadership team that should serve it well into the future.