Austin M. Gillard, FACHE, is the Chief Executive Officer of Clay County Medical Center, a 25‑bed Critical Access Hospital serving north‑central Kansas. Under his leadership, CCMC has been recognized as a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital in the U.S. and has earned multiple Governor’s Awards of Excellence. Gillard began his healthcare career as a physician recruiter in Kansas and Missouri before progressing into hospital leadership roles, including CEO positions in Nebraska and Kansas. He joined CCMC as CEO in 2015. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Missouri, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.