Chuck Welch, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System (HRHS), has been named to the Advisory Committee of the Hutchinson Community College Associate Nursing Degree Program effective immediately.
The Council is designed to give input to HCC instructors in establishing, operating, and evaluating programs which serve the needs of students, business and industry, and to provide expertise pertaining to technological change. Also, the Committee provides opportunities for industry to offer input on qualifications for entry-level workforce, current concerns of industry regarding workforce and economy, as well as lend industry support for program initiatives such as new equipment and updated curriculum. Also, Welch’s participation in the committee will provide an opportunity for instructors to network with college representatives through industry visits.
Additional responsibilities will include assistance in public relations, job placement, recruiting, in-service training, leadership activities, networking with legislators and other community decision makers and program evaluation. 
Welch joined HRHS in 2019 to oversee marketing and business development efforts for Hutchinson Regional. Previously, he served in several positions with Med-Trans, formerly known as EagleMed, including Vice President of Business Development, Director of Partner Development for the Midwest, and most recently as US Division Director of Fixed Wing Service.
As the Hutchinson Regional CSO, Welch provides insight and recommendations on both short-and long-term strategic planning, business unit growth and development, strategic initiatives, and market positioning. Also, Welch oversees the broad functional areas of market research, strategic and tactical planning, marketing, advertising, public relations, media relations, business plan development and the foundation for the healthcare system.
Welch said he is honored to work with the Hutchinson Community College Nursing Program. “Hutchinson Community College, nearly a century old, has served Kansas as not only one of the first community colleges in Kansas but as an institution that has trained nurses and other healthcare professionals not only for our community but others throughout the region,” Welch said. “Many HRHS employees are HCC graduates and their excellent job performance is a true indicator of the quality of the education they received.”
“We partner with Hutchinson Community College in many ways including a scholarship program sponsored by the hospital auxiliary and our orthopedic unit is the exclusive provider of services for the 300 athletes enrolled at HCC that compete in all sports from football to soccer,” Welch continued.
Entities within Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System are Horizons Mental Health Center, Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County, Health-E-Quip, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation.
