Where is Ken From?
Ken Hutchenrider was born and raised in Pasadena, Texas with his older sister, Christine. Ken’s mother taught school for 30 years and his father was an accountant for an oil company, also for 30 years. Ken was raised with a strong work ethic and was taught at an early age to serve his community.
Ken began what would become a career in the healthcare field at the age of 13, when he signed up to volunteer in the local hospital’s emergency room, scrubbing floors. By the time he was 16 the hospital put him on the payroll and asked him to do more interesting things, like holding down angry drug addicts who needed to be sutured, or entertaining frightened children while the doctors set a broken limb.
What is his background?
The experience in the emergency room led Ken to becoming a paramedic, which helped put him through college at Texas A&M University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of Houston, Clear Lake. He is proud to have also been awarded an Honorary Degree for Community Service from Ivy Tech College.
Ken moved from being a Paramedic Shift Supervisor in Pasadena, to his first position in Hospital Administration at Clear Lake Regional Hospital shortly after graduating with his Master’s Degree. Ken was promoted from Clear Lake Hospital to Davis North Hospital in Layton, Utah where he became the Chief Operating Officer.
Ken’s 34-year hospital administration executive experience has taken him through many additional hospitals and opportunities including:
- Western Plain Medical Center, Dodge City, Kansas – Chief Executive Officer
- Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
- Terre Haute Regional Medical Center, Terre Haute, Indiana – Chief Executive Officer
- Galesburg Cottage Hospital, Galesburg, Illinois – Chief Executive Officer
- Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Richardson, Texas – President and Chief Executive Officer
Ken Hutchenrider joined Methodist Richardson Medical Center as President and Chief Operating Officer in July, 2010. He often jokes that it took him 20-years to return to Texas and he’s not leaving! Richardson has become home for him and he loves this city and this community.
He has more than 30 years of executive experience with a result-oriented record of substantially increasing financial stability and strengthening team management to build a tradition of providing the best care possible to the communities served.
During his tenure here in Richardson, Ken administered the assimilation of the hospital into the Methodist Health System, as well as the development of a $120M replacement hospital and its subsequent and ongoing expansions. Additional accomplishments include the establishment of a new wound care center, established a Level 3 NICU, development of the Da Vinci surgical program, and the successful recruitment/employment of new medical staff members. Under his direction, Methodist Richardson has received numerous accreditation such as a Chest Pain Center, a Stroke Center, and achieved nursing Magnet Status as well as Pathway to Excellence. Ken has recently accepted responsibility for Construction and Engineering for the Methodist Health System.
Personal Life:
Ken met his wife Melinda, in Utah. They then moved all over the U.S. with Ken’s different hospital positions. They have been married for 30 years. They have two daughters, ages 21 and 24. The youngest, Kimberly is a Junior at Texas A&M University and their oldest, Karilyn, graduated with her Master’s Degree in Biomedical Science last May from Texas A&M.
When Ken isn’t volunteering in the community or spending time with his family, you are most likely to find him on the golf course.
Ken is also a private pilot.
