Ottumwa, IA – January 27, 2026 — Ottumwa Regional Health Center (ORHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Smith as its new director of the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU), effective January 26.

Smith brings more than 10 years of experience in mental health treatment and social services leadership, with a background spanning behavioral health, substance use treatment, child welfare, and justice-involved populations. She is known for her trauma-informed, client-centered approach and her ability to lead and support multidisciplinary teams.

“Christina’s depth of experience, leadership strength and commitment to compassionate care make her an outstanding addition to ORHC,” said Richard Bergmann, CEO. “Her diverse background and expertise will greatly benefit our patients, staff, and community.”

Most recently, Smith served as a community treatment coordinator with the Iowa Department of Corrections, providing assessment, treatment, crisis response, and group facilitation for mental health treatment court and residential clients. Her previous leadership roles include supervising foster care and adoption services with Four Oaks Family Connections and serving as a Family Safety, Risk, and Permanency (FSRP) coordinator.

Smith holds master’s degrees in mental health counseling and counseling psychology, and a bachelor’s degree in human services and psychology. She is credentialed through the National Board for Certified Counselors and the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science.

As BHU director, Smith will oversee the hospital’s inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, a 24-hour supervised program that provides assessment, crisis support, medication management, group therapy and discharge planning for adult patients in Ottumwa and surrounding communities.

For more information about ORHC and its behavioral health services, visit OttumwaRegionalHealth.com/Behavioral-Health

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 About Ottumwa Regional Health Center (ORHC) 

Ottumwa Regional Health Center is a 217-bed hospital that has served Ottumwa, Wapello County and surrounding southeast Iowa communities for more than 125 years. The hospital provides a broad range of services, including emergency care, medical and surgical care, critical care, acute rehabilitation, obstetrics, pediatrics and specialty services. These include cardiac catheterization, diagnostic and therapeutic imaging, wound care, pain management, sleep studies and pathology.

Ottumwa Regional Health Center is committed to its mission of making communities healthier. For more information, call 641.684.2300 or visit OttumwaRegionalHealth.com.