Ottumwa, IA – January 28, 2026 — Ottumwa Regional Health Center (ORHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Townsend as its new Market Director, Physician Services effective January 26. Jennifer brings more than 20 years of healthcare operations experience, including over 15 years in director-level leadership roles, with a proven track record of driving operational excellence, strategic growth, and patient-centered care.

“Jennifer brings a rare combination of operational expertise, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to patient-centered care,” said Richard Bergmann, CEO. “Her collaborative leadership style and extensive experience across physician services and hospital-based operations will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our clinical operations and support our providers across the market.”

Her professional background spans primary care and specialty clinics across multiple service lines, with additional experience supporting hospital-based services such as hospitalist and anesthesia programs. Most recently, Jennifer served as regional director of behavioral health for the University of Texas Health Science Center, where she oversaw state contracts, provider relations, and quality, safety, and compliance initiatives.

Previously, Jennifer served as senior practice administrator with UT Health Physicians Medical Group, where she was internally recruited to oversee business operations for a 200+ member team. In this role, she developed and administered more than 19 departmental budgets, created key performance indicators to track staffing turnover, informed workforce planning decisions, and evaluated the financial performance of specialty clinic departments. She also served as executive director of operations for Saint Mary’s Prime Healthcare, where she oversaw all aspects of the medical group’s operations.

Jennifer holds a master of business administration and a bachelor of business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.

In her role as Market Director, Physician Services, Jennifer will provide strategic and operational leadership across ORHC’s physician services, supporting providers and teams while advancing ORHC’s mission to deliver high-quality, patient-focused care.

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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.