CAPE GIRARDEAU – Cross Trails Medical Center has named Rick Francis as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization. Cross Trails Medical Center has offices in Cape Girardeau, Advance, Marble Hill, and Perryville. The organization provides medical, dental, and mental health care services.
Francis is currently a state representative in the Missouri House of Representatives, who is term limited after this legislative session. Prior to his time in the Missouri House of Representatives, Francis spent over 30 years in education, serving in leadership positions such as Principal and Superintendent. Francis is very familiar with Cross Trails Medical Center, having served on the Board of Directors of the organization for eight years, four of those years as President of the board.
“After a thorough search, the Search Committee and Board of Directors believed Rick Francis to be the right person to lead the organization. Rick is very familiar with the organization and its mission and is fully committed to seeing the organization succeed into the future. We are proud to have him as the leader of the organization,” said Jo Burford, Vice-President of Cross Trails Medical Center’s Board of Directors and Chairman of the Search Committee.
Francis was born and raised in the Marble Hill area and currently lives on a farm outside of Perryville, raising cattle, wheat, corn, and beans. Francis received a Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Arts Degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri – Columbia. He and his wife, Chrissy, have four grown children and eleven grandchildren.
“I am excited to join Cross Trails Medical Center as CEO, after having served on the Board of Directors the last eight years. I know the wonderful work that the healthcare team provides to patients, and I am happy to serve the organization to continue to meet the mission of the organization,” Francis said. “This is an exciting time to be in healthcare and I look forward to working with the staff to meet the needs of our patients.”
Francis is succeeding Ron Camp, who after 13 years with Cross Trails Medical Center, recently retired.