Executive Biographies

Eric P. Jensen, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Jensen brings a shared vision for compassionate care along with extensive community hospital leadership experience to Regional Hospital. His background includes experience in managing hospital and ambulatory services ranging from inpatient, critical care and surgical services, to outpatient rehab, physician medical clinics, and home health and hospice services. With a history of significant achievements in continuous quality improvements, patient satisfaction initiatives, facility planning and development and operations where he has increased growth and revenue margins, Mr. Jensen’s impressive track record is a testament to his innovation and executive leadership.

Mr. Jensen is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served on an array of professional organizations,Mr. Jensen’s commitment to organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives, the United Way, and the Washington State Hospital Association Board and Rural Committee, are a clear testament to his commitment to providing quality healthcare with a community emphasis.

A graduate of the University of Washington, Mr. Jensen went on to receive his Master of Health Administration degree from Tulane University. He brings over 25 years of healthcare management experience to Regional Hospital, having held roles in administration, healthcare consultancy, and most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Kittitas Valley Community Hospital in Ellensburg, WA.

Robert L. Clark, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Chief Medical Officer of Regional Hospital, Robert L. Clark brings extensive experience and leadership to our organization. Honored as “One of the 50 Most Positive Doctors in America 1996” by The Positive Medicine Project, Dr. Clark has published several articles and co-authored several abstracts on long-term critical care and ventilator weaning.

With his extensive knowledge and commitment to quality medicine, Dr. Clark is a consistently sought after speaker and presenter at universities and medical facilities throughout the nation. Dr. Clark holds two patents for “Methods and Apparatus for Authenticating Informed Consent” and has also utilized his expertise in developing medical devices including The Vital Center for Medical Information presentation and capture, a specialized mattress for patient transport utilized by United States Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams, and a plastic ventilator for transport and disaster response.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Board Eligible for both Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine, Dr. Clark has held faculty appointments at the University of Pittsburgh, Wayne State University, University of Washington and the Veteran’s Administration, Oakland Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

In addition to serving as Chief Medical Officer for Regional Hospital, Dr. Clark also serves as a Staff Physician at Highline Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, and is co-chair of the King County Critical Care Avian Flu Response team.

Barbara Hostetler
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer
Barbara exercises administrative responsibility, accountability and authority for the hospital through day-to-day leadership and supervision. Additionally she integrates the strategic plan of the organization with the operation of the organization and provides leadership oversight for the development of high quality, cost effective, safe clinical programs within the hospital. Lastly, Barbara acts in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer.

Barbara is an active member of several professional and community organizations including the American Organization of Nurse Executives and Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives (Education Commission member), American College of HealthCare Executives, Sigma Theta Tau (International Nursing Honor Society), and the National Association of Female Executives.

Having received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Holy Family College, she moved on to receive her Master of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University and an Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Having retired from the Air Force in 2005 with the rank of Colonel, Barbara also served as adjunct faculty at Midwestern State University, Minot State University and at the United States Air Force Academy during her military career.

Donavan Knight
Director of Clinical Support Services & Safety
Donavan Knight is Director of Clinical Support Services and Safety at Regional Hospital. He has responsibility for Respiratory Care, Physical/Speech/Occupational Therapies, Employee Safety and the Environment of Care Program. Donavan has been a Regional Hospital employee for more than 6 years. He is a Registered Respiratory Therapist, Neonatal and Pediatric Specialist and a Washington State licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner.

Donavan is involved in both professional and community organizations. He is Board Certified in healthcare management as an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Respiratory Care Society of Washington, and is Past President of the Greater Federal Way Kiwanis.

Donavan earned Associate Degrees in Cardiopulmonary Technology and Respiratory Care, a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management from University of Maryland College Park, and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from The University of St. Francis.

Donavan comes to Regional Hospital after a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force where he managed a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Pulmonary Services departments to include Respiratory Care, Sleep Lab, Pulmonary Function, and Critical Care Air Transport.

Valerie Albano
Director of Human Resources
Valerie Albano is responsible for development and implementation of Regional Hospital’s Human Resources program. She manages all aspects of advertising, recruiting, and interviewing, She also oversees employee and labor relations, pay and benefits, employee recognition, and intra-hospital communication. As an integral member of Regional Hospital team for over six years, Valerie utilizes her in-depth knowledge of the organization as editor of Regional Hospital newsletter.

Valerie is active in several Human Resources professional organizations. She is President of the Washington State Association for Health Care Recruitment and a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. She attained her Professional in Human Resource (PHR) designation in 1995 and her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation in 2005.

Valerie brings over 20 years of human resources experience from the banking industry where she regularly managed district-wide programs and projects. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington, where she double majored in Communications and Sociology.

Valerie is committed to professional development. She attends several labor law and human resources seminars and conferences each year, and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Healthcare Administration program at Ashworth University.

Mary Dawson
Manager of Quality, Risk and Compliance
With a passion for facilitating and managing complex organizational change that supports evidence-based improvements, Mary supports operations and clinical areas in delivering safe, timely, efficient & equitable, effective and patient-centered care. This involves successfully meeting basic standards set by the Joint Commission, Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid as well as participating in evidence based best practice such as the initiatives outlined in the IHI 5 Million Lives Campaign.

A member of the Washington Casualty Company Advisory Committee, the NALTH National Healthcare Information Systems Quality Subcommittee, and the Health Care Compliance Association, Mary brings a commitment and dedication to the continuous improvement and implementation of quality of care initiatives to Regional Hospital.

A graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Mary brings to our organization extensive experience in quality improvement, including ten years in health services research, five years in customer relations, and over fifteen years in performance improvement and regulatory compliance.