Kevin W . Yingling , RPh , M . D ., FACP
CEO , Mountain Health Network , and President , Cabell Huntington Hospital and St . Mary ’ s Medical Center
KEN MAGILL
“ It ’ s not the seeds in the apple that make the difference . It ’ s the apples that come from the seeds that make the real difference .”
Those words have been the guiding philosophy throughout the decades-long health care career of Kevin Yingling , RPh , M . D ., FACP . Yingling is the CEO of Mountain Health Network and president of Cabell Huntington Hospital ( CHH ) and St . Mary ’ s Medical Center .
Of his many accomplishments , one might think he would be most proud of his prominent role in founding the Marshall University School of Pharmacy , being the only physician to serve as president of the medical staffs of both St . Mary ’ s Medical Center and CHH or serving as the first chair of the Mountain Health Network board of directors . However , what Yingling is most proud of is the small , day-to-day impact he can have through his interactions with individuals and the ripple effect those interactions can have across West Virginia ’ s health care system .
“ I ’ ve had literally thousands of medical students , pharmacy students and resident physicians who may have improved the health care of any number of patients ,” says Yingling . “ Now , leading a system to become highly reliable in providing inpatient and outpatient care , which impacts the lives of families across
Photo by Rick Lee .
an entire region , is very satisfying .”
Yingling also views each individual interaction as a potential mentoring experience where he can learn from others both how to improve and what to avoid .
“ These individuals could be patients , faculty members or colleagues in the health care professions ,” Yingling says . “ Over many years , I grew to be an amalgamation of many people ’ s influences , some of whom taught me why to practice the highest standards or to think in a certain way . Others taught me why I should not practice in ways that were personally or professionally detrimental to my goal of making a positive difference in other people ’ s lives . In my personal life , as a Christian , I strive to model my life as best as I can after the ultimate servant leader , Christ .”
Growing up , Yingling worked in a pharmacy in Barboursville , WV , where he saw firsthand the positive effects a pharmacist can have on people ’ s lives . His work experience at that first pharmacy , dovetailed with his desire to have a positive effect on individuals , led him to start his career in pharmacy .
As he moved through pharmacy school , he realized he could have an even greater impact if he went on to medical school . He graduated with a bachelor ’ s degree from the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in
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