Bill Anderson serves as the Vice President of State Legislation for the Missouri Hospital Association. In this role, he is responsible for advocating in the Missouri State Capitol for legislative policies that support hospitals’ ability to deliver health care to their communities. Before joining MHA, Anderson worked in Missouri state government for more than 10 years, including serving as the Director of Policy for Gov. Blunt where he provided leadership on health care policy. Anderson holds a Master of Science in economics and finance, and a Bachelor of Science in economics from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Jon D. Doolittle is the President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association, the trade association serving the state’s 142 hospitals and 20 health systems. The association provides a variety of services for its members, including federal, state and local governmental representation and advocacy; health care policy development; public and professional education; quality improvement and safety initiatives; research; and media relations and communications.
Before joining MHA, Doolittle served as Regional President of Mosaic Medical Center – Albany, formerly known as Northwest Medical Center, which provides care for the people of Northwest Missouri. Doolittle’s health care experience includes more than 11 years working in a variety of roles with Cerner Corporation, a Kansas City-based health care information systems company.
Jane Drummond, J.D., is the General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Governmental Relations for the Missouri Hospital Association. Jane joined MHA in 2014 as the General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Affairs. She was promoted to also lead its advocacy services in 2022. She provides a full range of legal support to MHA and related organizations and boards in the areas of health care compliance, corporate advice and judicial advocacy. Drummond also lobbies state and federal officials for policies that support hospitals and their missions, as well as helps members navigate the complex legal and regulatory framework of the health care system.
Drummond graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2001. Since then, she has worked largely in the public policy arena, while gaining additional experience in private practice. She has worked as the General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services under Gov. Blunt, and in that same capacity in the governor’s office. In 2007, Blunt appointed her to serve as the director of DHSS, a cabinet-level position that she held through the end of the Blunt administration. In addition to her Juris Doctor, Drummond earned a Master in Strategic Leadership from Stephens College in 2014.
Jackie Gatz, MHA, CHEP, LSSGB, is the Senior Vice President of Quality, Safety and Research for the Missouri Hospital Association. She is responsible for initiatives ensuring the continuity of safe and quality health care during incidents impacting hospital operations. Gatz serves on the Executive Committee for the American Hospital Association’s Emergency Readiness Group, is a board member of the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals and is the staff liaison for the Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineers. Since the emergence of COVID-19 in early 2020, Gatz has served as the association liaison with members and external partners to address clinical and operational response.
Gatz earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., and her Master of Public Administration from the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri – Columbia.
Matthew R. Heeren, J.D., received his undergraduate degree from Truman State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Before joining A.T. Still University, Heeren served as general counsel of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, deputy general counsel to the governor of Missouri, and attorney for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Heeren has served as vice president since 2008, overseeing legal affairs for A.T. Still University campuses and the Board of Trustees, compliance, risk management, and Missouri and federal legislative affairs.
Heeren currently serves as president for the Kirksville Regional Economic Development, Inc. board of directors. He currently is or has been a past contributing member or board member for Chariton Valley Association, Adair County Library, Rotary, Kirksville Think2040, Kirksville Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Northern Missouri Futbol Club and the Kirksville Leadership Institute.
Ryan Heldenbrand, MBA, B.S., is the Web Content Developer on the marketing team at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Mo. As part of this role, Heldenbrand has managed or supported social media channels for the organization since 2012. Mosaic’s social media channels include Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. Heldenbrand also manages internal and external web content, as well as email marketing and team/client support and education regarding digital marketing, social media and SEO. Ryan holds an MBA from William Woods University and a Bachelor of Science in convergent media from Missouri Western State University.
Rob Monsees engages on legislative issues in Washington, D.C., and leads the state lobbying efforts at the Missouri State Capitol for the Missouri Hospital Association in Jefferson City, Mo. Before joining MHA in November 2014, Monsees served as a member of the National Expansion team for Advantage Capital Partners in St. Louis, after serving as executive director of the NanoTechnology Enterprise Consortium where he led a group of small, medium and large member companies and research institutions. Monsees previously served as the executive director of the Missouri Technology Corporation where he led the state’s technology-based economic development efforts.
He has spent much of his career advising policymakers at the state and federal levels on life sciences, economic development and agricultural issues. Monsees has worked as the Director of Policy and Communications for the Missouri Senate President Pro Tem and the Senate Majority Caucus, as well as served as the Director of Operations for Gov. Blunt’s successful 2004 gubernatorial campaign. He then served as Deputy Director of Transition Government and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for Blunt.
Monsees received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri – Columbia where he served as chairman of the Board of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri. He has been an active member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, several boards for the Mizzou Alumni Association and the K-LIFE Board of Columbia.
Stephen Njenga, MPH, MHA, CPHQ, CPPS, LSSYB, is the Director of Quality Measurement and Population Health Improvement at the Missouri Hospital Association. He has worked at MHA since 2015 and has worked in public health and health care for the last 16 years. Njenga was a national recipient of the 2018 MBQIP Spirit Award for Innovation and Collaboration in the FLEX program.
In his health care career, he has worked in the following areas: accreditation manager, quality management, patient safety officer, performance improvement and measurement, medical staff services, population and community health, and HIPAA privacy officer. He has a dual Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology from Drury University, a master’s in public health with specialization in epidemiology, and a second Master in Healthcare Administration, both from Missouri State University. He is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, Certified Professional in Patient Safety and Certified in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. He serves in the National Rural Health Resource Center – Technical Assistance Support Center Advisory Board, Missouri Institute for Community Health Governing Board, #HealthierMO Executive Committee, Statewide Community Health Worker Advisory Committee, Missouri Diabetes Council and DHSS Public Health System Partners Group. Njenga also facilitates the Diabetes Shared Learning Network.
Lowell Pearson is the Office Managing Partner of the Jefferson City Office of Husch Blackwell LLP. Pearson represents businesses that have issues with the state. He frequently engages in litigation against the State of Missouri on the Sunshine Law, including obtaining a fee award of more than $200,000 in 2021. Pearson serves as parliamentarian for the Missouri Republican State Committee.
Andrew Wheeler serves as the Vice President of Federal Finance at the Missouri Hospital Association, specializing in federal advocacy, Medicare payment and policy, and regulatory compliance. He has more than 16 years of experience in the hospital setting, working in hospital operations, finance and strategic planning. Wheeler has 10 years with MHA, advocating, educating and assisting hospitals with current issues.