North Kansas City Hospital Names New President & CEO
North Kansas City Hospital announced today that its Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Stephen L. Reintjes Sr. as President and Chief Executive Officer of the hospital and its physician 
network subsidiary, Meritas Health. Reintjes is expected to succeed Peggy Schmitt in early April. Schmitt announced her pending retirement in 2019.
Reintjes, a nationally recognized neurosurgeon and executive leader, has been a respected and engaged member of the North Kansas City Hospital medical staff for 30 years. Reintjes has held numerous executive leadership positions at the hospital, including director of spine surgery and medical staff president. He currently serves as a Board member for BioNexus KC and Midwest Transplant Network.
“The Board took a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to our nationwide search for a new CEO, as our patients, partners, physicians and employees expected and deserved,” said Board of Trustees Chairperson Rebecca Welbern.
“Dr. Reintjes is a proven healthcare leader at North Kansas City Hospital, and across the region’s healthcare community. He’s been an engaged, trusted physician and colleague for many years. We are confident in his ability to maintain our organizational excellence and unique culture,” added Welbern.
Dr. Reintjes is a graduate of Rockhurst High School, Georgetown University and the University of Kansas School of Medicine, earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy and medicine. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the KU School of Medicine.
“I am honored to have been selected as North Kansas City Hospital’s next CEO. It is a privilege to be part of an organization that delivers personalized, high quality health care,” said Reintjes. “We are an organization led by a purpose – to provide hope and healing to every life we touch. I will do my best to serve our patients and help our employees and physicians fulfill their passion to make a difference.”
Schmitt will remain with NKCH until Reintjes transitions into his new role.
About North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health
For more than 60 years, North Kansas City Hospital has been the Northland's preferred healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide hope and healing to every life we touch.
NKCH is an acute care facility with 451 licensed beds and 550 physicians representing 49 medical specialties. From our award-winning cardiovascular and orthopedic programs to our cancer, emergency, neurosciences, spine, women’s and other services, we provide a lifetime of care.
Through our Meritas Health subsidiary, NKCH offers the largest network of physician practices in the Northland, with more than 280 primary and specialty care doctors and advanced practice providers in 35 convenient locations, including an express care clinic in the 64th Street Hy-Vee store.
Our accreditations demonstrate our commitment to providing quality healthcare, including:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet®designation
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services four-star rating
- The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® and certification for Comprehensive Cardiac Center, Advanced Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, and Primary Stroke Center
Our oncology partnership with The University of Kansas Cancer Center provides patients with access to clinical trials and state-of-the-art radiation therapy.
Our mission, vision and values reflect a strong commitment to the health and well-being of our employees, the Northland community and beyond. U.S. News & World Report ranked NKCH High Performing in 10 procedures and conditions and named NKCH a Best Regional Hospital. Forbes honored NKCH as one of America’s Best Midsize Employers, ranking NKCH the top midsize hospital and health system in the Kansas City area and No. 148 midsize company in the nation.
Each year NKCH serves more than 24,000 people through its dynamic Community Health & Wellness programs.