About HSHS Medical Group

We believe it’s time to put the focus back on patients. At HSHS Medical Group, our goal is to support our physicians and health professionals in providing patient-first care.

By choosing the HSHS Medical Group, you will have access to a full range of primary care, specialty groups and HSHS hospitals throughout central and southern Illinois.

Our History

A Proud History of Caring.

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Leadership Message

A Message from Our Leadership

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Patient-First Care

Sister Maureen O'Connor, OSF

Provincial Superior, Hospital Sisters of St. Francis

Our Leaders are Dedicated to Patient-first Care.

Leadership Organizational Chart

Leadership Profiles

Melinda Clark

Chief Executive Officer

Melinda Clark joined HSHS in 2010 after serving as the president and CEO of the Texas Region of St. Joseph Health System in Orange, California. Prior to joining SJHS in 2007, she served for 12 years in the SSM Health Care System in various leadership positions, including president of DePaul Health Center, president of SSM Rehab, and vice president of operations, SSM Rehabilitation Institute. Melinda holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana University and a master’s degree in public administration from Golden Gate University in California.

Tammy Lett, RN, MBHA

Vice President of Operations

Tammy Lett, RN, MBHA, comes to HSHS Medical Group with 25 years of acute care hospital experience including roles as director of professional services and chief nursing officer. She has contributed to HSHS ministries for more than 20 years. Tammy is a registered nurse and earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Greenville University and her master’s degree in business and health care administration from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

Andy Watson, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Andy received his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining HSHS Medical Group, he served as chief financial officer of Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants, Ltd. He has over 20 years of financial experience in both the public and private sectors.

Penny McCarty, MHRIR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Vice President of Human Resources

Penny McCarty holds a master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and joined the Medical Group after serving as Executive Director of Human Resources at SIU School of Medicine. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources by the HR Certification Institute. A member and past president of the Central Illinois Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, Penny received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

Vincent Noel, MHI

Vice President, Strategy & Business Development

Vince Noel, MHI, joined HSHS Medical Group in 2010 and brings more than 12 years of experience in leadership, strategy and development. Prior to joining HSHS Medical Group, Vince served as a specialty sales executive for Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, and as vice-president of sales and investments for JP Morgan Chase in Springfield. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and completed a master’s degree in health care innovation (MHI) at Arizona State University. In his current role he is focused on strategy, development and the implementation of health care innovations for future needs.

Paige Toth, JD

Vice President, Associate General Counsel

Paige Toth, JD, received a Juris Doctor from St. Louis University School of Law in St. Louis, and is also a graduate of the Decatur Leadership Institute. In addition, she is certified by the American Association of Healthcare Risk Management (AAHRM). Before joining HSHS Medical Group, Paige served as the director of legal affairs and risk management at Decatur Memorial Hospital, heading up both programs for DMH. Prior to this position she practiced in the areas of real estate, civil defense litigation and worker’s compensation defense.

Keith Griffeth

Director of Quality

Keith Griffeth earned his Master of Business Administration from William Woods University in Fulton, MO, and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Culver Stockton College in Canton, MO and Blessing Rieman College of Nursing in Quincy, IL. A member of the American Society for Quality, National Association for Healthcare Quality and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Keith has nearly 20 years of experience in health care management. Before joining HSHS Medical Group, Keith served as director of quality for Hannibal Regional Healthcare System in Hannibal, MO.

Lori Harlan

Divisional Director of Marketing

Lori Harlan serves as Division Director of Marketing for HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Heart Institute of Illinois. She has extensive experience in marketing and communications in the health care and government arenas. Most recently, Lori served as Director of Public Affairs for the Illinois Municipal League, a statewide association representing local governments. Lori is a nationally published freelance writer who also taught business writing at a community college for nearly 10 years. Lori holds a master’s degree in English with undergraduate work in communications and journalism.

Mandi Vehlow, MPA

Director-Clinic Services, Southern Illinois Division

Mandi Vehlow, MPA, completed her bachelor’s degree in health care administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She then continued on to complete her master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit organizations. Mandi joined HSHS Medical Group in 2011 and has served in several leadership roles before stepping into her current position as director of operations for the Southern Illinois Division.

Brook McGennis, MHA, CPHQ

Executive Director of Specialty Care Services

Brook has been with HSHS Medical Group since 2016, serving in leadership roles in both Operations and Quality. Prior to joining HSHS Medical Group, Brook served in roles at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Health Care Administration from the University of Southern Indiana and is currently pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership and Change Management. She has experience in process improvement, and holds a CPHQ certification from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

James Bock, MD

Chief Physician Executive

Board certified in family medicine, James Bock, MD, received his education and completed his residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford. Before stepping into this role, Dr. Bock served the health care needs of the Decatur area community since 1990 as a family medicine physician. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians

Ashish Tokhi, MD

Medical Director of Inpatient Services Central IL

Ashish Tokhi, MD, earned his medical degree from Agra University and completed an internal medicine residency at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby, Pennsylvania. Dr. Tokhi also earned a Master of Science degree in molecular, cellular and systemic physiology from Southern Illinois University. Board Certified in internal medicine, Dr. Tokhi is a member of the American College of Physicians and the Society of Hospital Medicine. He is certified by the American Association for Physician Executives as a Certified Physician Executive.