HSHS Leaders Klay and Cornelius Named to Becker's List

Chris Klay, President and CEO of HSHS Southern Illinois Market and HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, and Teresa Cornelius, Chief Administrative Officer of HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland were recently recognized on Becker's Hospital Review 2026 iteration of its "Rural hospital and health system presidents and CEOs to know" list.

The featured leaders on this list are responsible for expanding the services their communities rely on, recruiting the talented caregivers who deliver that care, and investing in facilities via thoughtful renovations and ambitious new construction.

According to Becker’s, these executives wield an ability to manage complexity while genuinely investing in the people and places they serve. Their hospitals' successes are measured in healthier neighbors, stronger communities and improved overall patient experience.

As the leader of the HSHS Southern Illinois Market, Chris Klay is responsible for four hospitals in the market, three of which are in rural areas with limited health care options. Besides leading HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, his divisional oversight includes HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland. At HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, he is leading multiple growth initiatives to ensure St. Elizabeth’s can provide services to the growing communities they serve. Klay balances the needs of the local rural communities the hospitals serve along with the larger community of O’Fallon. Having started his career in HSHS in smaller rural communities, he relates to the unique needs of rural health care, ensuring that compassionate health care is provided to these communities close to home without sacrificing quality.

Teresa Cornelius is a dedicated leader known for her commitment to ensuring those who live in rural communities can still get high-quality, compassionate health care close to home, without having to travel to metro areas. At HSHS Holy Family Hospital, she helped complete the renovation of the inpatient floors for the betterment of the healing environment for patients. At HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, she continues to ensure this critical access hospital provides localized high-quality, essential services to the rural area surrounding it, including access to emergency care and working alongside aligned physician partner HSHS Medical Group in their recruitment of multiple family medicine physicians and providers over the last year.

Klay and Cornelius were named to this list for the second year in a row. Also recognized consecutively on this list from Hospital Sisters Health System was Colleen Koski, Chief Administrative Officer of HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin.

The full list featuring individual profiles of all 146 honorees can be read here.

Note: The Becker's Hospital Review team completed editorial research and accepted nominations to curate this list. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of included CEOs or associated organizations. Individuals and organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Names are presented in alphabetical order.