Brenda Million, Vice President of Women and Children at St. Bernards Medical Center, and Josh Conlee, President of Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge, each received the American College of Healthcare Executives 2019 Regent’s Award at this fall’s Arkansas Hospital Association annual meeting.
Million received the Senior Level award, while Conlee was honored with the Early Career award.
Both recipients were recognized for their many years of serving, leading and dedicating themselves to bettering St. Bernards and Northeast Arkansas as a whole. The award honors respected executives of remarkable success in all forms throughout the healthcare community.
A graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Million holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Arkansas State University and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Kennedy-Western University in Cheyenne, Wyo.
During her time with St. Bernards, Million served as Director of Quality/Care Coordination and Patient Services before assuming her current role. Brenda has led the charge in creating and implementing many life-changing programs for patients in Northeast Arkansas, including the establishment of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the St. Bernards Pregnancy Clinic. To meet additional needs, Brenda developed the obstetric hospitalist program and pediatric hospitalist program.
She is a past graduate of Leadership Jonesboro, a member and past board member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, past chair of VHA Nurse Executive Group, a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and board member and past chair of the March of Dimes Arkansas. She has served on the St. Bernards Advocates and Women’s Council boards of directors and is a life and associate member of Junior Auxiliary of Jonesboro and was named Jonesboro Business Woman of the Year.
Brenda and her husband, Mark, have two married children as well as one grandchild.
Josh Conlee holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Business Administration from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss.
Additionally, he earned a Master of Health Administration from the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) in Little Rock, Ark. Conlee is currently the President of Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge, Ark. where his duties include the oversight of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Lawrence Hall Nursing Home.
He previously held positions as the Administrative Director at UAMS North Central, Manager of Strategic Implementation and Administrative Fellow at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Health Center.
He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
Josh is married to his wife, Kailey, and they have a daughter, Stella.