Sparks CEO to also lead Summit Medical

Melody Trimble, CEO of Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, is now the CEO of Summit Medical Center in Van Buren.

Sparks is owned by Naples, Fla.-based Health Management System, and Summit is operated by HMA.

Trimble takes over the position from Sue Conley, who has stepped down as Summit CEO to begin a career as CEO for two community hospitals in Nashville, Tenn.

“While we celebrate a new chapter for Sue, I am looking forward to getting to know all the wonderful Summit physicians and associates better as I begin my additional leadership role,” Trimble, who has served as CEO at Sparks since 2009, said in the statement.

Sparks’ Assistant Chief Financial Officer Anthony Brooks will now assume financial oversight for Summit Medical Center. Brooks has years of experience not only in finance, but also with Health Management. He most recently worked at Dallas Regional Medical Center in Texas.

An addition is Administrator/Chief Nursing Executive Shelly Weilenman, who will manage day to day operations at Summit Medical Center beginning Oct. 15. Weilenman graduated from North Arkansas Community College in Harrison with an associate degree in nursing and then earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nursing from the University of Mississippi. She most recently served as chief nursing officer at Coastal Carolina Hospital in South Carolina.