Working to build a legacy for the ministry that transcends both personal goals and innovations for their own systems, the 2026 class of Tomorrow's Leaders shows a collective deep commitment to Catholic healthcare. This year, the ministry is saluting 10 leaders age 40 or younger for their contributions. Catholic Health World interviewed the honorees, who will be recognized at the Catholic Health Assembly in St. Louis, about their achievements and inspirations.
Preston Becker, 35
Director, spiritual care, Ascension St. Vincent Indiana, Indianapolis
Achievements
- Piloted the expansion of spiritual care into a behavioral health outpatient clinic, primary care clinic and emergency room.
- Guided a project that reduced the percentage of patients leaving without being seen in the emergency department from 2.82% to 1.01%. (The standard target for high-performing facilities is less than 2%.)
- Built the understanding of spiritual care's role for leadership during formation of the joint venture between Ascension Michigan and Henry Ford Health.
Who inspires you? Ron Tremblay (chief mission integration officer at Ascension Oklahoma) has shared his wisdom and grace in helping me navigate unfamiliar situations: hiring people, inspiring people and thinking about chaplaincy in cutting-edge ways.
What experiences helped shape your career? The first time I met a chaplain, I was in high school. I was getting ready for a surgery, and a chaplain stopped in. We laughed a lot, and my anxiety went from through the roof to where I could feel my feet on the floor. Her name was Destiny. As an undergrad, I shadowed a chaplain. I saw how loving this chaplain could be to complete strangers at the worst moment of their lives. I thought if I could learn to do that, the communities I serve would be better for it.
What do you like best about your job? I get to help our chaplains remove barriers and make them as present as possible to our patients. I enjoy finding new ways for spiritual care to be involved in strategy and operations.
Which achievement has been or will be most impactful? Placing care in new settings. For example, people can struggle with chronic illness for years but not be in an acute care setting, where most of our chaplains are. So, we're introducing spiritual care upstream, creating partnerships and finding space in physician clinics.
Endorsement
"He combines humility with strategic insight, balancing the mission of chaplaincy with organizational needs while revering every person served." — Antonina Olszewski, vice president of spiritual care and mission integration, Ascension
Chad Dilley, 40
President, Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis
Achievements
- Led Ascension St. Vincent Carmel in Indiana to national honors, such as Newsweek's "America's Best Maternity Hospitals" and Leapfrog "A" hospital safety grades.
- Directed $370 million in capital projects, ensuring that investments align with patient needs and long-term sustainability.
- Served as regent of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the board director of ACHE of Indiana.
Who inspires you? My father, Mike, is my biggest role model. He was a career firefighter who rose through the ranks to chief. He emphasized faith as a priority and was the example for me of what both a servant leader and present father look like.
Why is Catholic healthcare a good fit for you? There's a lot of synergy when personal values align with our institution's values. In particular, I love the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. In a culture and society that can often be confused, this provides a clear anchor and guidance and identifies what we believe and why we believe it. I find refuge in the ERDs.
Which achievement has been or will be most impactful? What we've achieved shows improvements in patient care, but what I'm most proud of is to get all that done while developing people along the way. So I'm most proud of the people who went from individual contributor to manager, or manager to director, or director to a VP that I helped grow on their journey. It's not the accolade; it's guiding the people who helped develop and lead those efforts.
What is your next big goal? (He assumed his current position in November.) Serving the team well on a daily basis, getting to uncover and develop their talents.
Endorsement
"Chad's ability to marshal the energy and attention needed, coupled with his visionary leadership and operational acumen, allowed achievement of milestones ahead of schedule." — Dr. Peter J. Bustamante, regional chief medical officer, Ascension St. Vincent North Region
Justin Hurtubise, 35
Chief mission officer, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital and Providence St. Luke's Rehabilitation Medical Center, Spokane, Washington
Achievements
- Led the integration of financial forecasting with clinical operations to improve Medicare performance by $59.8 million.
- Helped earn Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change awards at Providence Sacred Heart and Providence Holy Family Hospital.
- Helped drive the first mission fidelity assessment throughout Providence.
Who inspires you? My wife, Abby, is a physician assistant in community health. Daily, she serves others with the love of Christ. Sr. Rosalie Locati, SP, the last Sister of Providence in Spokane, is a mentor and helped shape my journey into mission leadership.
What experience helped shape your career? Before I was in healthcare, my sister and brother-in-law introduced me to Thomas Urban, the CEO of Mercy Health — Fairfield Hospital near Cincinnati. He talked about honoring the founding sisters, service to the community and the organizational acumen required in Catholic healthcare. I realized this was something I wanted to pursue.
What do you like best about your job? I serve with incredible colleagues who are a joy to work alongside. Through them, I see our mission illuminated.
Which achievement has been or will be most impactful? I helped develop formation programs for front-line leaders. We have had thousands go through formation and, in turn, they are mission multipliers. The impact of these programs stretches far beyond me.
What is your next big goal? We have secured donor funding for pilgrimages to retrace the footsteps of our founding congregations. My next big goal is to bring these pilgrimages to life.
Endorsement
"In moments of tension or uncertainty, Justin is often the calm in the room, listening intently and lifting the voices of others. Justin is exactly the kind of emerging leader our ministry needs as he is rooted in compassion, skilled in implementation, and courageous in vision and action." — Anna Franklin, executive director of health equity, Providence central division
Jayna Kelly, 30
Director of nursing, Wamego Health Center, Wamego, Kansas, a member of Ascension
Achievements
- Helped Wamego earn the 2026 Outstanding Health Organization of the Year honor from the National Rural Health Association.
- Led efforts to reduce 12-month turnover for nurses from 38% to 13%.
- Helped improve patient net promoter score, a measure of how likely patients are to recommend a healthcare provider, from 38 to 77.
Who inspires you? Our administrator, Brian Howells, has trusted me with decisions, given me space to lead my team, and grounded me in helping the patient. My preceptor, Jennifer Goehring, gave me a seat at the table and opportunities to grow. She is a sounding board when I need it.
What experience helped shape your career? My mom was the administrator here when I was a kid, so I really have grown up here. Being in this role and leading at Wamego is always the path I had in mind.
What do you like best about your job? My guiding principle is we deserve the same quality and access as people in suburban and urban areas, so how can I drive that? My team also inspires me every day. A lot of them were nurses when I was a kid. Their trust in me and willingness to serve our mission has helped me grow more than they know.
Which achievement has been or will be most impactful? Having a stable staff and low turnover drives the rest of our achievements: improvements in quality, safety and patient satisfaction. We are at the point where we have no travel nurses.
What is your next big goal? We are in the process of seeking a significant designation upgrade that is an undertaking, but it's a commitment to our community.
Endorsement
"She approaches every task not just as a duty but as an opportunity to make a positive difference. Her integrity and dedication inspire confidence and trust among patients, staff and community members alike." — Mindy Osterhaus, nurse manager, Wamego Health Center
Seth Lovell, 36
System vice president of nursing transformation and innovation, SSM Health, St. Louis
Achievements
- Created nurse influencers program to recruit talent via social media.
- Helped reduce the average time it takes to fill a registered nursing opening to 22 days from 75 and the time between recruitment and hiring to 49 days from 130.
- Reduced what SSM Health paid for travel nurses by almost $200 million from 2022-2024.
Who inspires you? My grandfather, Orla Pedersen, emigrated from Denmark. He didn't know the language and was separated from my grandmother for several years but became a successful entrepreneur. My brother, Brandt, started in the tech industry at the entry level and has demonstrated results at every level. Through disruptions, acquisitions and challenges, he's made an impact. His team loves working for him. He drives culture.
What experiences helped shape your career? Working in a (nurse) float pool, I had access to all aspects of healthcare, so it's a little easier to relate when different specialties come up. When I became a nurse manager, I felt lost. But I learned through mistakes that there are different leadership styles and how to work with them to drive results.
Why is Catholic healthcare a good fit for you? I've worked in for-profit and not-for-profit settings, but there's a more noble cause here: bringing your whole self. For patients seeking care, they benefit from that special presence and the power of God.
What is your next big goal? We are taking all of our timekeeping, attendance, internal scheduling, on call and labor technologies and unifying it into one platform. For example, a nurse manger can spend 15-20 hours creating schedules. We're attempting to automate that process, so nurse managers can spend more time on health and safety outcomes.
Endorsement
"Rare is a leader who can lead from the front, the back, or offer supportive influence to accomplish goals which will improve patient care. Seth does all these things with effortless grace and poise." — Dr. Stephanie Duggan, chief clinical officer, SSM Health
Megan Mashl, 31
Chief operating officer, St. Paul Elder Services, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, a member of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sponsored Ministries
Achievements
- Guided her team to achieve a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- Created a lead certified nursing assistant program, sharing leadership so that day-to-day decisions can be made closest to the people who impact the eldercare facility's residents.
- Secured funding for a Dream Bank to sponsor dreams or wishes of hospice patients.
Who inspires you? My parents have instilled a passion for caring for others and a strong work ethic. My grandmothers both lived here (at St. Paul Elder Services), and both passed away this year. My Grandma Mary was so devoted to our Catholic faith and instilled it in us in her 99 years of life. My Grandma Lois had a way of keeping things light and joyful for 88 years. I know they are here, helping to guide my path at St. Paul.
What experiences shaped your career? After my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, I recall visiting him and thinking nursing homes didn't have to be like that. I felt a passion to change that.
What do you like best about your job? I really like the connections with our residents, our associates and the entire community. I also get to be a preceptor for healthcare administration students at the University of Wisconsin — Eau Claire, which helps me grow as a leader and person. I love watching them develop into confident leaders.
What is your next big goal? We are in progress and planning to rebuild our nursing home to focus on future generations and expand services. It will follow the household model of care. We're intentionally moving away from institutional practices to one that is led by those we serve, making this truly home.
Endorsement
"Megan has prepared me to be a confident leader, an effective administrator and someone who can take on challenges with resilience and grace. Megan leads with her heart, whether she's working with staff, residents, students or even our therapy dog." — Emily Martel, assistant administrator, St. Paul Elder Services
Anup Myneni, 36
Vice president and deputy general counsel, Covenant Health, Andover, Massachusetts
Achievements
- Revamped Covenant's contract management system to improve speed, efficiency and effectiveness.
- Provides real-time counseling to leaders on emerging business needs and risk mitigation.
- Established an open-door policy for problem-solving and collaboration across the legal, risk and compliance functions.
Who inspires you? My mom. She has always been tirelessly focused on helping others succeed — whether raising me and my brother or working as an English as a second language teacher. My mom is the best role model in serving others with care and compassion, conducting oneself with integrity, and being genuine.
What experiences shaped your career? When I was in high school, I volunteered at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Virginia, and its nursing home. I benefited from the wisdom of the caregivers, patients and residents. Between college and law school, I worked at Epic (Systems Corp.) in Madison, Wisconsin, and was impressed by how many people they touched and the impact they made. In my first job in private law practice, I worked with healthcare leaders in some of the best organizations across the country on some of their most important projects.
What do you like best about your job? I love how varied the work is. No day is remotely similar to the next. I get to support people who are heroes in their communities every day.
Why is Catholic healthcare a good fit for you? There's a focus on people holistically. On Sunday, we pray, "Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you." I can live that out every day of the week.
Endorsement
"He keenly listens and thoughtfully speaks with a centered presence when presenting to the board of directors or navigating a complex patient placement. He is disarming in his welcoming demeanor, and he is equally resolved in advocating for the voice of the patient or the resident." — Wayne Carmello-Harper, system vice president, mission integration, Covenant Health
Linsey Paul, 36
Chief nursing officer, Mercy Health — Lima, Ohio, a member of Bon Secours Mercy Health
Achievements
- Instituted a framework called 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX), taking executives to the front lines every week to promote bottom-up leadership.
- Introduced a monthly open-door opportunity for co-workers to chat with her in an informal setting.
- Helped launch the Lima Leadership Development sessions, focused on relational leadership skills, emotional intelligence and team dynamics.
What experiences helped shape your career? I was in a serious car accident at age 9 with my family. I could hear my sister screaming, my brother was hooked up to machines, and they were cutting off my clothes in the trauma bay. A nurse held my hand and told me my parents were down the hall and OK, my sister was reliving the accident, and my brother was getting the best care. That nurse didn't save my life, but she created trust. My family is good now, but she shaped my perspective on nursing.
What do you like best about your job? I love watching leaders grow in confidence and experience those light bulb moments. It's so easy to get sucked into the daily whirlwind. We have to have ears and eyes for the good, then shout it from the rooftops.
Which achievement has been or will be most impactful? By teaching our middle managers to lead people, giving them the tools of emotional intelligence and helping them work through challenges, we're advancing from transactional to transformational leadership.
What is your next big goal? It's continuing to build a culture where nurses and leaders feel supported and anchored. I want us to be known as an organization where nurses build a career and live out a calling.
Endorsement
"She recognizes that sustainable excellence requires strong physician engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. By creating an environment where the entire team feels heard, valued and supported, she ensures that care delivery is both clinically sound and embraced by the entirety of the care team." — Dr. Matt Owens, chief clinical officer, Mercy Health — Lima
Dr. Alyssa Penick, 36
Family medicine residence program clinical faculty, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City
Achievements
- Oversees training of medical students and coordinates curriculum for 27 residents.
- Directs Reach Out and Read, ensuring every child in an SSM Health Oklahoma City clinic receives an age-appropriate book at their annual visit.
- Helped establish and serves as vice president of the Oklahoma City chapter of the Catholic Medical Association.
Who inspires you? In grade school, we learned about many saints, but in college I learned about St. Gianna (Beretta Molla), and her role as mother, wife and physician. Saying "yes" to God in the ordinary vocations to which she was called spoke to me more than any other saint.
Why is Catholic healthcare a good fit for you? Our patients are not always just seeking to get their A1C or blood pressure under control but also want someone to address them on a spiritual level. Being in an environment where that is acknowledged, then being able to ask patients if they have a church community or if I can pray for them adds an extra level of care.
Which achievement has been or will be most impactful? Reach Out and Read. When we started the program in 2020, I explored why it was important to set children up to succeed: how it enhances relationships with parents and caregivers, helps build resilience and improves graduation rates. It can be as simple as giving them a book and encouraging parents to read with them.
What is your next big goal? I'm invested in promoting ethics in decision-making, so one of my long-term goals is a master's in bioethics. I have young children, so I don't know when that will make sense.
Endorsement
"She is a person of prayer who radiates kindness and a servant's heart to patients, colleagues and learners alike." — Dr. Cheyn Onarecker, program director, SSM Health Oklahoma St. Anthony family medicine residency
Rachel Polzin, 39
Assistant general counsel, SSM Health of Wisconsin, Madison
Achievements
- Helped establish and support the stroke program at SSM Health's higher acuity hospitals in Wisconsin.
- Guided clinicians in streamlining regional do-not-resuscitate policies and processes to ensure consistent, compassionate end-of-life care.
- Helped design and implement Hospital Care at Home and Recovery Care at Home programs.
Who inspires you? My dad's mother, Joan. Her husband died tragically, and she didn't get to graduate high school. Diabetes left her blind and without a leg, but she always said her favorite hobbies were dancing and playing cards. I wasn't aware of her struggles as a kid because she was so positive. I think of her when things don't go according to plan.
What do you like best about your job? The variety, the scope, the breadth. I deal with issues that never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd be dealing with. Being behind the scenes, I get to work with so many people from different services, like IT or finance, every single day. I'm not a provider in the classic sense. But I work with providers, and I feel I get to be part of the care delivery.
Why is Catholic healthcare a good fit for you? I'm Catholic, but I don't think you need to be Catholic to feel the impact of our mission, vision and values. Reminding us that we're carrying on a legacy started long ago and connecting to our communities adds a layer that I'm so grateful for.
Which achievement has been or will be most impactful? One of my roles is to alleviate burdens on providers. Streamlining sounds silly, but it helps our providers so much.
Endorsement
"Her ability to apply the law with humanity and care ensures we are compliant with complex legal and ethical requirements while providing exceptional care with the best interests of our patients, providers and community in mind." — Dr. Amy Franta, chief clinical officer, SSM Health in Wisconsin